It's a psychiatric method of breaking neurotic circle which is causing heavy anticipating anxiety and hyperintention.
1. Paradox intention
Paradox intention means that you should push your efforts to want the same thing you fear. Young man, who sweated in every social situation, dr. Frankl told that he should try to sweat even more! He should quadruple his sweat! Of course, this guy couldn't do it so this absurd mental task broke the neurotic cycle.
Capability of human beings to create objective attitude towards their own life or to come out of themselves is the basics of humour. Like he wrote in the concentration camps.
"Humour is just another weapon of soul in the combat for self-sustaining".
Second example is the problem with sleeping. If you are suffering insomnia, don't waste your night turning around in bed trying to get some sleep. Get up! Try to be awake for eternity! In time, you will find yourself crawling back to bed.
2. Dereflexion
Dr.Frankl considers that our problems come from our obsession with ourselves. Problems oftenly emerge when we transfer our attention from us to others. If, for example, you have a problem with sex, try to satisfy your partner without getting satisfied. Concerns on erection and orgasm disappear and pleasure arises again. Or even better, try not to give pleasure to anyone - this is what many therapists suggest to their patients, and magic happens from itself.
Frankl considers that there is too much value given to self-reflection. Since Froyd we are encouraged to look into our deepest selves, dig up our deepest motivations. Frankl calls this our
collective-obssesive neurosis which is actually distracting us from the purpose.
Frankl insists that problems we encounter come from unachieved need for the purpose, meaning.
These and other techniques are a good start, but they are not a goal.
The most important part of the therapist is to help it's client in finding latent religion which exsists in each one of us. That can't be forced upon us.
Source of religion must be developed in each individual's right time. No one can be forced to it. Therapist must allow the patient to reveal his/her's own purpose
Human exsistence is - as long it's not neurotically damaged - always pointed out to someone or something out itself - to the purpose which needs to be fulfilled or other person which has to be met with love and kindness
