Temporal Disorders: Time Out of Joint
摘要
This chapter examines the connection between temporal experience, health, and pathology. I discuss the persistent efforts people make in describing mental and somatic illnesses in terms of impairments in time perception and time consciousness. The heuristic assumption here is that, because time is such a fundamental organising parameter of human life, severe pathologies are likely to go along with at least some disturbances in processing ‘time’. The research on the subject suggests that post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder, schizophrenia, addiction, and bipolar disorder can be understood in terms of changes in the perception of the past, present, and future in ways that affect psychic health and well-being. Loss in felt temporal continuity and in feelings of ‘running behind the times’ or ‘being ahead of time’ are amongst the characteristic symptoms. Music therapy is presented as an effective means of restoring disturbed temporal dynamics and rhythms. It can help a person strengthen relationships and become attuned to the immediate past and future and thereby works as a point of departure for establishing stable and sound daily routines, which, in turn, promote well-being.