The Beech Group

Was it really “the good old days?”
Ration cards and allotments were the order of the day in the war and for several years after. Counselling and therapy certainly were not, in fact I believe that professional counselling was almost unheard of and Psychotherapy was something for those who were extremely disturbed or quite wealthy.
How different from today, when, here in Britain we have almost reached the point, that the US was at several years ago, where having a therapist is something to boast about and discuss with friends.
This change of view has got me questioning why this should be. I wonder if it has something to do with survival. In the post-war years the population had a sense of euphoria from the release of the wartime tension and the removal of the threat of a bomb dropping and destroying their home and for the lucky ones the return of their loved ones. They were all pulling together to make a living and to get back some semblance of “normal” life. It was much more about the physical than the psychological – getting and holding down a job and putting food on the table.
Relatively, speaking those fears have now been removed and, for the majority of people their basic needs are being met. The philosophy of life is about climbing the ladder and getting personal satisfaction and personal goals achieved.
It may seem that I am saying that the problems being brought to therapy are trivial, far from it, I wonder if the emotional and psychological elements of our life are more disturbing and stressful than ever before. The camaraderie, and with it the feeling of pulling together with your neighbour are no longer there, now you are left to pursue your own goals and very often this can cause depression and anxiety.
Many people who come to see me, who are depressed and anxious, talk about feeling very alone and isolated even though they may be in a relationship. My role is a nurturing one to help them get back control in their lives and to test out some of the assumptions that have been making them anxious.
That leads me to another question, “were people happier in the early post-war years, when they had to make-do and mend, but had the comfort of their neighbours close by who were in a similar position and who were willing to share their food and friendship?”
Madeleine Richardson