The needs we have (and want) and our mental health

"A person who makes full use of and exploits his talents, potentialities, and capacities; such a person seems to be fulfilling himself and doing the best he is capable of doing. The self-actualized person must find in his life those qualities that make his living rich and rewarding. He must find meaningfulness, self-sufficiency, effortlessness, playfulness, richness, simplicity, completion, necessity, perfection, individuality, beauty, and truth"

Abraham Maslow, 1908-1970

Abraham Maslow is often spoken of as the "Philosopher who defined human needs." It is his model of "The Hierarchy of Human Needs" that has served as a basis of mental health counseling/therapy, and of which many other such practices are founded on; to include management and leadership training, sociological research, and secondary and higher psychological instruction.

Recently, in a discussion with a friend and colleague, we delved into Maslow's theory to some extent, recalling our observations and experiences in counseling those individuals and families with mental illness present in their lives; and only if everyone could learn of the Hierarchy and utilize it in their lives.

Maslow's model shows and explains the needs that we as humans share on our life's journey; from the very basic instinctual to the height of reaching our full potential. It is a very important model to our development and understanding of our humanship, and also a model that we may do well in following for maintaining our Mental Health.

The model, which is drawn as a pyramid? physiological needs at its base and self-actualization at its pinnacle. It was Maslow's belief that if one did not fulfill the needs of the basic, then one could not advance to the next higher levels; a theorem that I and my colleagues have always found truth in. Let's take a look at the model:

Physiological Needs: Physiological needs are the foundation of our pyramid; the physical requirements for human survival, and mostly instinctual in nature; such as the bodies need for nourishment and water. Being the most important, they must be met first before we can progress to the next level of needs; for without them we would perish. This is most apparent throughout our society.

In our community we are most fortunate to have Loaves and Fishes, an organization under the leadership of Pastor Bill Reagan and his staff; providing food and medical attention to indigent people?that basic need.

Safety and Security Needs: Once the physical needs have been met, then we can move on to the next tier of our pyramid. Partly instinctual, but mostly learned, the needs to feel safe and secure take the most important position and begin to dominate our behaviors.

To have personal security (clothing and shelter to protect us from heat and cold, as example); to be in a healthy position, to have financial security, and having safety nets against accidents/illness and their adverse impacts?all may comprise our safety and security needs. Again I cite Loaves and fishes who provide the shelter and safety to those individuals in need.

Love and Belonging: The third level of human needs, after physiological and safety needs are fulfilled, is the interpersonal need for love and belonging. This need involves friendship, intimacy, and family. It is especially strong during childhood?as the child progresses through the crucial stages of development, a time when the child is learning about relationships, responsibility, etc.

During this level of the hierarchy deficiencies due to sickness, childhood neglect and abuse, ostracism, etc., may adversely affect the individual's ability to form and maintain emotional significant relationships. As Maslow explained, there exists a need to feel a sense of belonging and acceptance among ones social groups.

As I have often quoted John Doane from his poem "for whom the bell tolls?" "No man is an island unto himself?" We need the love and unconditional acceptance from other people, for without it we falter.

Esteem: All of us have a need to feel respected, to include the need to have self-esteem and self-respect; which forms the fourth level of our pyramid. It is a human desire to be accepted and valued by others. There are many things which may hinder ones having self-esteem, such as having depression or feelings being inferior; creating low self-esteem and self-worth. Activities and careers that give person recognition give a person a sense of contribution or value.

As Maslow pointed out, "A positive self-image and healthy self-esteem is based on approval, acceptance and recognition from others; but also upon actual accomplishments, achievements and success upon the realistic self-confidence which ensues."A deprivation of esteem needs may lead to an inferiority complex, weakness, and helplessness.

Self-Actualization: "Being all you can be" is an often quoted statement which reflects the ultimate level, the pinnacle of the needs pyramid. This level of need refers to what a person's full potential is? the realization of that potential. Maslow often stated that to understand this level of the hierarchy the person must not only achieve the previous needs, but master them.

It is a journey of working and striving toward perfection with all of the intellectual capabilities and motivation that we have, such as mastering a particular job, being a superior athlete, etc.

Self-Transcendence: As Maslow aged, he suggested that there existed another plane, another dimension of needs that he had not previously considered; a plane perhaps on the same level of self-actualization. He found that one's self finds its self-actualization when one gives themselves to some higher goal outside of oneself, in altruism and spirituality.

This tier of the pyramid is not usually discussed in Maslow's theory, and rarely seen in his model, yet I believe that it is most important in ones reaching the level of self-actualization.

Maslow's Hierarchy of needs forms the basis of how we have developed treatment centers and hospitals for persons with mental illness and/or substance use disorders.

In all of the hospitals and treatment facilities I worked in for many years, this was most prevalent: physicians and other medical personnel providing help to the person with their physical needs, such as having a medical problem and developing a diet; Licensed Social Workers and supportive staff whom provided assistance with safety and security needs, such as providing proper clothing, etc.; Licensed Psychologists, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors whom provided individual and group counseling to assist the patient in their development of belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization needs; and many other services designed for the persons full recovery and continued growth to the point of working on reaching their full potential.

I believe all of you readers understand the Hierarchy of Needs in your own lives, and the lives of your family and friends; and the importance of helping to insure needs are met. So often we confuse the term "need" with "want." A "need" is to require something because it is essential or important; whereas "want" is a desire or wish for something desirable.

So often in providing therapy my patients would tell me, "I want to feel like I belong," or "I want to feel accepted by others and feel better about myself." My response would be, "I believe you mean that you "need" to feel like you belong and you "need" to feel as accepted by others and feel better about yourself; there is a big difference between "needs" and "wants" my friends?I "need" to be responsible for paying all my bills?I "want" to parachute out of an aircraft on my 80th birthday (heh heh).

May all of your needs by met on your life's journey toward self-actualization and self-transcendence, and above all Stay Healthy My Friends!