What are our emotional needs in the Human Givens approach to mental health?

All forms of mental distress arise because, in one way or another, people’s physical or emotional needs are not being met. Human beings, like all organic beings, come into this world with a set of needs and we humans have a particular set of resources that help us meet our needs. As we grow and develop we add to our ability to use our resources to meet our needs appropriately and in balance and when that happens we thrive.

It is when emotional needs are not adequately met, or are met in unhealthy ways, or when innate resources are damaged for any reason, or are unintentionally misused, that undesirable mental states such as anxiety, anger, depression, addiction and psychosis develop. For instance, misuse of the imagination – to conjure up worst possible or threatening scenarios – is a common feature of all these states.

Our 9 essential emotional needs are;

• Security — safe territory and an environment which allows us to develop fully

• Attention (to give and receive it) — a form of nutrition

• Sense of autonomy and control — having volition to make responsible choices

• Feeling part of a wider community

• Emotional intimacy — to know that at least one other person accepts us totally for who we are, “warts ‘n’ all”

• Privacy — opportunity to reflect and consolidate experience, and to calm down if necessary, by removing ourselves from stressors

• Sense of status within social groupings

• Sense of competence and achievement

• Meaning and purpose — which come from being stretched in what we do and think.