psychology

Reflections on Time, Perception, and Existence

MAhmed , , , ,

When I was young, time seemed to stretch endlessly. Waiting—whether for school to end, for playtime to begin, or simply to grow older—felt like an eternity. Every moment was vivid, filled with anticipation and curiosity. And yet, when immersed in play or joy, time felt boundless, as though those moments could last forever.

Now, at the late age decades of my life feel like the blink of an eye, a fleeting flash in the vast expanse of existence. Days, months, and years pass with astonishing speed, slipping through my grasp before I fully register them. This stark contrast in how I have experienced time across my life has led me to reflect deeply on its nature.

Drawing from philosophy and clinical psychology training and professional practice as a psychologist, and my life experiences with recent explorations into popular science, particularly quantum physics, I have come to accept that time is profoundly relative. Einstein’s theories of relativity revolutionized our understanding of time, demonstrating that it is not an absolute, fixed entity but instead depends on movement and perspective. His famous thought experiment involving identical twins offers a compelling illustration: if one twin travels through space at near-light speed while the other remains on Earth, the traveling twin would return younger, having experienced time more slowly relative to the twin on Earth. This phenomenon is not just theoretical; it is a measurable aspect of our universe.

Beyond the grand scale of relativity, I have also considered how biology shapes our perception of time. When we are young, our metabolic rate is faster. This heightened internal rhythm correlates with a slower perception of time—each moment feels rich and expansive. As we age and our metabolism slows, our perception of time accelerates; days feel shorter, years slip by faster, and life, in retrospect, compresses into a series of fleeting memories.

This interplay between biology and perception raises a profound question: Could all living organisms, regardless of their lifespan, experience time similarly? A fruit fly, for example, may live for mere days, while humans typically live for decades. Yet, due to its accelerated metabolic rate, a fruit fly’s perception of those days might feel as lengthy and meaningful as a human’s perception of 80 years. If we frame time as something experienced rather than objectively measured, then the brevity of a fly’s life and the longevity of a human’s might, in some sense, be equivalent in subjective experience.

In this way, time is not just a physical dimension governed by relativity; it is also a deeply personal, biological, and psychological construct. The perception of time arises from a confluence of factors: the external, such as movement and the passage of events, and the internal, such as our biological rhythms and mental states.

As I reflect on my eighty-five plus years of life, I see it not just as a journey through a timeline but as a mosaic of experiences shaped by this dynamic interplay of physics and biology. The young perceive time as expansive because their world is new, their curiosity boundless, and their internal rhythms quickened. The old perceive time as fleeting because their world has grown familiar, their moments are cherished in hindsight, and their internal clocks tick slower. Time is both a universal and deeply personal paradox that binds us all, regardless of how long we live or how we perceive the passing days. It is a reminder to treasure the fleeting moments we have, knowing that in some profound way, they may be infinite in their significance.

Acknowledgments: This writing is inspired by a lifetime of learning and reflection, enriched by my professional experiences in psychology, and early graduate training in philosophy, and influenced by the insights of great thinkers in philosophy and science as well as recent reading of popular science books. I was aided in the editorial process with AI.

Copyright: © [ 2025] [Mohiuddin Ahmed, Ph.D.]. All rights reserved. This document or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in critical reviews or scholarly work.

Mind Stimulation Therapy: A Holistic Approach to Psychological Wellbeing

MAhmed , , , ,

Overview of Mind Stimulation Therapy (MST)
Mind Stimulation Therapy (MST) is an innovative clinical model emphasizing information processing and cognitive stimulation techniques, rooted in a “positive psychology” framework. MST is designed to enhance adaptive thinking, behavior, and emotional regulation through reflective and collaborative processes.

This therapeutic approach was pioneered by Dr. Mohiuddin Ahmed, who developed MST over his 40+ years of clinical practice in diverse settings, including inpatient and outpatient facilities, community residences, nursing homes, and special education programs. Dr. Ahmed worked with individuals across the lifespan, including behaviorally disordered children, developmentally disabled adults, individuals with schizophrenia, dual-diagnosis clients, and elderly psychiatric patients.

The MST model was further refined and formalized through Dr. Ahmed’s 25+ years of collaborative work with Professor Charles Boisvert of Rhode Island College. Together, they published extensively on the MST model in professional journals and books, contributing to its evolution as a recognized clinical approach.cognitive stimulation techniques, rooted in a “positive psychology” framework. MST is designed to enhance adaptive thinking, behavior, and emotional regulation through reflective and collaborative processes.

Contrasting MST with Traditional Counseling and Psychotherapy
Traditional psychotherapy typically relies on the idea that therapeutic dialogue between the client and therapist leads to internalization of insights, enabling positive changes in thinking and behavior. While effective for many, this approach is often limited for individuals with severe and persistent mental illnesses.

For these clients, difficulties in adaptive functioning—including challenges with memory, attention, problem-solving, and social communication—may impair their ability to generalize therapeutic insights into their daily lives. MST was specifically designed to address these challenges by integrating therapeutic prompts and interventions within the client’s social and environmental context.

MST emphasizes collaboration with clients’ support systems, ensuring that therapeutic benefits extend beyond the therapy session to the client’s everyday milieu. This holistic approach helps maximize the therapeutic impact and fosters enduring positive change.

Integrating Existential Perspectives in MST
A unique aspect of MST is its focus on existential perspectives, which are universally relevant to the human condition. These discussions may include themes such as:

  • The nature of existence and the “Unknown” (where we come from, where we are going).
  • Coping with changes, loss, and the entropy of life.
  • The universal human quest for meaning and connection.

Therapists encourage clients to explore these themes in a supportive and non-judgmental manner, respecting their individual religious, spiritual, or secular beliefs. By highlighting commonalities across various worldviews—such as the idea of unity in creation or the interconnectedness of life—MST fosters a sense of shared human experience and collective empowerment.

Promoting Practical Adaptive Strategies
In addition to existential discussions, MST integrates practical strategies to help clients manage existential concerns. Activities like work, hobbies, family interactions, and spiritual practices are seen as tools for redirecting focus from distressing thoughts to adaptive routines. This emphasis on “practical intelligence” helps clients remain present and engaged in their lives, reducing psychological distress while fostering resilience.

Encouraging Scientific and Symbolic Insights
MST incorporates both scientific and symbolic perspectives to enrich therapy. For instance, discussions of the Big Bang Theory and the origins of the universe can be used to draw parallels with religious concepts of creation. By framing these ideas symbolically, MST bridges scientific and faith-based perspectives, highlighting the unity underlying diverse worldviews.

The Role of Collaboration and Therapeutic Milieu
To ensure the success of MST, therapists work actively with the client’s environment, engaging family members, caregivers, and community supports. By embedding therapeutic prompts in daily routines, MST fosters a more comprehensive and sustainable approach to mental health.

Conclusion: A Holistic Approach to Mental Health
Mind Stimulation Therapy represents a significant shift in psychological treatment, integrating existential perspectives, practical strategies, and environmental collaboration. By addressing both the cognitive and emotional dimensions of mental health, MST provides a framework for meaningful and sustainable change, particularly for those with persistent psychological challenges.

References:


Mind Stimulation Therapy: Cognitive Intervention for Persons with Schizophrenia
Their first collaborative book, published by Routledge in 2013, outlines the Mind Stimulation Therapy model. This approach integrates Dr. Ahmed’s extensive clinical experience across various settings and Dr. Boisvert’s contributions as a Ph.D. student under Dr. Ahmed’s supervision at the Community Care Alliance RI.

Articles:  

Most recently published:

Mohiuddin Ahmed, Ph.D. T. Mental Health Science Journal, 1:(1, Wiley Online Publications, 2022.

Type 1 and Type 2 psychosis‐related disorders for optimal treatment and management (wiley.com)

Other articles:

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    Disclaimer:
    This blog post is authored by Dr. Mohiuddin Ahmed and is intended for informational purposes. Unauthorized use or duplication of this material is strictly prohibited without express written permission. For references and related publications, visit the biographical section of Psychology and Mental Health Resource Links by Mohiuddin Ahmed.

      Date: December, 2024
      Copyright: Mohiuddin Ahmed, Mind Stimulation Therapy