The practice of ἄσκησις in Galen's Avoiding distress

To treat anxiety today, we can turn to various options in psychology, psychiatry, holistic medicine, dietary treatment, and even religion. In the ancient world, these options fell collectively within the realm of philosophy. The second-century AD philosopher Galen of Pergamum treated the mind and emotions parallel to the way he—as a medical physician—treated people’s bodies. His text Avoiding Distress explains a cognitive training program that helped him overcome excruciating anxiety. Many people, it appears, were exiled, executed, and brutalized under the Roman emperor Commodus. Galen at first feared that he, as Commodus’ personal physician, might suffer one of the emperor’s atrocities. He was so thorough in training himself not to feel anxiety that he was able to endure major property losses without mental or emotional anguish when a massive fire razed Rome in AD 192. His resilience so distinctly contrasted others who were not able to bear the grief at such losses that a childhood friend requested that Galen explain why he could endure such loss. My dissertation investigates how Galen uses his imagination as part of a cognitive training regimen or askēsis, and where Galen’s regimen is located within his understanding of his overarching human purpose. It advances our knowledge of an ancient preventative medicine that closely resembles today’s practices of exposure therapy and logotherapy. My dissertation illuminates the ancient practice so that we can more critically evaluate modern practices.