From the author: Unfortunately, psychologists and even psychotherapists who do not have deep knowledge of psychopathology can fall into a trap. It’s good if the matter is limited to a useless attempt at treatment. It is worse if the endogenous depressant is not identified in time. And this smells like suicide. The Achilles heel of the satirical writer Mikhail Zoshchenko (addition to the article by Pletnikov V.V. “Mikhail Mikhailovich Zoshchenko: experience of healing with awareness”) From my point of view, becoming V.V. Pletnikova (Tyumen), recognized by the rating as one of the best, justifies itself and deserves attention. Among other things, the author is not only a psychologist, but also a historian by training. So his horizons, presumably, are quite broad. His article examines M.M. Zoshchenko’s book “Before Sunrise,” where he himself talks about his path to healing from psychoneurosis. V.V.’s comments are also impressive. Pletnikova. The epigraph is the words of F. Perls: “Awareness in itself is healing.” It is felt that the author of the article is well acquainted with the basics of Gestalt therapy. The title of the article itself sounds very optimistic: “The experience of healing with awareness.” The ending also sounds very optimistic: “In addition, the techniques used by Zoshchenko are consonant with the techniques of the future cognitive-behavioral approach of A. Beck: to realize irrational attitudes, beliefs, beliefs; bring them into consciousness, destroy their irrationalism and fallacy with logic, refutation by counter-empirical examples.” Self-analysis and its result, described by M.M. himself, sound very optimistic. Zoshchenko. But let’s not delude ourselves: “It was smooth on paper, but we forgot about the ravines and walked along them.” Unfortunately, the life of M.M. Zoshchenko turned out to be more complex and tragic. This truth of life and the essence of his illness will be discussed. All his life M.M. Zoshchenko sought to get rid of the illness, which he himself designated as melancholy. In the 20s of the 20th century, M.M. Zoshchenko was famous, revered, and rich. But national fame and external prosperity did not please the writer himself. The recording of K.I. Chukovsky is typical. In 1927, he met Zoshchenko on Nevsky Prospekt and was struck by his depressed, lost appearance. Korney Ivanovich tried to encourage him: “Recently I thought about you, that you are the happiest person in the USSR. You have youth, fame, talent, beauty - and money. All 150 million of the rest of the country's population should greedily envy you." “And I’m so sad that I haven’t touched my pen for three weeks now,” Zoshchenko answered. “I’m lying in bed and reading Gogol’s letters, and I can’t see any people.” Contemporaries note that Zoshchenko was a very sick and, in addition, suspicious person. His constant dream was to get better and get rid of depression. Hence his keen interest in physiology, psychoanalysis, and especially in solving the problem of longevity. He reads Freud and Pavlov carefully. Tries to reconcile their views. The famous writer’s interest in the problem of psychology did not go unnoticed among physiologists. He is invited to the famous “Wednesdays” held at I.P. Pavlov’s school. His book “Youth Restored” was discussed seriously and favorably in the scientific community. He also personally communicated with the famous physiologist Speransky. His burning interest in the problem of health in general and his own in particular resulted in the publications “Youth Restored” (1933) and “Before Sunrise” (1943). As admirers note, in these publications the main motive is his own (assimilated) “life-building” concept of man. M.M. Zoshchenko argues that life should be “organized with one’s own hands.” Judge for yourself how successful he was. Please note: an attempt to publish the story “Before Sunrise” was made at the height of the Great Patriotic War. It was 1943. Zoshchenko was evacuated deep in the rear. He was released from the army bystate of health. Despite the fact that there were other patriotic publications, Zoshchenko was accused of engaging in his own introspective analysis in the most difficult times for the country. The working title of this book is “The Keys of Happiness.” M.M. himself Zoshchenko was of the opinion (or consoled himself!) that fear, despair, and despondency could be overcome by the power of reason. For this is control of the highest level of the psyche over the lower. The well-disposed writer Y. Tomashevsky wrote: “With the tension of his mind, he penetrated into the depths of his memory, looking for that impulse, that first impetus for the disease that became the cause of his troubles and misfortunes. At some point, he began to believe that a meticulous study of the “game of the body” would give a positive result. And that one more step or two - and he will know the secret of the illness that haunts him. And having revealed this secret, one can already think about how to overcome the illness that tormented him, and how to defeat it.” In 1943, the first three chapters of the story were published in the magazine “October” and, it seemed, immediately became a literary event. Zoshchenko was inspired: “The interest is such that the editorial office shrugs, saying that they have never had such a case - the magazine disappears, it is stolen, and the editorial office cannot give me an extra copy... In general, the noise is exceptional.” But, as they say, man proposes, but God disposes. Suddenly, almost obscene articles by a certain Dmitriev and a “group of readers” appear in the press. Stalin was infuriated by the story, and publication was stopped. The persecution began. He is unable to publish anything. Zoshchenko is evicted from the hotel. He is forced to live with friends. He cannot agree with the charges brought against him and writes a letter to Stalin: “This is an anti-fascist book. It was written in defense of reason and its rights." And further: “My book, which proves the power of reason and its triumph over lower powers, is still needed in our days.” Stalin did not answer. The totalitarian regime fell on Zoshchenko. Two resolutions were passed condemning the book. The writers heading the writers' union were also forced to speak out. The book was recognized as a work “politically harmful and anti-artistic, alien to the interests of the people.” Zoshchenko found himself on the verge of poverty. His mental state was very difficult. He subsisted on small literary items. At one time it seemed that the authorities left him alone. The storm struck again in 1946. The magazine "Star" (No. 5-6), it is believed, without the knowledge of the author, published the story "The Adventures of a Monkey." This is where the bacchanalia began. The editors of the magazines “Zvezda” and “Leningrad” were urgently summoned to the Central Committee. At the meeting, Stalin shouted at the writers: “Speak with teeth!” Two figures came into the spotlight - Akhmatova and Zoshchenko. The attitude towards Akhmatova was like this. “Why did they pull out the old woman?” asked the leader. “Is she going to educate the youth?” With particular bitterness, Stalin attacked Zoshchenko: “Your bully Zoshchenko! A farcical scribbler...We want to relax, laughing. He catches it, but his laugh is like vomit.” The blow of power was below the belt. Naturally, Zoshchenko’s condition was not the best. At the very least, he continued to work, defended his honor when he was persuaded to “repent.” Such were the times. Guilty or not guilty, it doesn’t matter. Artist Irina Kichanova recalls: “M.M. comes out to the podium, small, dry, straight, yellowish-pale. - “What do you want from me? So that I can say that I agree that I am a scumbag, a bully, a coward? And I am a Russian officer, awarded the Cross of St. George. My literary life is over. Let me die in peace." He left the podium and headed for the exit.” M.M. Zoshchenko smoked a lot. Once it came to poisoning. Periods of depression and melancholy became longer. Zoshchenko loses the desire to work. The world appears bleak. In the spring, his health condition deteriorated sharply. After nicotine poisoning, which caused cerebral vasospasm, speech became difficult. He stopped recognizing those around him. July 22, 1958 at.