One of the most pervasive
mental illnesses these days, and also the most misunderstood is depression. One
of today’s more effective treatments recommended by experts and doctors is psychoanalytic therapy.
This form of therapy
consists of the form of in-depth talk that aims to bring unconscious or those
thoughts and feelings that are buried deep to the conscious mind. The result is
that the repressed experiences and emotions, usually from childhood, is brought
to the surface and examined.
Doctor and patient work
together at how these repressed early memories have affected the patient’s
thinking, behavior, and relationship with others when they become adults.
Understanding them during sessions is a big help in downgrading the persistence
of such behaviors in all aspects of the patient’s life.
Uses
Aside from the much-maligned
depression among people, there are other mental situations that could use the methods
of the therapy using psycho analysis. Included here are emotional struggles,
emotional trauma, neurotic behavior patterns, self-destructive behavior
patterns, personality disorders, and relationship issues.
A small study had discovered that around 77% of
these patients who underwent the therapy have reported significant improvement
in symptoms, their interpersonal problems, and the quality of their lives and
the feeling of well-being on completing the therapy.
A follow through study done after one year have
reported that 80% have experienced improvements in their situations.
Medical techniques
In
the therapy, there are some very specific medical techniques used. One of them
is free association, usually spontaneous word association. The client will say
whatever comes first to mind when the therapist says a word.
This
is then looks for and interprets the patterns in the client’s responses.
Together, they explore the meanings of such patterns.
Dreams
Another significant are3a for exploration are the
dreams of the patient. Dream analysis uncovers repressed feelings that may be
hidden in symbols that appear in the patient’s dreams.
The doctor helps the client-patient discover the
meaning of the client’s feelings and emotions from one person to another. One
example could be that the client’s repressed feelings towards a parent may be
transferred to a partner in an adult relationship later in life.
The
process
This therapy is based on Sigmund Freud’s theories of
psychoanalysis where the techniques used are geared to help release repressed
thoughts, experiences, and emotions. These days, it is generally modified,
shorter, and less intense than in the early days of Freudian analysis.
Central
to the healing process is the relationship of the therapist and patient,
touching on the theories of attachment which focus on t5he quality of bonding
between infant and parent.
The
other points include transference which is the transfer of earlier emotions and
needs to people and events in the present, and resistance which is the stage in
therapy when the client-patient becomes overwhelmed by the release of painful,
repressed feelings and tries to avoid dealing with them.
Eventually,
the patients become more comfortable and there will be less resistance to
facing their issues. They are also able to understand their own motives and
behavior. With this, healing can begin or speeded up when it had already begun.
