25TH CONFERENCE: ANGUISH (357-369; 372-374)
Sigmund Freud (1917)
Summary:
In my last lecture on the general neurotic state, I admit that my exposition of anxiety was insufficient. I admit that the omission of
this subject, so central to many neurotics, may have surprised you. Distress is an intense affective state that can lead to extreme
measures. In my next analysis, I intend to address in detail because neurotics experience such intense distress, something that
deserves a more serious exploration. It is not fair to confuse the terms "neurotic" and "distressed," since not all distressed people
are neurotic, and not all neurotics suffer from distress.
The problem of anguish is crucial and revealing for understanding the life of the soul in its totality. While I do not claim to have all
the answers, I hope that psychoanalysis offers a distinct perspective than academic medicine, which focuses on the anatomical
pathways of distress. This anatomical approach, while valuable, neglects the deep psychological understanding we seek in
psychoanalysis.
At first, we can talk about distress without considering the neurotic state. We can distinguish between realistic and neurotic angst.
The first arises as a rational reaction to an external danger, associated with the survival instinct. However, its intensity can vary
depending on the individual's knowledge and experience. Although it initially seems appropriate, in reality distress can be
counterproductive, as it paralyzes action in the face of danger.
It is essential to understand that the development of distress is never adequate. Although it prepares for danger, too much o f it
can interfere with effective responsiveness. Therefore, the distressed appronte is more advantageous than the full developmen t
of the distress. Anguish, fear, and terror are related but distinct concepts, each with its own dynamics and psychological effects.
Ultimately, distress serves as a warning sign, but too much of it can backfire.
As for the use of the word "anguish", it usually refers to the subjective state generated by the complete development of angu ish,
which is a complex affect. This affect includes specific motor innervations, bodily sensations, and a mixture of pleasure and
displeasure.
Beyond these physical manifestations, we believe that the core of affect lies in the repetition of a meaningful experience, p ossibly
linked to the act of birth. This first distress is related to shortness of breath and other intense bodily sensations, caus ed by the
abrupt interruption of the supply of blood and oxygen.
This initial connection has left a deep predisposition in the human organism, passed down through generations. Although this
theory arises from psychoanalysis and may seem speculative, it is based on both scientific observations and popular reflectio ns,
such as the anecdote about meconium in the water of birth.
In neurotic anguish, we identify different forms of manifestation that present new aspects and links. First, we find a general state
of distress, a kind of floating anxiety that clings to any passing thought, distorts judgment, and promotes catastrophic
interpretations of events. This "expectant anxiety" or "anxious expectation" may be a character trait in some people, but at intense
levels it usually corresponds to a specific neurosis that I have termed "anxiety neurosis."
Another form of neurotic distress is more closely tied to specific objects or situations, manifesting as phobias. These phobi as are
diverse and can include fears of the dark, open spaces, animals such as cats, spiders, or snakes, among others. Some of thes e
phobias are rooted in common perceptions of danger, while others seem to lack a logical explanation for the affected subject.
A third form of neurotic distress presents a conundrum: the loss of the link between the distress experienced and the threat of
real danger. In cases of hysteria, for example, distress may appear accompanying hysterical symptoms or at emotional moments
when we would not expect this type of reaction. In addition, in some spontaneous attacks of distress, the symptom complex may
be divided, with one particular symptom standing out over the general feeling of distress.
These different forms of neurotic distress can occur independently of each other and not necessarily together. Some phobias can
be acquired in adulthood, while others seem to be present early on. All of these manifestations are included in panic hysteria and
are considered to be closely related to conversion hysteria.
We are now faced with two crucial questions. Can neurotic anxiety, where danger plays little or no role, be related to realis tic
anxiety, which arises as a reaction to genuine danger? And how are we to understand neurotic anguish? Initially, we hope that if
there is distress, there must be something that causes it.
1
Made by MatyBuda
Sigmund Freud (1917)
Summary:
In my last lecture on the general neurotic state, I admit that my exposition of anxiety was insufficient. I admit that the omission of
this subject, so central to many neurotics, may have surprised you. Distress is an intense affective state that can lead to extreme
measures. In my next analysis, I intend to address in detail because neurotics experience such intense distress, something that
deserves a more serious exploration. It is not fair to confuse the terms "neurotic" and "distressed," since not all distressed people
are neurotic, and not all neurotics suffer from distress.
The problem of anguish is crucial and revealing for understanding the life of the soul in its totality. While I do not claim to have all
the answers, I hope that psychoanalysis offers a distinct perspective than academic medicine, which focuses on the anatomical
pathways of distress. This anatomical approach, while valuable, neglects the deep psychological understanding we seek in
psychoanalysis.
At first, we can talk about distress without considering the neurotic state. We can distinguish between realistic and neurotic angst.
The first arises as a rational reaction to an external danger, associated with the survival instinct. However, its intensity can vary
depending on the individual's knowledge and experience. Although it initially seems appropriate, in reality distress can be
counterproductive, as it paralyzes action in the face of danger.
It is essential to understand that the development of distress is never adequate. Although it prepares for danger, too much o f it
can interfere with effective responsiveness. Therefore, the distressed appronte is more advantageous than the full developmen t
of the distress. Anguish, fear, and terror are related but distinct concepts, each with its own dynamics and psychological effects.
Ultimately, distress serves as a warning sign, but too much of it can backfire.
As for the use of the word "anguish", it usually refers to the subjective state generated by the complete development of angu ish,
which is a complex affect. This affect includes specific motor innervations, bodily sensations, and a mixture of pleasure and
displeasure.
Beyond these physical manifestations, we believe that the core of affect lies in the repetition of a meaningful experience, p ossibly
linked to the act of birth. This first distress is related to shortness of breath and other intense bodily sensations, caus ed by the
abrupt interruption of the supply of blood and oxygen.
This initial connection has left a deep predisposition in the human organism, passed down through generations. Although this
theory arises from psychoanalysis and may seem speculative, it is based on both scientific observations and popular reflectio ns,
such as the anecdote about meconium in the water of birth.
In neurotic anguish, we identify different forms of manifestation that present new aspects and links. First, we find a general state
of distress, a kind of floating anxiety that clings to any passing thought, distorts judgment, and promotes catastrophic
interpretations of events. This "expectant anxiety" or "anxious expectation" may be a character trait in some people, but at intense
levels it usually corresponds to a specific neurosis that I have termed "anxiety neurosis."
Another form of neurotic distress is more closely tied to specific objects or situations, manifesting as phobias. These phobi as are
diverse and can include fears of the dark, open spaces, animals such as cats, spiders, or snakes, among others. Some of thes e
phobias are rooted in common perceptions of danger, while others seem to lack a logical explanation for the affected subject.
A third form of neurotic distress presents a conundrum: the loss of the link between the distress experienced and the threat of
real danger. In cases of hysteria, for example, distress may appear accompanying hysterical symptoms or at emotional moments
when we would not expect this type of reaction. In addition, in some spontaneous attacks of distress, the symptom complex may
be divided, with one particular symptom standing out over the general feeling of distress.
These different forms of neurotic distress can occur independently of each other and not necessarily together. Some phobias can
be acquired in adulthood, while others seem to be present early on. All of these manifestations are included in panic hysteria and
are considered to be closely related to conversion hysteria.
We are now faced with two crucial questions. Can neurotic anxiety, where danger plays little or no role, be related to realis tic
anxiety, which arises as a reaction to genuine danger? And how are we to understand neurotic anguish? Initially, we hope that if
there is distress, there must be something that causes it.
1
Made by MatyBuda
