ON A CASE OF OBSESSIVE NEUROSIS
(C. THE GREAT OBSESSIVE FEAR)
Sigmund Freud (1909)
Summary:
I want to start today by sharing an experience that was the direct reason for coming to you. It happened in August, during th e
military maneuvers in X.
Prior to this event, we were in a miserable state, tormented by a series of obsessive thoughts which, however, ceased during the
maneuvers. We were interested in demonstrating to the officers’ present that we had not only gained knowledge but were also
capable of withstanding challenging situations.
During a march from X, we lost our spectacles, and although it would have been easy to find them, we decided not to delay the
game to look for them. At that moment, we sat between two officers; One of them caused us some distress because of its obviou s
interest in cruelty.
During our conversation, this officer mentioned an extremely disturbing punishment that was supposedly being meted out in the
East but preferred to omit the graphic details out of consideration. Although we did not share his penchant for cruelty, we were
forced to listen to his account carefully.
In those moments, his facial expression revealed a strange mixture of horror and, apparently, pleasure, which he himself seem ed
to ignore. Despite our own reservations, we tried to understand the nature of his experience, even though it was difficult.
We interrupt the story to make sure how strange and hostile those thoughts are to us. Everything that follows is quickly knotted in
us. When the captain mentions the cruel punishment, I manage to defend myself with my usual formulas: a "but" accompanied by
a gesture of disdain and the saying: "What can you think of!".
Until now, there was only one idea: that the punishment of rats could be served on the lady. But now I confess that I also fear that
this punishment will fall on my father, although he died years ago. This leads me to hide this confession a little longer.
In the evening of the next day, the captain hands me a package with my glasses ordered by mail and tells me that First Lieutenant
A. paid the reimbursement for me. I must return the money, but a "penalty" arises: if I return the money, I fear that the rat fantasy
will be fulfilled in my father and the lady. So, I take an internal oath to return the 3.80 kroner to A.
Two days later, the maneuvers end. I try to pay back the money, facing objective difficulties. I feel confused and disoriented as I try
to fulfill my oath, which is based on a false premise about who should receive the money.
In that same session, I reflect on how I have placed my fears not only in temporal life, but also in the afterlife. From a religious
youth to my current free thinking, I justify my contradictions with uncertainty about life after death.
In the third session, he recounts in detail his persistent efforts to fulfill the obsessive oath. After the officers' meeting, where he
speaks as if in a trance due to his recurring thoughts, he faces a night of intense internal debates. The main argument in his mental
conflict is the erroneous premise of his oath: the payment made by First Lieutenant A. on his behalf. Despite the doubts and
confusion, he decides not to directly approach A. during their meeting at the railway station, opting to send his ass istant with a
notice for a later visit.
During his train journey to Vienna, he continues to struggle with the duality of his reasons: on the one hand, he sees his oa th as
cowardice to avoid the discomfort of asking A. for help; On the other hand, he believes that fulfilling the oath would only
perpetuate his mental torment. These reflections lead him to make seemingly impulsive decisions, such as getting on the train to
Vienna without a clear plan of action.
In Vienna, his friend temporarily reassures him, questioning his obsessions and offering emotional support. Together, they decide
to return the 3.80 kroner to the post office, where it is clarified that the payment was to be made directly to the postal employee,
not to lieutenants A. or B. This revelation unravels the previous distortions of his story, showing the complexity and irrati onality of
his actions under the influence of his obsessions.
After temporarily resolving the conflict, he continues to face recurring doubts and temptations to travel again to P. to stag e the
return of the money.
1
Made by MatyBuda
(C. THE GREAT OBSESSIVE FEAR)
Sigmund Freud (1909)
Summary:
I want to start today by sharing an experience that was the direct reason for coming to you. It happened in August, during th e
military maneuvers in X.
Prior to this event, we were in a miserable state, tormented by a series of obsessive thoughts which, however, ceased during the
maneuvers. We were interested in demonstrating to the officers’ present that we had not only gained knowledge but were also
capable of withstanding challenging situations.
During a march from X, we lost our spectacles, and although it would have been easy to find them, we decided not to delay the
game to look for them. At that moment, we sat between two officers; One of them caused us some distress because of its obviou s
interest in cruelty.
During our conversation, this officer mentioned an extremely disturbing punishment that was supposedly being meted out in the
East but preferred to omit the graphic details out of consideration. Although we did not share his penchant for cruelty, we were
forced to listen to his account carefully.
In those moments, his facial expression revealed a strange mixture of horror and, apparently, pleasure, which he himself seem ed
to ignore. Despite our own reservations, we tried to understand the nature of his experience, even though it was difficult.
We interrupt the story to make sure how strange and hostile those thoughts are to us. Everything that follows is quickly knotted in
us. When the captain mentions the cruel punishment, I manage to defend myself with my usual formulas: a "but" accompanied by
a gesture of disdain and the saying: "What can you think of!".
Until now, there was only one idea: that the punishment of rats could be served on the lady. But now I confess that I also fear that
this punishment will fall on my father, although he died years ago. This leads me to hide this confession a little longer.
In the evening of the next day, the captain hands me a package with my glasses ordered by mail and tells me that First Lieutenant
A. paid the reimbursement for me. I must return the money, but a "penalty" arises: if I return the money, I fear that the rat fantasy
will be fulfilled in my father and the lady. So, I take an internal oath to return the 3.80 kroner to A.
Two days later, the maneuvers end. I try to pay back the money, facing objective difficulties. I feel confused and disoriented as I try
to fulfill my oath, which is based on a false premise about who should receive the money.
In that same session, I reflect on how I have placed my fears not only in temporal life, but also in the afterlife. From a religious
youth to my current free thinking, I justify my contradictions with uncertainty about life after death.
In the third session, he recounts in detail his persistent efforts to fulfill the obsessive oath. After the officers' meeting, where he
speaks as if in a trance due to his recurring thoughts, he faces a night of intense internal debates. The main argument in his mental
conflict is the erroneous premise of his oath: the payment made by First Lieutenant A. on his behalf. Despite the doubts and
confusion, he decides not to directly approach A. during their meeting at the railway station, opting to send his ass istant with a
notice for a later visit.
During his train journey to Vienna, he continues to struggle with the duality of his reasons: on the one hand, he sees his oa th as
cowardice to avoid the discomfort of asking A. for help; On the other hand, he believes that fulfilling the oath would only
perpetuate his mental torment. These reflections lead him to make seemingly impulsive decisions, such as getting on the train to
Vienna without a clear plan of action.
In Vienna, his friend temporarily reassures him, questioning his obsessions and offering emotional support. Together, they decide
to return the 3.80 kroner to the post office, where it is clarified that the payment was to be made directly to the postal employee,
not to lieutenants A. or B. This revelation unravels the previous distortions of his story, showing the complexity and irrati onality of
his actions under the influence of his obsessions.
After temporarily resolving the conflict, he continues to face recurring doubts and temptations to travel again to P. to stag e the
return of the money.
1
Made by MatyBuda
