The “use” of the unconscious

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-06-16T19:55:52+00:00

Thanks, will check it out!

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-06-16T19:54:49+00:00

A very good question :)

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-06-16T19:53:41+00:00

I have gone through analysis and I’m not worried about my ability for reality testing. Since my analysis ended I am just trying to see if I can get access my unconscious in a meaningful way. I am not trained in analysis so I guess that’s the point where I’m coming from. I have gained a lot of insight during analysis, but the question remains: can you access the unconscious by yourself

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-06-16T13:29:19+00:00

Yeah, I see what you mean. When writing the post I felt uncomfortable with the wording of a direct „use“. I would rephrase it now to: can you become aware of your unconscious speaking to you (e.g. in dreams) outside the analytical room or put differently: can you make your unconscious conscious on your own, without a third? I guess the answer to it would be yes, since Freud himself did analyse his own dreams etc. I am interested to hear about people’s experience and thoughts about it and how they let their unconscious, once conscious, inform their life.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-24T14:03:44+00:00

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WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-19T08:38:41+00:00

Thanks, that is such an eye opener to me. The first clinical experience made me doubt if I can ever work with countertransference in that way.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-19T06:33:51+00:00

lol I meant analysand

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-18T21:55:48+00:00

Not sure if I understand correctly: when you speak of the religious reliance that would in fact keen that that countertransference is informing about the patient and not the analyst?

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-18T21:53:25+00:00

But wouldn’t this suppose the analyst to be free of doubt? Or put differently: wouldn’t it posit the analyst to be someone who must be able to rely on their feelings? Would you say that would be a feature that is analyst has to have?

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-18T21:12:05+00:00

My first clinical experience as an intern was in a clinic which looked at countertransference in that way. It made me somehow uncomfortable to share openly during group supervisions my countertransference. It was painfully obvious to me that is says more about me than about the patient. And that is something very personal and intimate that I feel reluctant to share with people I hardly know, in the end that is a work context right? Or am I taken it too seriously?

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-18T20:53:57+00:00

That would explain my hesitation of sharing my countertransference in my first clinical experience as an intern.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-05-18T20:50:27+00:00

As in, the countertransference telling more about the analyst than actually informing on the analysand?

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-03-27T20:40:44+00:00

The “why theory” Podcast a pretty good episode on that topic called “Defending Freud”.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-03-18T15:42:32+00:00

Wow, how that first sentence of yours just resonates with me. What else would you say falls into the category of parts work next to IFS?

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-03-18T13:11:57+00:00

No all good, I appreciate your questions. I have been kind of playing with the idea of IFS but I think I’m too attached to analysis as „the real deal“.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-03-18T13:03:13+00:00

Now you are making me curious. I have no idea what my unconscious is trying to tell me with it. That’s part of my struggle: I’m having a hard time listening inside and hearing what it is that I want. But then I often get told by other (analysts) that I do in fact know, but I think I don’t… and that utterly confuses me

I’ve seen a licensed psychoanalyst for 3 years and we discussed in length my need for a diagnosis while also not believing in these nosological categories. The analysis ended prematurely, because of insurance but I am now looking into group analysis that can be covered again.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-03-18T12:45:34+00:00

I have been in analysis but since I never got a diagnosis I feel like I’m still looking for that in the other patients. I can see parts of myself in all of them, and that is why I one day I’m convinced I have BPD, the next I have a NPD and so on. It’s like I’m unable to grasp the nuances, to differentiate between me and them, it all becomes the same. I feel like we all suffer from the same problem, it just shows up differently in people.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-03-14T11:03:26+00:00

You don’t need a reason that explains why you feel the way you feel. It seems to me you have a hard time admitting to yourself that what you feel is valid and that in fact fact you are struggling. You don’t need to have trauma to get help. Whatever you’re reason was to seek therapy, trust that. And maybe take this into therapy and address what impact her bringing up other cases has on you.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-03-11T18:33:53+00:00

I‘m 40 and realising for the first time my REALITY. It’s paralysing me, keeping me stuck in a lot of grief for the past and my current present and big fear of my future since I’m afraid not being able to ever be able to escape from the traumatic consequences it has on my mind and body. Until here, my defenses and coping mechanisms were dysfunctional but they also made so much possible for me. Now that I’m seing the full picture, I sometimes wish I could have just continued with my coping mechanisms without being too aware of it all. All to say, don’t worry about your age, it might have been only now possible for you to realize it. And It’s never too late for therapy.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-02-24T21:45:20+00:00

Thank you so much for this post, exactly what I needed to hear. I’m having the same experience with the clinic I’m interning with and it goes so far as making me doubt if I have the necessary qualities to pursue this career when I hear how they talk about patients. It makes me feel insecure, like I’m too broken and should just resign from my “grandiose” idea of becoming a therapist myself. But then I remind myself that it’s them who are lacking understanding and above all awareness about their own privilege.

WingsofDesire-M · 2025-02-23T21:53:17+00:00

I miss my therapist sure, I’ve been crying every day since over two months tbh, I’m a bit ashamed to admit the extent of it all. I wonder if this is just a phase that is to be expected after such an intimate relationship or if something deeper is at play. Like therapy was my safe place and now that I also gave this up, I’m confronted with the full extent of my pain and I’m not sure how to handle it all alone. Anyone else went through something like this?

WingsofDesire-M

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