instant repression

In this video we discuss the phenomenon of instant repression of forbidden impulses and how to address it therapeutically.

[@aspasiapsychology]

This is so clarifying, Patricia - particularly the reminder that Davanloo was focussed on the instant repression of IMPULSE. Thank you!

[@patriciacoughlinphd1852]

Yes indeed - the instant repression of impulse with simultaneous appearance of the symptoms - pain for example.

[@aspasiapsychology]

Hello again - I'd love to see a video on the defence of denial, particularly as related to the final point you make in this video about the patient who openly refused to accept that he husband had moved on from her. When this defence is in operation generally across a patient's life, I would love to hear you breakdown your approach to that sort of presentation (the case I am thinking about involves denial through fantasy in a very self-punitive fashion).

[@patriciacoughlinphd1852]

I simply said, "From what I understand your husband divorced you to marry your best friend. Yet, you have refused to accept it. What is it like for your refusing to accept that this is what happened?"

[@TheRodi171]

Hello. I'm new to the channel. I want to know what are your thoughts about anxiety being conceptualized so differently across different schools of therapy? Sometimes when reading manuals using a CBT framework, anxiety can be categorized together with other emotions, and anxiety is seen as a emotion. I feel the conceptualization of anxiety in ISTDP makes way more sense, at least in the way I understand that conceptualization so far. When learning about ISTDP and trying to better understand the concept of anxiety, I ended up with the idea of anxiety being some kind of "affect-echo", a bodily sensation that exists upon a feeling that's being repressed. Like if you find yourself smoking a ciggarette outside the bar, and even though you're outside- you still hear the music coming from inside the bar. But it's muffled and you can't really hear the words too clearly. It makes me also wonder, why is this a part of the human psyche and body? Is it a way of trying to navigate us to emotions that want to be expressed (energy that wants to be released?), is anxiety functionally a pathway for people to find emotions? Is it a way, evolutionary, to make sure humans are in touch with emotions, to make sure we better navigate and behave in accordance to our enviroment? Would love to hear your thoughts and thank you for all the free lessons on here.

[@patriciacoughlinphd1852]

While fear ( a built in response to threats to life and limb) is considered a primary affect, anxiety is not. Anxiety is signal of some emotional threat - to feelings, impulses and fantasies rising internally. It is simply a biophysiological response to this perceived threat. How one responds to anxiety will determine their health or pathology. Can you tolerate anxiety to learn and grow or do you rely on avoidant strategies. Are you curious about what is triggering anxiety or do you worry and ruminate?

[@TheRodi171]

@@patriciacoughlinphd1852 Thanks Patricia. I just subscribed and thanks again for the content on here.

[@patriciacoughlinphd1852]

@@TheRodi171 My pleasure.

[@Faiza.A.R]

How does one work with depersonalisation and derealization? Love your videos. I've learnt so much from you. Thank you

[@patriciacoughlinphd1852]

I will do a video to respond to this question.

[@Faiza.A.R]

@@patriciacoughlinphd1852 thank you so much

[@SylviabombsmithUjhy75bd34]

i love that sweater.... and beautifully described case study with your patient's somatizing symptoms....reminds me of a phrase I've often heard you say which is that sometimes depression can be "anger turned inwards/towards the self/self-attack". Did I remember Nancy Mcwilliams correctly say in one of her videos that repression would be considered a borderline level defense, because at least the individual is admitting and acknowledging at some level the problem, even if they are "compartmentalizing it" to be dealt with at a later time (opposed to the more primitive defense of denial whereby the individual denies the problem even exists at all)?

[@patriciacoughlinphd1852]

Repressive defenses are generally considered to be healthier than regressive defenses, like splitting and projection, which are common in patients with a borderline level of organization. Repression is often used by neurotic patients.