Lives of the Unconscious. A Podcast on Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy Episode 10: Fear and Anxiety Disorders
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Apr 9, 2021 The podcast explores fear and anxiety disorders from a psychoanalytic perspective, discussing different forms of fear, the symbolism and displacement in phobias, and the impact of attachment on anxiety disorders. It emphasizes the importance of understanding individual history and conflicts in phobia meaning, and the role of a supportive therapist in addressing underlying causes of anxiety.
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Fear Is An Adaptive Alarm System
- Fear serves as an alarm system that readies body and mind for fight or flight.
- It ranges from object-related fear to diffuse alarm to full panic with distinct functions and risks.
Prehistoric Forest Example
- A prehistoric ancestor walking barefoot illustrates object fear, object-seeking alarm, and panic in sequence.
- The example shows how knowledge of the environment prevents panic while the unknown triggers diffuse alarm and then panic.
Anxiety Reflects Inner Meaning Not External Threat
- Pathological anxiety arises when external circumstances do not justify the intensity of fear.
- Psychoanalysis sees much of this fear as rooted in unconscious inner meanings rather than objective threats.