Freud Museum London: Psychoanalysis Podcasts

Everyday Madness: Lisa Appignanesi in conversation with Adam Phillips

12 snips
Jun 10, 2020
Lisa Appignanesi, a notable lecturer and author, shares her insights on grief and loss, inspired by her recent book. Adam Phillips, a practicing psychoanalyst, engages with her on the complex emotions surrounding mourning, including navigating anger and its societal influences. They discuss the role of childhood in shaping our emotional landscape and how personal experiences highlight the nuances of everyday madness. Through personal anecdotes and literary references, Appignanesi challenges traditional notions of grief, urging a deeper understanding of our emotional responses.
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ANECDOTE

Symbolic Shampoo in Grief

  • Lisa Appignanesi describes a translucent hotel shampoo bottle left by her deceased partner that she couldn't bring herself to use for over a year.
  • This bottle symbolized the haunting presence and superstition tied to mourning and loss in her experience.
INSIGHT

Surprised by Grief's Complexity

  • Lisa was surprised by the specific emotions grief triggered, which went beyond expected sorrow or sadness.
  • Writing helped her get close to the overwhelming feelings that felt akin to madness.
INSIGHT

Mourning Misfits Grief Reality

  • Mourning is often prescribed by societal expectations, which can make actual grieving feel misaligned or inadequate.
  • Lisa questions if her experience was mourning at all, noting the difficulty of fitting grief into normative frameworks.
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