Psycho-Analysing Childhood Problems

When we begin to psycho-analyse ourselves, it can produce some peculiar effects. Childhood always creates some psychological problems. Some of these problems are resolved as the child grows up, but some remain and are pushed into the subconscious mind. Unresolved problems never disappear by themselves  – time does not heal difficulties because there is no sense of time in the subconscious mind.

One effect of Analysis
During analysis those childhood problems that have never been resolved start coming up into normal consciousness. Then it may feel as if we are going through a second childhood. After the first year of my own analysis I was coming to terms with new feelings of rebelliousness, with being self-centred, and being more interested in sexuality than I ever was as a teenager. Because these feelings and interests had been difficult for us when we were a child or young adult, we had repressed them to some degree. Now when they emerge into normal consciousness, they become awkward for us to handle them. So a peculiar effect of analysis is that we may begin to act childishly in some situations, the situations that were difficult for us as a child.

Aspect of Analysis 1
A major aspect of analysis that we have to sort out is our sense of identity – what is me and what is other people. Children absorb a lot of their values and beliefs from their parents. As a child, I had a close attachment to my mother ; during my analysis of myself, I had to sort out what about me was really me and what was mother !!

Once we begin examining ourselves, we will experience catharsis (which is a feature of abreaction) many, many times. And catharsis usually highlights sexual issues in an unconventional way. Part of our sense of identity is our sense of sexual identity. So analysis makes us question our sexual values. This aspect of analysis needs to be taken very slowly, so that we remain in control whilst exploring new feelings. It might be helpful for a person to join a single-sex group so that he or she can discuss their sexual feelings in comfort.
( If we talk about our unusual sexual thoughts with our friends, we may alienate them from us, or more likely, their repudiation or dismissal of our thoughts may prevent us from further exploration of our new feelings).

Aspect of Analysis 2
Another major aspect of analysis is our attitudes to authority. This is also a difficult issue. When we were a child, if we had to put others first to the extent that we denied our own interests, then this created anger or resentment or guilt in us. However, the child cannot express these negative emotions (because it will get punished), so they are repressed. Once we begin analysing ourselves, these emotions will become conscious. Then we have to work through our dislike, even hatred, of authority (and even a powerful sense of guilt that authority figures may have instilled in us). These thoughts are likely to unsettle us, because we had long ago ceased to be aware of them.

Analysis can generate a sense of bewilderment - "where did all these negative thoughts come from?"

One of the reasons why we are confused about our sense of identity is that basically we tend to think of ourself as a peaceful, gentle person. So we get upset when all these negative emotions start appearing. When my analysis started bringing hatred into my daily thoughts, I was profoundly shocked, and it took me many months to adjust to this unpleasant side of myself.

The theme to keep in mind is that all ‘bad’ emotions can be useful. If all your attitudes, beliefs, and emotions were good ones, then you would be a very stable person. You would not change, and so would not keep up with the changes in society. Bad attitudes, beliefs, and emotions are your incentive to change, because you want to get rid of them. Therefore you have to change those aspects of yourself that produce them. Going through a process of change enables you to keep up with the changes in society.

Take change slowly, and it will bring into your awareness and understanding aspects of reality that you would never have experienced if childhood had been better. Just think of self-examination as an odyssey of personal growth, as a journey of self-discovery, going from confusion to clarity.

Copyright @2003  Ian Heath
All Rights Reserved

The copyright is mine and the articles are free to use. They can be reproduced anywhere, so long as the source is acknowledged.