Obsessional neurosis

             Sigmund Freud pioneered the exploration of the unconscious mind and in his writing, provides an astoundingly perceptive application of his theories. He entitles one of his most famous case studies, in which the patient has come to be known as the Rat Man, "Notes Upon a Case of Obsessional Neurosis." Freud organizes this paper with clarity and seeming ease, progressing through the individual's treatment and finally applying the results to a general theoretical discussion of the nature of obsessional neurosis. Despite Freud's amazing ability to understand the emotional distress of his patient, he manages to describe the case in a humble way, disclaiming his results as absolute and comprehensive. He begins his text with respect for his patient, saying
             I cannot give a complete history of the treatment, because that would involve my entering in detail into the circumstances of my patient's life. The importunate interest of a capital city, focussed with particular attention upon my medical activities, forbids my giving a faithful picture of the case (Freud, 1909, p. 2).
             Amid Freud's sense of decency, he manages to challenge the culture around him with frankness and adept analysis. In fact, Freud leaves the reader wondering what he left out that kept this case study from being "faithful," for he includes countless, poignant, and intimate thoughts and difficulties of his patient, illuminating a clear picture of the nature of the illness.
             Freud's organized portrayal of the Rat Man's case assists his interpretation, elucidating the nature of the therapy's progression. He begins by explaining a general conception of the obsessional
             neurosis and its chief symptoms. Freud writes that the disorder's chief features involved fears of danger toward two people - the patient's father and the lady he admired - which gave rise to compulsions and prohibitions in many areas. Next, Freu...

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Obsessional neurosis . (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 20:59, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/65323.html