Category: Psychoanalysis

The featured paper is ‘Withdrawal and Regression’ by Donald Winnicott originally published in 1954. Winnicott tells us that he has met several adult patients who regressed during analysis and recounts one case in particular in which there was transient regression. Winnicott is explicit about the terms and thus ‘By withdrawal in this paper I mean […]

Winnicott on Withdrawal and Regression

For some, asking for help feels like a threat; the need to do so invariably makes them feel inferior. “Why should I need to ask?” “You should already know!” In the game of emotional hot potato, we blame our partners for feeling vulnerable, more precisely, for feeling inferior. While something like asking for help or […]

Obsessed with Control: Addressing Perfectionism and Codependence

Chronic defensiveness, like chronic avoidance, isn’t a victimless crime. In our self-protected cocoons, sheltering us from the exaggerated slings and arrows of existence, we often fail to note how our armors scar our opponents – the ones we love. For the fragile psyche, the pangs of emotional harm, and the accompanying catastrophic predictions, create an […]

The Therapist’s Shame: Understanding Projective Identification and Countertransference

From Torment to Healing Sometimes when I’m struggling with my mental illness, I forget how beneficial it could be for others to know my personal journey a bit more. Although therapy is an excellent resource, there are still many hours to get by when not in session. With that being said, coping can be challenging, […]

Coping with Borderline Personality Disorder