Repression

Repression is a defensive psychological mechanism described in psychoanalysis. With its help, a person unconsciously gets rid of unwanted thoughts, attractions and emotions that have reached the sphere of consciousness.

Repression allows a person to deny the existence of those impulses and desires that he considers unacceptable or threatening. These unwanted thoughts or feelings are, as it were, “repressed” from consciousness into the unconscious.

However, completely suppressed desires do not disappear, but continue to exist on an unconscious level. When the suppression mechanism is weakened, they can break into consciousness in the form of dreams, slips of the tongue and other manifestations.

From a psychoanalytic perspective, excessive suppression of important aspects of personality and experience can lead to various psychological problems. Therefore, one of the goals of psychoanalytic therapy is to help the patient become aware of repressed conflicts and desires, so that in the future he can cope with them in a conscious and healthy way, rather than repress them.

Repression: a defense mechanism of the psyche

Repression is one of the protective mechanisms of the psyche, which is used by a person to protect himself from unwanted thoughts, impulses and emotions. Through this mechanism, unwanted aspects of the psyche that have reached consciousness are eliminated from it.

However, if this mechanism is disrupted, a person may develop various mental disorders. For example, instead of consciously eliminating unwanted thoughts and emotions, a person may experience recurring intrusive thoughts or emotional disturbances.

Therefore, one of the goals of psychoanalysis is to ensure that a person consciously, and not mechanically, gets rid of all the unwanted aspirations he has. Psychoanalysis helps people become aware of their repressed thoughts and emotions and learn how to deal with them effectively.

Suppression can occur on both a conscious and unconscious level. On a conscious level, a person can consciously suppress his thoughts and emotions in order not to experience discomfort or displease others. On an unconscious level, suppression can occur automatically, without the person realizing what he is doing.

Suppression is one of the most common defense mechanisms of the psyche and can occur in people of all ages and social groups. However, if suppression occurs too often or lasts too long, it can lead to serious mental disorders.

So, if you are experiencing recurring intrusive thoughts or emotional states that are preventing you from living your life to the fullest, seek help from a professional psychotherapist. It will help you recognize and understand your repressed thoughts and emotions, and learn how to deal with them effectively and healthily.

Suppression or repression in psychoanalysis is a defense mechanism that blocks unwanted thoughts, feelings and impulses. Due to awareness, they disappear into the unconscious. Disruption of the suppression mechanism in some can lead to the development of various mental disorders.

Psychoanalysis is one of the methods of psychotherapy, which is based on research into the personality psyche of Sigmund Freud. This process involves identifying internal conflicts that lead to various emotional disorders and perversions. A person needs to give up a habit that is harmful to himself and learn to control his impulses. Defense mechanisms of the psyche play an important role here. Specifically suppression. This is what we call blocking thoughts, feelings and impulses through awareness of these phenomena. Thus, rejection of any aspects of one’s personality leads to its denial. And he doesn’t allow them to go through - to remove his mental burden from them. As a result, a person tries to avoid these situations. Where he feels uncomfortable.

Suppression is also called the displacement from consciousness of unconscious material that does not correspond to the attitudes of the individual. A person is not able to realize something that is unacceptable to him and causes discomfort, since it turns out to be completely incompatible with generally accepted social norms. Even if it is deep in the subconscious. For this reason, unwanted motives often become unconscious and begin to control a person. This is where contradictions, complexes, phobias and other psychological diseases arise

Suppression also contributes to the accumulation in the unconscious of emotions that a person does not want to acknowledge. But he stubbornly refuses to deal with them. He only works on changing behavior and showing his emotions. However, the mechanism of suppression is always directed towards the internal space and has no way out, therefore they hide from any criticism. In his inner world, a person is most afraid of being weaker than those around him. It is more important for him to maintain his “Iron Man” mask and drown out all his feelings. This is one of the reasons for the development of perversions, such as sadism. During psychoanalysis, the psychotherapist will encourage the patient to realize what has been repressed from his mind. For example, recognize your strengths. Or even repressed emotions harboring strong desire. Through joint efforts, the patient will understand his own thoughts, but will not be influenced by the social norm. Then it will be possible to lead a correct and healthy life.