Question:

Freud’s radical idea that an individual’s physical problems might be best alleviated by a “talking cure” served as the foundation for many more theoretical approaches over the past 100 years.  Even today, at the beginning of the 21stcentury, the many forms of psychodynamic therapy are used by mental health professionals worldwide.  In your opinion, why has Freud’s theory had such enduring and “staying” power for so many years?

Answer:

I think the simple reason that psychodynamic/ "talk therapy" has had such staying power is because it works. As Breuer helped to discover with Anna O., psychological trauma can manifest itself with somatic symptoms. Personally I don't think I've had any psychosomatic issues due to trauma, or certainly none serious enough that I've taken notice.

I have had two friends that had serious back problems due to psychological trauma. Both ended up having several back surgeries, and had to go through the long arduous process of rehabilitation which caused even more trauma in their every day lives. Surprisingly after years of trying to figure out the issue one of my friends read a book on the theory that his back problem was "all in his head" and it went away. (I tried to look up what book this might have been, but it looks like there are several.) 

I think the hardest part about having to deal with emotional pain manifesting itself as physical pain is that it starts a whole new cycle of stress and trauma. I consider myself a centrist when it come to medicine, but I do think one of the issues with Western medicine is that we often try to fix the symptom rather than look for the root cause.

Location: Tempe, AZ 85282, USA

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