Psychodynamic Theory for Psychosomatic Pain

Question: A central concept in most psychodynamic theories is a belief in the importance of the unconscious in understanding the human psyche”. Counselor's who work with recent refugees from war-torn countries, might view the explanation for unexplained physical problems refugees are experiencing such as temporary blindness, episodic memory loss, and insomnia.

Answer: I think the counselor would view these "unexplained physical problems" as psychosomatic issues stemming from the trauma of war. That the deep emotional trauma from this type of experience has manifested it-self in a physical way for the refugees. There are biological factors such has chemicals warfare that could cause mass unexplained symptoms, but the symptoms described (blindness, episodic memory loss, and insomnia) all sound like symptoms of PTSD; or to be more culturally sensitive, PTSR (Post Traumatic Stress Reaction) *** Just learned that in my "Counseling and Helping Professions" class, so thought it would be nice to sneak that in there.

Psychoanalysts may differ as to what part of the unconscious is affecting this group people. Freud would say that this manifestation was formed by the unconscious psyche of the refugees as individuals dealing with trauma. While Jung may look at parts of this mass hysteria as the individual(s) experiencing unexplained physical issues as the collective unconscious dealing with theme of chaos. Adler on the other hand may see these symptoms as signals “to the self and others to take charge and stay in control.” (Corsini, & Wedding, 2014, p.56)


Justin Biske
By Justin Biske


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