Neurosis is the inability to tolerate ambiguity.
신경증은 모호함을 참지 못하는 것이다.
- Sigmund Freud
신경증
신경증은 억압과 욕망 사이에 정체불명의 갈등이 있기 때문에 발생한다. 그 긴장은 갈등, 부적합, 그리고 과민성으로 나타난다.
신경증의 특성 및 강도
신경증이라는 단어는 꽤 유명하며 신경증의 원래의 의미를 일부 상실했다. 사람들은 정신의학과 심리학에서 그것을 사용하기 시작했다. 그러나, 신경증은 실제로 지그문트 프로이트의 정신분석에서 구체화하였다.
일반적으로, 소리를 많이 지르거나 갈등이 심한 사람은 신경증이라는 딱지가 붙는다. 하지만 이것은 정확하지 않다. 18세기에, 한 환자가 정서적 불안정을 겪을 때 신경증이라는 이야기가 있었다. 그러나 이 정의는 바뀌었다.
이 상태의 강도는 다르지만 프로이트 언어에 따르면 거의 모든 사람이 신경증이 있다. 이런 관점에서 보면, 모든 인간은 어느 정도의 신경증을 갖고 있다. 예를 들어, 사회의 한 부분이 되고 개인적인 욕망을 소홀히 함으로써 내면의 긴장을 조성한다.
“신경증은 모호함을 참지 못하는 것이다.”
–지그문트 프로이트–
신경증의 원래의 의미
프로이트와 신경증
프로이트는 누군가 자신의 희망에 반하여 자신의 기본적인 충동을 억제하거나 추진력을 억제해야 할 때 신경증이 있다고 표현했다. 다른 선택이 없기 때문에 참는다는 말이다. 하지만, 마음속 깊은 곳에서는, 그들은 아직 기본적인 충동을 포기하지 않았다.
자신을 억누를 때 긴장감이 있다. 당신은 원하지만, 할 수 없다. 프로이트의 용어로는, 의무를 결정하는 몸인 초자아와 가장 기본적인 욕망을 나타내는 몸인 이드 사이에 투쟁이 있다. 이것은 지속적인 불편함을 초래한다.
긴장감은 무의식적으로 일어나기 때문에 신경증인 사람은 아무것도 그들을 만족시키지 못한다고 느낀다. 갈등과 풀리지 않은 의심이 우세하다. 따라서, 그들은 현실에 저항하는 데 많은 에너지를 소비한다. 그러나 적극적으로 변화시킬 방법을 마련하지 못하고 있다.
신경증의 특성
신경증 환자의 안정감과 불편함은 매일의 스트레스를 넘어서는 것이다. 비슷하지만 다른 점은 신경증이 있을 때 그런 스트레스가 남는다는 것이다. 비록 스트레스를 느낄 이유는 없지만 말이다.
신경증인 사람은 항상 시끄럽지도 않고 그들의 성질에 의해 쉽게 식별되지도 않는다. 사실, 이 사람들은 종종 조용하고 시무룩하며 결국 폭발할 뿐이다. 물론, 그들은 그들 자신이나 세계와 여전히 갈등하고 있다. 그들의 주된 특징은 내부적인 긴장감이 사라지지 않는다는 것이다.
강도 높은 신경증은 대도시에 사는 사람들에게 더 흔하다. 또한 가난하게 살거나 어린 시절 학대를 받거나, 버림받거나, 방임 당한 사람들에게서 더 흔하다. 신경증인 사람이 자발적으로 하기 어려운 것은 웃음이다. 왜냐하면 그들은 긴장을 푸는 것을 어려워하기 때문이다.
신경증의 강도
우리가 위에서 언급했듯이, 거의 모든 사람은 신경증 특성이 있다. 왜냐하면 신경증은 사회의 일원이 되는 것에 대한 대가이기 때문이다. 그러나, 기본적인 욕망의 포기는 합리성의 결실이며 그것을 감당할 수 있는 사람들에 대한 억압의 결실이 아니다.
다음은 신경증 정도를 평가하기 위한 몇 가지 질문이다.
당신은 자신을 과민한 사람이라고 생각하는가?
당신은 피해자처럼 느끼는 편인가?
누군가가 당신에게 실수를 지적했을 때, 당신은 그것이 사실인지 아닌지 분석하기 전에 그것을 정당화하거나 자신을 변호하는가?
당신은 자주 불안한가?
다른 사람들이 당신에게 관심을 기울인다고 생각하는가?
질투하고 불신하는가?
당신은 다른 사람들을 자주 비난하는가?
작은 문제가 종종 당신에게 크게 보이는가?
낙천주의나 우울증이 과장된 건가?
성생활이 어려운가?
종종 세상에 대해 화가 나는가?
개선하려는 야망이 거의 없거나 아예 없는 건가?
당신은 이직하는 것에 대해 자주 생각하는가, 아니면 직장에서 자주 해고되는가?
당신은 인생의 한 가지 또는 그 이상의 면에서 지나치게 꼼꼼한가?
특히 지저분한가?
당신은 아무 이유 없이 거짓말을 하는가?
미신을 믿는가?
나중에 바보같이 생각되는 일을 하는가?
당신의 행동은 강박적인가?
당신은 과장된 두려움이나 공포증이 있는가?
화를 잘 내는가?
집중하기가 어려운가?
의사가 진단할 수 없는 질병이 있는가?
머리가 자주 아픈가?
당신은 잠을 잘 자지 못하는가?
결과
네 가지 질문에 “그렇다”고 대답했다면 분명히 신경증의 특성이 있을 것이다. 또한, 4개에서 8개의 질문에 ” 그렇다”라고 대답했다면, 신경증적 행동을 할 것이다. 마지막으로, 8개 이상의 질문에 “그렇다”라고 대답했다면 당신의 신경증은 전문적인 도움이 필요하다.
Neuroses and neuroticism
The word neuroses was originally coined in the 18th century to label a range of psychological disorders that could not usually be linked to a physical cause. It is often confused for neuroticism, a personality trait.
There is no single definition of neurosis. Neurosis was, until recently, a diagnosable psychological disorder that interferes with quality of life without disrupting an individual’s perception of reality.
Some psychologists and psychiatrists use the term neurosis to refer to anxious symptoms and behaviors. Other doctors use the term to describe a spectrum of mental illnesses outside of psychotic disorders. Psychoanalysts, such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, described the thought process itself using the term neurosis.
In 1980, the third publication of the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III)Trusted Source removed the term neurosis.
This article will discuss how neuroticism differs from neuroses and personality disorders, as well as how to recognize the signs of an anxiety disorder similar to neuroses. It will also give a few tips on handling some of the psychological effects of neuroticism.
Fast facts on neuroses and neuroticism
“Neuroses” is a term used in many different ways related to abnormal psychological processes.
Neuroticism has been used to describe a personality trait that does not impair everyday function.
Neuroticism is one of the Big Five personality traits found in personality tests across a range of cultures.
Neurosis is no longer used as a diagnosed, and neuroses are now diagnosed as depressive or anxiety disorders.
Although disused, the neurosis diagnosis is important for understanding how psychological disorders are treated today.
What is neuroticism?
Neuroticism is considered a personality trait rather than a medical condition.
Neuroticism is a long-term tendency to be in a negative or anxious emotional stateTrusted Source. It is not a medical condition but a personality trait. People often confuse this with neurosis.
Neuroticism is one of the traits that make up the five-factor model of personalityTrusted Source alongside extraversion, agreeability, conscientiousness, and openness. This model is used in personality evaluations and tests across a wide range of cultures.
People with neuroticism tend to have more depressed moods and suffer from feelings of guilt, envy, anger, and anxiety more frequently and more severely than other individuals.
They can be particularly sensitive to environmental stress. People with neuroticism may see everyday situations as menacing and major. Frustrations that may be experienced by others as trivial may become problematic and lead to despair.
An individual with neuroticism may be self-conscious and shy. They may tend to internalize phobias and other neurotic traits, such as anxiety, panic, aggression, negativity, and depression. Neuroticism is an ongoing emotional state defined by these negative reactions and feelings.
Despite not qualifying as a diagnosis, psychologists and psychiatrists do not dismiss a personality that shows a heavy tilt towards neuroticism as unimportant for mental wellbeing. Dr. Benjamin B. Lahey, of the University of Chicago’s Departments of Health Studies and Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, said in a 2009 manuscriptTrusted Source:
“Although not widely appreciated, there is growing evidence that neuroticism is a psychological trait of profound public health significance. Neuroticism is a robust correlate and predictor of many different mental and physical disorders, comorbidity among them, and the frequency of mental and general health service use.”
While neuroticism is not a diagnosis, or even a concern in an otherwise well-balanced personality, having it can feed into different mental and physical health problems.
Neuroticism or neurosis?
Neurosis is complex, and research offers more than one explanation. However, it is different from neuroticism.
In basic terms, neurosis is a disorder involving obsessive thoughts or anxiety, while neuroticism is a personality trait that does not have the same negative impact on everyday living as an anxious condition. In modern non-medical texts, the two are often used with the same meaning, but this is inaccurate.
The term “neurosis” is rarely used by modern psychologists, as they consider it to be outdated and vague.
Characteristics of neurosis
Scientists do not agree on what constitutes neurosis, although there are common traits that have been explored over the centuries.
Emotional instability: According to Hans Jürgen Eysenck (1916-1997), a German-British psychologist, neurosis is defined by emotional instability.
A general affection of the nervous system: Neurosis was first used by Dr. William Kullen, from Scotland, in 1769. He maintained the term refers to “disorders of sense and motionTrusted Source” caused by “a general affection of the nervous system.” For Dr. Kullen, this includes coma and epilepsy.
No interference with rational thought or ability to function: More recently, neurosis refers to mental disorders that do not interfere with rational thought or the individual’s ability to function, even though they can cause distress.
Caused by an unpleasant experience: According to Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), a famous Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis, neurosis is a coping strategy caused by unsuccessfully repressed emotions from past experiences.
These emotions overwhelm or interfere with current experience. He gave the example of an overwhelming fear of dogs that may have resulted from a dog-attack earlier in life.
A conflict between two psychic events: Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist who founded analytical psychology. He believed that a neurosis was a clash of conscious and unconscious events in the mind.
These stances on neurosis confirm that it is seen as an ailment, and is normally discussed with an aim to finding the cause of and treating the condition. While a personality test can confirm that a person has neuroticism, it is not a disease or condition and cannot be “treated.”
Neuroticism or psychosis?
Psychosis is also different from neuroticism, although some have suggested that it may become a feature of neuroticism.
Psychosis causes a person to perceive or interpret what they see and experience in a different way to those around them. It interferes with their ability to function in a social context.
Symptoms of psychosis include hallucinations and delusions.
Psychosis can be a symptom of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, severe depression, or a brain tumor.
It can also be triggered by the misuse of some substances, such as alcohol and drugs, whether illegal or prescribed.
In recent years, scientists have questioned the distinction between neurosis and psychosis, as psychosis can develop from neurosis.
In 2002, researchers looking at data for nearly 4,000 people concluded thatTrusted Source “neuroticism increases the risk for development of psychotic symptoms.”
Types
Panic attacks and tremors may be characteristics of anxious neurosis.
There are a few different types of neurosis. Here are some examples.
Anxious neurosis: Extreme anxiety and worry characterize this type of neurosis, as well as panic attacks and physical symptoms such as tremors and sweating.
Depressive neurosis: This consists of ongoing and profound sadness, often coupled with losing interest in activities that once provided pleasure.
Obsessive-compulsive neurosis: This condition involves repeating intrusive thoughts, behaviors, or mental acts. Both repeating and being deprived of these cues can cause distress.
War or combat neurosis: Now known as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this involves excessive stress and inability to function in everyday life after experiencing deeply traumatic events.
Neurosis was often used to describe diseases in which the nervous system is not functioning correctly, and no lesions show to explain the dysfunction.
Diagnosis
Neurosis is not currently diagnosed by healthcare professionals.
Psychologists and psychiatrists now place symptoms that resemble those in neurosis within the category of depressive disorders or anxiety. However, some psychoanalysts still use the term.
Neuroticism, on the other hand, can be identified and scored by personality tests.
When taking a personality test, an individual can get low, medium, or high scores for neuroticism. People with low scores are more emotionally stable and manage to deal with stress more successfully than those with high scores.
Treatment
Cognitive behaviural therapy may be used to treat neurosis.
Neurosis would be treated with standard psychological care. Conditions that are now diagnosed differently, such as depressive disorder, would have been treated using the same methods as today when neurosis was used an active diagnosis
Treatment can include psychotherapy, psychoactive drugs, and relaxation exercises, such as deep breathing.
Other methods include cognitive behavioral therapy, which adjusts the faulty psychological mechanisms that respond to the environment to react as they should. Creative therapies, such as art therapy or music therapy, have also been used to tackle mental disturbances similar to neuroses.
Takeaway
Psychologists and psychiatrists have been trying to label neuroses for centuries without agreeing on a definition.
Although no longer used, the neuroses diagnosis was an important first step to understanding and treating the psychological disorders of today.
Neuroticism is not a medical problem, and its negative associations are misleading. It is a universal personality trait and is healthy as part of a balanced personality profile.