Sigmund Freud is one of the most well known physiologists of the 20th century. He contributed many ideas and findings such as the theory of the unconscious mind, psychoanalysis and the Freudian slip. Freud was very good about getting deep into one’s mind, finding their darkest secrets and the things people hardly knew about that person, picking them apart piece by piece uncovering the truths and realities of how the brain functioned.
Psychoanalysis is one of the bases of Freud's work in which he used to better understand how the unconscious mind worked in the influence of one’s overall mental state and well being. This treatment uses aspects of experiences in the person’s life as well as characteristic of the person to identify the development and changes of the mind. Psychoanalysis is a study of the mind but also a treatment to cure and help patients deal with mental issues. Psychoanalysis mainly focuses its treatment on patients that have phobias, compulsions, obsessions, and depression. These treatments consist of a patient lyi
ng down in a room with only the psychologist present usually out of sight of the patients view or other psychologist may have the patient sit facing them. The psychologist then asks for the patient to free themselves from the captivity of their mind letting their imagination run wild so they can speak freely saying whatever comes to mind at that moment. It is said that the exertion of these spontaneous thoughts helps relieve stress which assists your mind to liberate itself from the illness for it has released thoughts and memories that has been cooped up inside. The psychologist also, after many sessions of treatment and a long period of time, interprets the patient’s ideas and thoughts that are said developing their own theories to why the patient is suffering from this mental problem. After the treatments and analysis of the patient, if they are not cured then medication is distributed to help treat the patient.
In my opinion I think that the study of psychoanalysis is brilliant and that if not discovered may not have gotten psychology to where it is today. This study is and will continue to allow psychologist to gain greater understanding of the brain in which it very well may lead to the finding of cures for mental problems and illnesses. On the other hand I do believe that psychoanalysis as the treatment to cure, yes, a treatment to cure! , a mental illness does not work. Having experienced psychoanalysis treatments first hand I can tell you it is somewhat pointless for treatment and frankly was a waste of time. In my experience with psychoanalysis treatment I was able to let off steam and stress talking with my psychiatrist. Through numerous treatments I did show some very little improvement in getting over OCD. Over a longer period of time I was able to see some changes in my daily routine but the OCD was still a major factor in my life. This began to reveal to me that if I really wanted to fully free myself from this mental disorder I would need to go through treatments the rest of my life. After going to treatment and not seeing any significant changes that would lead me to think I’m finally cured of OCD I stopped the treatment. I believe that mental illnesses will never go away no matter how much talking, medication or crazy scientific treatments one does. I think it either disappears over time or the person just lives with it for the rest of their lives.
