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Some difficulties in the analysis of a withdrawn patient

The author discusses some difficulties that arose in the analysis of a seriously disturbed patient who found talking about himself extremely problematical. He defended against awareness of conflicts, ideas and affects while being tormented and overwhelmed by them. He seemed to have acquired an inhibited character that was not, however, schizoid. He related to others in a wary, quarrelsome, yet passive way. It became apparent that his sense of identity was confused. Attention to archaic fantasies led to the uncovering of a parthenogenetic unconscious fantasy involving identification with his mother and the attempted eradication of the mental function of his father. Experiences of differentiation led to extreme anxiety including risk of failure of ego functions with the arousal of latent psychotic anxieties. Interpretation of the content of sessions became possible only after several years: until then interpretation of defensive processes aimed at preventing contact or change predominated. Disclosure of ‘unofficial’ communications by the patient, expressed as lapses of vigilance by his severe superego, revealed his crises and feelings. These idiosyncratic, muted appeals for help became a vehicle through which interpretation of content and its transference meaning became possible. Some confusing transference and countertransference experiences in the analysis are described.