Citation

Ariv GY. Br. J. Psychother. 1993; 10(2): 142-158.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1752-0118.1993.tb00642.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Using a theme from a once weekly therapy I explore the problem of gaining insight when both seeing and being seen are experienced as attack with fears for survival. I use the Oedipus legend to describe narcissistic attacks on sight and the compulsion to return to a rejecting mother. The figures of Hades realm and the story of the Medusa portray the stuck, blind, somatised states I am describing together with the rage, envy and longing involved. I suggest that a cyclic image of movement is useful in the therapy where excessive splitting into opposites with male/female connotations has occurred. Through the theme of eyes, seeing and being blind I develop the relation between critical super-ego penetration and feelings of submission, violation, exposure and shame that induce the need to stay hidden and affect sexual feelings as well as inter and intra-psychic relating.