Joy and the Abreaction

[Mole]

Standing between us and joy is the abreaction.

The abreaction is all the fear, hatred and rage we have repressed during our upbringing.

So to our surprise, we feel fear, hatred and rage when we first start to experience joy.

And worse, our abreaction is socially unacceptable. So we must repress it once again to survive in society, just as we repressed it to survive in our family.

So we are in the perfect trap. We long to experience joy, but the first thing we experience is the abreaction.

Is there a way out of this trap?

 

[Mal12345]

Drugs.

 

[Mole]

Drugs.

Yes, the purpose of the drug culture is to suppress the abreaction. And in suppressing the abreaction, they also suppress the joy.

Of course the drug culture does give the illusion of joy. But the illusion of joy is simply the relief at suppressing the abreaction.

 

[Lord Guess]

Yes, the purpose of the drug culture is to suppress the abreaction. And in suppressing the abreaction, they also suppress the joy.

Of course the drug culture does give the illusion of joy. But the illusion of joy is simply the relief at suppressing the abreaction.

...Or perhaps it's just a high.

 

[Mole]

...Or perhaps it's just a high.

The high is simply to disguise the emotional pain underneath.

 

[Lord Guess]

The high is simply to disguise the emotional pain underneath.

Or perhaps it has to do with the fact that people like to get high.

 

[Mole]

Or perhaps it has to do with the fact that people like to get high.

Chronic emotional pain is undeniably painful. And we will do almost anything to avoid pain, including joining the drug culture.

 

[Lord Guess]

Chronic emotional pain is undeniably painful. And we will do almost anything to avoid pain, including joining the drug culture.

OR, perhaps (and you can call me crazy, here), people enjoy the physical sensation of getting high, as people enjoy the physical sensation of having sex, or eating, or getting a massage.

 

[Mole]

OR, perhaps (and you can call me crazy, here), people enjoy the physical sensation of getting high, as people enjoy the physical sensation of having sex, or eating, or getting a massage.

Sure, I wouldn't disagree with you. And I guess here I am trying to look at the underlying psychological causes.

And in particular I am looking at the causes through the distinction joy/joyless.

Of course the highest some of us can hope for is relief from psychological pain, while others strive for psychological joy.

 

[Lord Guess]

Sure, I wouldn't disagree with you. And I guess here I am trying to look at the underlying psychological causes.

And in particular I am looking at the causes through the distinction joy/ joyless.

Of course the highest some of us can hope for is relief from psychological pain, while others strive for psychological joy.

I know; I was just messing with you. What you're saying makes perfect sense, actually. What people call catharsis, is the release of repressed negativity; only once the negativity has been moved past, can people actually head toward true joy. It is unfortunate that we must suffer through our repressed negativity before we can truly experience happiness. And, of course, your original point about the repression being due to societal influence is valid, as well.

The question I have here is, is it possible to circumvent the abreaction to move toward true psychological health and happiness?

 

[Mal12345]

Yes, the purpose of the drug culture is to suppress the abreaction. And in suppressing the abreaction, they also suppress the joy.

Of course the drug culture does give the illusion of joy. But the illusion of joy is simply the relief at suppressing the abreaction.

Twoo, twoo...

 

[entropie]

balance

I havent felt anger, rage or hatred for a long time. I dunno if thats healthy but things just dont get me to react so quickly no more

 

[Qlip]

Well, society is actually accomodating to most of our psychological needs, it's a matter of finding the right place and time. Deficating is a human need, but even Fi'er agree we shouldn't do it in the middle of a public movie theatre. I'm sure there is that one guy who's abreaction is to deficate in a public theatre. Well, I guess they are screwed.. maybe make it some sort of performace art? I dunno, get creative. Come on, don't wait for somebody to lead you by the hand.

 

[Stanton Moore]

Standing between us and joy is the abreaction.

The abreaction is all the fear, hatred and rage we have repressed during our upbringing.

So to our surprise, we feel fear, hatred and rage when we first start to experience joy.

And worse, our abreaction is socially unacceptable. So we must repress it once again to survive in society, just as we repressed it to survive in our family.

So we are in the perfect trap. We long to experience joy, but the first thing we experience is the abreaction.

Is there a way out of this trap?

There is no trap. The only way out is through...

 

[citizen cane]

The abreaction is all the fear, hatred and rage we have repressed during our upbringing.

Ok Sigmund Freud.

 

[Mole]

I know; I was just messing with you. What you're saying makes perfect sense, actually. What people call catharsis, is the release of repressed negativity; only once the negativity has been moved past, can people actually head toward true joy. It is unfortunate that we must suffer through our repressed negativity before we can truly experience happiness. And, of course, your original point about the repression being due to societal influence is valid, as well.

The question I have here is, is it possible to circumvent the abreaction to move toward true psychological health and happiness?

It is important to experience the abreaction, then it is important to understand the abreaction, then evaluate the abreaction, and then finally to integrate all the repressed feelings into our normal life.

And none of this can happen without first experiencing the abreaction. It is no good talking about ii. It is no good thinking about it. It must be experienced. The feeling must first be felt. The abreaction is experiential.

However the abreaction is also disorientating and leaves us vulnerable. So it is vital to have an experienced caretaker with us when we start to abreact. So we can experience the feelings fully and safely, and then analyse, evaluate and integrate them into our lives.