Selected papers on hysteria and other psychoneurosesFreud, Sigmund
Science
Selected papers on hysteria and other psychoneuroses
Freud, Sigmund
Hysteria; Neuroses; Psychoanalysis
Among the scenes which in consequence of this review had made the
walking painful one which referred to a walk she had taken in company,
at the watering place, which apparently lasted too long, stood out most
prominently. The deeper circumstances of this occurrence revealed
themselves only hesitatingly and left many a riddle unsolved. She was in
an especially good humor and gladly joined the circle of friendly
persons; it was a lovely day, not too warm, her mother remained at home;
her older sister had already departed, the younger one felt indisposed
but did not wish to mar her pleasure. The husband of the second sister
at first declared that he would remain at home with his wife, but
finally went along for her (Elisabeth’s) sake. This scene seemed to have
a great deal to do with the first appearance of the pains, for she
recalled that she returned home from the walk very fatigued and with
severe pains, she could not however say definitely whether she had
perceived the pains before this. I took for granted that if she had
suffered any pain she would have hardly resolved to enter upon this long
walk. On being questioned whence the pains originated on this walk she
answered rather indefinitely saying that the contrast between her
solitude and the married happiness of her sick sister, of which she was
constantly reminded by the behavior of her brother-in-law, was painful
to her.
Another closely related scene played a part in the connection of the
pain with sitting. It was a few days later, her sister and
brother-in-law had already departed and she found herself in an
excitable longing mood. She arose in the morning and ascended a small
hill which they were wont to visit together and which afforded the only
pretty view. There she sat down on a stone bench giving free play to her
thoughts. Her thoughts again concerned her lonesomeness, the fate of her
family, and she now frankly admitted that she entertained the eager wish
to become as happy as her sister. After this morning’s meditation she
returned home with severe pains. In the evening of the same day she took
the bath, after which the pains definitely appeared and continued
persistently.
We could further ascertain with great certainty that the pains on
walking and standing diminished in the beginning on lying down. Only
after hearing of her sister’s illness and on leaving Gastein in the
evening, spending a sleepless night in the sleeping car, and being
tormented simultaneously by the worries concerning her sister and
violent pains, it was only then that the pains appeared for the first
time while she was lying down, and throughout that time lying down was
even more painful than walking or standing.
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