Emotional block is the term used to refer to the causes of psychopathological symptoms and mind reactions to situations felt as a threat. From a psychodynamic perspective, psychiatric diagnosis helps with intervention and, many times, with temporary symptoms remission. Symptoms, however, may reoccur or express themselves in other ways, such as psychopathological patterns – anxieties, compulsions-, dysfunctions and psychosomatic diseases, in case there isn’t a deeper investigation into their origins. Regarding sexuality, many sorts of blocks may have a repercussion in it, for example: phobias, anxieties, repression, depression and any other that may end up creating impediments to relationships. Blocks may also be expressed through sexual dysfunctions- many levels of impotence, early ejaculation, vaginismus, among others and may, finally, be related to sexual identity development. In these cases, they show themselves in behaviors that might vary from contact block to more subtle ones that might not attract enough attention because they don’t imply impediments in the development of a sexual life or a relationship. They may go on an escalation from: 1) feeling extremely uneasy, 2) utterly embarrassed or 3) panicking and running away from highly eroticized and desired situations related to the phase where the block has been installed. The gradation from bafflement to running away refers to:1) highly eroticized and desired situations and 2) highly eroticized and desired situations with the opposite sex/ complementary energy[1]. People may not be aware of the these kinds of blocks if they haven’t been exposed to eroticized situations where the blocked part is demanded. Symptoms will manifest themselves if people are surprised, in unexpected circumstances, by awkward behaviors that they don’t control, which might indicate sexual identity blocks. Despite the more or less clear impact on sexual life, examples above have no necessary association with lack or even loss of sexual desire, in fact, they are, so to speak, even broader than the area of sexuality. Moreover, although it is necessary to treat symptoms, it will not always be enough. They will reoccur or be replaced by others. To understand defense mechanisms[2][3]associated with the symptoms, it is necessary to understand the conflicts at the root of blockage[4]. A dysfunction resolution requires looking into the conflict on the basis of a somatic “Yes” or “No” (in the body). For example, Maria is not able to say “No” to some family conflict (psychological sphere) and says, instead, “No” to food (anorexia)- eating disorder. Or, else, John is not fully aware of his hesitation (ambivalence) regarding their parents’ conflicts (psychological sphere) and develops, instead, a speech dysfunction (stammering) or some degree of sexual dysfunction (impotence). In sexual identity block cases, the goal is to mobilize the blocked identity model that is usually linked to inhibitory psychological atmospheres in childhood, which, in turn, are introjected into individual’s personality. This way, the fusion with idealized models from adolescence happens and adult’s sexual identity is completed. If Sexual Identity is completed in a healthy way, the person is potentially ready to all kinds of sexual and erotic exchanges as well as intimacy , which enables them to make genuine loving choices. At the root of all kinds of conflicts there are anguishes. Circumstances, psychological atmospheres or mental states might bring up impediments and anxiety. Nevertheless, the distinction between an external impediment (real) and an internal one is that second has an unknown cause. This is what defines it as neurotic. The challenge lies in investigating conflicts that people are not aware of or find it hard to admit. The resolution of conflicts at that basis of neurosis is not only the right track to follow but also the path leading to the necessary confrontation reach maturity
To be continued on the next Post
[1]For more details see Dias in Essay 4- Sexual Identity development blocks. In: http://www.ceciliapsicologa.org [2]For more details see Silva,V. A. Intra-psychic defense psychodynamics in Psychodramatic Analysis. Vol II (2008) Ágora. São Paulo [3] See also Defense and Repression, in: La Planche e Pontalis. Psychoanalysis Vocabulary (2001). Martins Fontes. Sao Paulo [4]I will use blockage as a synonym of impediment.
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