Recognising the ‘Neurotic Solution’

Abstract

The ‘neurotic solution’ is generally quite easily recognised because it has such clear characteristics. It is always easier to recognise other people’s ‘neurotic solutions’ than one’s own! The first of these characteristics is how inappropriate such solutions are felt to be by the person driven to put them into practice. The woman who feels too frightened to go out of her house knows that to stay at home lessens her fears. Sometimes women who have been severely abused by their husbands actually choose to stay at home to avoid the violence or abuse stirred by any attempt to go out and be more independent. On the other hand, to be a prisoner in her own home feels totally inappropriate. She watches her neighbours go off to work or shop and longs to have their normality.