Anxiety Zone - Neurosis

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Neurosis

The term neurosis, also psychoneurosis or neurotic disorder, in modern psychology refers to any mental disorder that, although may cause distress, does not interfere with rational thought or the persons' ability to function. This is in contrast to psychosis which refers to more severe disorders. The term is no longer in common use. The word is derived from two Greek words: neuron (nerve) and osis (diseased or abnormal condition). Neuroses may feature in both organic illnesses, such as personality disorder, and non-organic illnesses, such as caffeinism.

A neurosis, in psychoanalytic theory, is an ineffectual coping strategy that Sigmund Freud suggested was caused by emotions from past experience overwhelming or interfering with present experience. For example, someone attacked by a dog as a toddler may have a phobia or overwhelming fear of dogs.

In Carl Jung's theory of analytical psychology a neurosis results from the conflict of two psychic contents, one of which must be unconscious.

There are many different specific neuroses and many of them are named: pyromania, obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety neurosis, and an endless variety of phobias.

Everyone has some neurotic symptoms and defense mechanisms that help them deal with anxiety. Defense mechanisms that result in difficulties in living are termed neuroses and are treated by psychoanalysis, psychotherapy/counselling, or other psychiatric techniques.

The information above is not intended for and should not be used as a substitute for the diagnosis and/or treatment by a licensed, qualified, health-care professional. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It incorporates material originating from the Wikipedia article "Neurosis".