Emotions can sometimes seem difficult to understand, contain, or put into words. A reaction may appear disproportionate to the immediate situation without necessarily being meaningless.
In my psychoanalytic consultations in Lyon, either in person or online, talking provides an opportunity to explore the uniqueness of these reactions without reducing them to general categories.
Why are my emotions or reactions sometimes so intense?
A remark may trigger intense anger, a separation may cause overwhelming anxiety, or a disappointment may lead to a feeling of collapse.
These reactions may be connected to the current situation, to expectations, relationships, or an individual's unique history. They do not have a universal meaning.
Psychoanalysis therefore seeks to understand what is happening for this particular person, rather than immediately assigning a meaning to an emotion.
A present reaction may bring together several elements that go beyond the immediate situation.
A fear of rejection, a sense of injustice, or a previous experience may sometimes give a situation a particular intensity. This does not necessarily mean that an earlier experience is the explanation for the reaction.
Analytical work explores what triggers the reaction and the associations it brings to mind.
An emotion does not have a universal meaning. Anger, sadness, or heightened sensitivity may correspond to very different experiences.
It can be useful to examine what happened before the emotion arose, as well as what was felt, thought, or feared.
Psychoanalysis can thus gradually help put into words what is taking place, without seeking to interpret every emotion systematically.
Why do certain emotions keep coming back in the same situations?
An emotion that repeatedly arises in certain circumstances may invite us to consider what is being repeated.
If anxiety regularly appears during separations, if anger arises when someone feels criticized, or if shame appears when they have to put themselves forward, it may be useful to explore these situations.
Certain past experiences may potentially resonate with them, without assuming in advance that there is necessarily a connection.
How can I live better with my emotions rather than trying to get rid of them?
Psychoanalysis does not seek to eliminate so-called negative emotions. Rather, it offers a space in which they can be given a place in speech and explored in order to understand what they may represent.
When an emotion can be thought about and put into words, one's relationship to it may sometimes change. Gradually, a person may become better able to distinguish between what they feel, what they think, and what they choose to do.
Why do I cry over things that seem insignificant?
An emotion can sometimes seem disproportionate to the event that has just occurred. An ordinary remark, a temporary separation, or a minor disappointment may lead to intense crying.
This does not necessarily mean that the reaction is incomprehensible. A present situation may sometimes resonate with an earlier experience or touch upon a particular sensitivity.
Exploring the circumstances in which these emotions arise can gradually help clarify what lies behind their intensity.
The question is therefore not only, “Why did I cry over something so insignificant?”, but also, “What did this situation touch in me?”
Why do I get so angry?
Anger can be difficult to live with when it becomes very intense or leads to behaviours that are later regretted.
It may arise when we feel misunderstood, rejected, powerless, frustrated, or unfairly treated. It may also conceal other emotions that are more difficult to recognize, such as fear or sadness.
Trying to understand what comes before anger can often provide greater insight into one's own way of functioning.
In a psychoanalytic approach, anger can be welcomed as something to be listened to and explored, rather than simply as a behaviour that needs to be eliminated.
Why can't I say what I am feeling?
Some people experience a great deal internally but find it difficult to express what they feel. They may fear disturbing others, disappointing them, being judged, or causing conflict.
It can also happen that we learned very early in life not to show our emotions. We may then appear highly self-sufficient while finding it difficult to ask for help or to say what we really feel.
Talking provides precisely an opportunity to begin putting words to experiences where words may previously have been lacking.
Analytical work can help explore why some emotions are easy to express, while others seem impossible to put into words.
How can psychoanalysis help me understand my emotional reactions?
Over the course of the sessions, connections may emerge between current reactions, relationships, memories, and patterns of repetition. These connections are not presented as ready-made explanations: they emerge through the analytical process.
I offer psychoanalytic consultations in Lyon, both in person and online. An initial meeting provides an opportunity to get to know each other, clarify what brings you to therapy, and consider whether a psychoanalytic approach is suited to your situation and expectations.
If you would like to begin this work, you can make an appointment for an initial consultation.
Emotional management and psychoanalysis : support in Lyon or by teleconsultation