Why speak of Psychic Reality?

Introduction

The purpose of this article is to highlight the existence and importance of psychic reality, as a way to bet on subjectivity. Starting from a Freudian reading, which allows us to address the idea that there are as many "psychic realities" as there are people in the world.

In this sense, the proposal is to think of practice, a mode of approach that brings together all the agents that intervene in the field of Mental Health, where this reality is not excepted.

 A term frequently used by Freud to designate what, in the psyche of the subject, presents a coherence and resistance comparable to those of material reality; it is fundamentally about the unconscious desire and the phantasies related to it

I - Another Reality?

The term "reality" is commonly used, what is not so common is to stop to think if we all share the same reality. This restlessness is also born in Freud, who, from the study of hysteria, manages to understand that "his hysterics of him" of him were not lying to him. That, in any case, it was an "other reality", not comparable to material reality, whose implication was determined by the value it possesses for the subjects. In this way, the father of psychoanalysis finds the Psychic Reality as legitimate work material.

But what is Psychic Reality? To answer this question, we turn to the dictionary of psychoanalysis, in which we find some fragments that will help us to begin to define this concept. The first meaning of the same refers to: “A term frequently used by Freud to designate what, in the psyche of the subject, presents a coherence and resistance comparable to those of material reality; it is fundamentally about the unconscious desire and the phantasies related to it.” [1] And further on: "When Freud speaks of psychic reality, he does not do so simply to designate the field of psychology, (...) but what, for the subject, acquires, in his psyche, the value of reality." [two]

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Starting from these definitions, we will say that Psychic Reality is an unconscious process, whose existence cannot be denied; on the contrary, it must be affirmed and defended. And not only its existence but also its value; the importance and implication it has in the life of a subject. Therefore, we cannot take away its credibility in comparison with Material Reality. It serves as a support, a way of underpinning, through which desires and fantasies can be born and flow, which will give rise to the Psychic Reality. A reality that will emerge in each individual, in an authentic way. Being, in each different subject; laden with its own subjectivity. Both conceptions are important, different, and complementary.

 The path that the Psychic Reality takes is as diverse, as diverse are the subjects

Following the path of psychoanalysis, it is possible to point out a phrase by Freud, from his work The Unconscious and Consciousness. The reality, where he takes up the concept of unconscious desires and establishes a relationship with Psychic Reality: "And if we are dealing with unconscious desires in their ultimate and truest expression, it is necessary to remember without a doubt that psychic reality also has more than one form of existence." [3]This fragment comes to reaffirm what was said before; the path that the Psychic Reality takes is as diverse, as diverse as we are the subjects. Because what will determine the logic that it adopts is completely related to how. How each subject lives and experiences what the material reality provides. The psychic resources that he has to cope with the vicissitudes of life.

Once the idea that the Psychic Reality does not exist in a single way has been clarified; It is worth considering, as mentioned, the reading that Lacan makes in this regard, where he makes a first distinction between the Real and Reality. Whose conception makes it clear to us that "Reality" is permeated by the record of the imaginary [4] and he uses the term unknowable to define the real; that is, everything to which we do not have access through the symbolic and imaginary. Pablo Cazau will tell us in his text Of him the Real, the Imaginary, the Symbolic that both external reality and internal reality will exert the same influence on the psyche.

As a result, we reach why the Psychic Reality is unique and different; because it is built and determined by the imagination of each individual. Which makes it totally genuine.

At this point, we can say: that psychic reality is the way each subject is constructed, regardless of its structure. This allows us to reflect that when thinking about and carrying out interventions, the important thing would not be the material reality itself, but the meaning that it has assumed in the history of that subject. How, the same experience, determined by various factors, for example, language, culture, personal history, and social context; can take on a different meaning.

II - The Psychic Reality in the therapeutic approach

So, we are not only talking about a personal and singular psychic reality but about a way of approaching it. How we can work to prevent a subject from feeling or being determined by our subjectivity? Taking into account that in the intervention there is not only one subject, but two: one in treatment and one professional; where the latter is implied, from the Ethics of Psychoanalysis, to "refrain from making value judgments, not relate it to morality, nor adhere it to ideals." [5]

It is necessary to point out that working with the Psychic Reality implies considering the approach as a dynamic process, which will require time; a time that must be granted and respected. Starting from this idea, we propose three instances:

Know, that is, prepare and nurture ourselves with the theories offered by the various theoretical bodies. Think about the different proposals and take them into account when directing the treatment.

Listening refers to a real listening to the patient's speech, the words he uses, and how he uses them. Do not take anything for granted, ask what each thing is for that subject. Listen to what he says and what he is silent about. Know the history of that person, starting from his logic, trying not to ignore the aspects that make that subject who he is.

And we talk about acting taking into account everything mentioned above. Merging the general theories, with the personal history of the subject. Build an approach that best suits your reality, and integrates it, making it a participant in the treatment. Since not only is it within the ethics of our work to respect subjectivity, but it is also an individual's right, as established by National Law 26657, in its Chapter IV: "Right to be able to make decisions related to your care and his treatment within his possibilities.” [6]

From this perspective, we consider that dismissing the value of psychic reality would bring with it undesirable consequences for the subjects in the therapeutic approach. We find in this Freudian conceptualization, the path towards the integration of individuals, according to what is proposed by the aforementioned law.

conclusion

Know the complexity and diversity that is evident among the subjects, the way in which each one conceives the world, but even more, in how it crosses us; It can be an invitation to reflect on the importance of respect. Respect for the other, for the one who, even being known, can be so alien to us.