The Therapy Journal
This is where psychotherapy steps out of the session and into conversation. From our defences that shape our daily lives to the emotions that drive our choices, these pieces explore the human mind through a psychodynamic lens.
Whether clinical or cultural, every post asks the same question:
What happens when we stop avoiding our feelings?
Where therapy meets everyday life
media depth emotion anxiety betterhelp reflections quizzes
Can I Be Myself and Still Be Loved? The Fear of Abandonment and the Struggle for a Separate Will
What if the fear of abandonment doesn't just make you afraid of losing someone, but makes it difficult to be yourself? Exploring the psychological connection between attachment, identity and personal autonomy, this article examines how anxiety, guilt and self-criticism can lead us to abandon our own wishes to preserve important relationships. Drawing on psychodynamic theory and research into borderline personality disorder (BPD), it asks a fundamental question: can we have a separate will and still feel loved?