Can somebody perform psychoanalysis on themselves?

Question

Or something similar? only fees for such therapy are quite expensive, id like to be psychoanalised just to see what happens and make sure I have no unconsious 'barriers'. As it were.

Answer 1

Yes this is very possible.
However as I was telling my psychiatrist the other day, I will generally shy away from such actions unless I can be "objective".

Answer 2

Actually, I learned a method that does not seek to reveal hidden barriers as analysis does, but seeks to overcome them by essentially installing new pathways of positive/rational thoughts that help you overcome any mental obstacle... unconscious or not. It's called cognitive therapy or cognitive behavior therapy depending on whether it's thoughts or behavior you're trying to modify. Read more in Dr. David Burns' book: "The Feeling Good Handbook". It's a wonderful guide for anyone wanting to become more confident in themselves and have a better outlook on life in general.

Answer 3

You defiantly can .
no one knows you and understand you better than yourself .you just need to be committed to doing the self psychoanalysis .you need to relax and just do deep thinking about yourself and try to find the cure for problems you may have and try to focus on what really matters to you and your brain will find ways to get there.
also going to a specialist is not a bad idea as you can get some strategy's and techniques from them to use yourself.

be focus and do not be a judge during the selfanalys time you may take ,just relax and be spiritually centered.
try to find some good self-help audio CD`s there are lots of good ones out there.
good luck.

Answer 4

You need a number of sessions with a professional first. I know they are expensive but this can be the biggest gift you give yourself. He will guide you and show you what you need to work on. Then you can continue partially alone. If you get stuck you can go back. Books sometimes help but you can't really heal yourself unless you know what you're after

Answer 5

actually, freud did just that, but in reality, i suspect there would be a loss of objectivity on the part of the analyst since the analyst is also the patient. personally, i think psychoanalysis is an intellectual exercise used by the rich to further feed their egos.

Answer 6

I don't think you can hypnotise yourself or anything like that. But if you want to psychoanalyse yourself, you've got to keep asking 'why'....why do I have these flaws and why do I have these good points....once you answer that, you ask why those causes exist....and so on till you reach the root cause.

It's called introspection....but it means you've got to be brutally honest with yourself. There will be things about you that you don't like...are you strong enough to acknowledge them? Accept them? And then change???

Answer 7

You probably could, but it is obviously better if done by an objective person who can challenge the way you perceive the events in your life. There must be self-help books you could read on introspection and examining your own life.

Answer 8

No, these days psychoanalysts undergo analysis too.
It doesn't really work to analise yourself - you will only find what you want to find.
Having said that, you can just watch what happens around you and follow anything that seems unusual, we are supposed to have a "guardian angel" who will show us our barriers etc.
See Freud below:

Answer 9

Talking to ones self is good for you.But dont take it to far or you may fall out with yourself, and then you wont be speaking, you eventualy have to appologise to yourself, and take yourself out for a meal to consol yourself and that could be costly.

Answer 10

Of course not.

A psychologist or psychoanalyst needs to maintain an emotional detachment from their patient or subject - you can hardly say that about yourself, now can you?