Oksenberg, Gabriel

The metamorphosis of psychic functioning caused by an incurable illness: Representing oneself through a workshop - 2024.


20

Receiving a diagnosis of an incurable disease is a major shock that can trigger a psychological overhaul amid the patient's struggle against narcissistic collapse. Through the case of Mr. T, the author will examine the metamorphosis of a patient’s libidinal cathexis upon receiving a wrong diagnosis. The establishment of a functional split between internal reality and external reality supports the subject’s object relations at the expense of the stability of his or her Ego. The author will describe the patient’s recovery of subjective access to his sensory experiences through a therapeutic writing workshop. Finally, he will highlight the potential role of a therapeutic group in helping patients come to terms with their mortality.