Reading Response 7: Sigmund Freud “Mourning and Melancholia”

The way this reading explores the complexity of the meaning mourning and melancholia is so fascinating. We can understand that both words are pretty similar but yet have different characteristics. I believe an important part that Freud touches on is when he refers to the ego of a person. The melancholia of the ego is so important to be understood by our society because it can the reason for different types of depression that happen today. The author states, "It is easy to see that the inhibition and circumscription of the ego is the expression of an exclusive devotion to mourning which leaves nothing over for other purposes or other interests" which basically is referring to the depression sense when you lose a beloved person. This is referred to be pathological, and in this case for a person who is grieving, relates to the emotional crisis. In most of the times, those feeling and the mental breakdown cannot be controlled by them. I think this subject is so important to be discussed today, and the way the author addresses it is so interesting. I can say for myself that, I have never experienced those feelings described in the reading before, however, after reading the text, I feel that I was able to understand why some people feel and act the way they do when depressed after the lost of something or someone. Freud says, "The patient represents his ego to us as worthless, incapable of any achievements... expects to be cast out and punished" I cannot imagine the pain a person have passed in order to feel so miserable, and for someone reason I find myself wondering how I could help these type of people. But I know, that because I haven't lost any of my beloved ones, I cannot put myself in the position. The following words scare me and are hard to read "He really is lacking in interest and as incapable of love and achievements" because I do not want to experience this, and if so, I want to be be able to overcome my own feelings. But I know it will be painful.