OJ. some unwanted thought or act, resulting in a build-up
of emotional tension and continued mental stress, that this
increasingly dangerous condition can be relieved by a
catharsis of whatever undesirable is being repressed-by
getting it out of your system.
Specifically, the way to do this is to do just
exactly what Dr. Menninger said, "TALK it out." Ever
since Sigmund Freud developed the technique of psycho-
analysis, the entire primary application of psychotherapy
has been the patient's talking out his undesirable repressed
thoughts.
The simple suggestions made here are no sub-
stitute for professional psychiatric treatment when a mental
illness exists. Specifically, if whatever you are repressing
is hidden so deep in your subconscious that it must be
sought and exposed by psychoanalysis, you need the pro-
fesional services of a psychiatrist.
But, if you are fully aware of exactly what is
bothering you and causing you emotional tension and
mental stress, and if you want to "get it out of your system"
-as you must-then you can do as Dr. Menninger advised
and talk it out.
Once having reached the decision to talk it out,
you have only to decide to whom to talk. That is very
important, of course, and the sources are both numerous
and adequate.
Naturally, the first choice is a psychiatrist, or
a psychologist trained as a therapist. However, they not
only are expensive, as such highly trained specialists must
be, but their services are greatly in demand by the seriously