# Is Neurosis the same as selfishness? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 28, 2010, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742 "2010-08-28T00:35:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742/21 "2010-08-30T18:27:03Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Jung said ‘Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering’ which sounds about right to me. Most neuroticism seems to be attempts to avoid being vulnerable enough to expierience the pain of shame, pain, fear, violation, rejection, abandonment, etc. So people become hyperactive, anxious, depressed, because they can’t deal with the emotional pain they’ve experienced or are at risk for. So neurosis is a way of dealing with external threats by internal (over)reactions? How simple, but unapparent, until someone like Jung can explain it. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/94ad74/32.png) [@No\_Wikipedia\_Cites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Wikipedia_Cites)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742/22 "2010-08-30T18:41:22Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > But for some reason she has chosen not to participate in her own thread. I guess she has better things to do. Hey! Isn’t that neurotic to take offense so easily? Just joking :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742/23 "2010-08-31T13:19:17Z")
> [@sassyfras](#): > > > [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > > > Jung said ‘Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering’ which sounds about right to me. Most neuroticism seems to be attempts to avoid being vulnerable enough to expierience the pain of shame, pain, fear, violation, rejection, abandonment, etc. So people become hyperactive, anxious, depressed, because they can’t deal with the emotional pain they’ve experienced or are at risk for. > > So neurosis is a way of dealing with external threats by internal (over)reactions? How simple, but unapparent, until someone like Jung can explain it. The Jung quotes are right on. He was so ahead of his time. He also nails alcoholism and is quoted in AA literature. I really do believe that it is an escape mechanism of sorts. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742/24 "2010-09-02T05:31:50Z")
If OCD, depression, and anxiety were just “escape mechanisms,” why does changing brain chemistry work so well for so many? Also, why would there be a genetic disposition toward depression? And who would want to escape into so much pain? We are not just talking about sadness here. We are talking about a group of symptoms including problems with concentration, interruption of normal sleep patterns, weight gain or loss, loss of interest in usual hobbies, and other symptoms. Sometimes it is like not having a self at all. And the sadness isn’t normal sadness. It is a deep well with no light. monstro, I have had two minor experiences with being “stuck.” And I had a friend with OCD who experienced that often. Both of my experiences happened when I was very depressed. I don’t have OCD. Thank you for being so open. I hope you find the right solutions for you soon. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742/25 "2010-09-02T21:55:25Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > If OCD, depression, and anxiety were just “escape mechanisms,” why does changing brain chemistry work so well for so many? Also, why would there be a genetic disposition toward depression? And who would want to escape into so much pain? > > We are not just talking about sadness here. We are talking about a group of symptoms including problems with concentration, interruption of normal sleep patterns, weight gain or loss, loss of interest in usual hobbies, and other symptoms. Sometimes it is like not having a self at all. And the sadness isn’t normal sadness. It is a deep well with no light. > > monstro, I have had two minor experiences with being “stuck.” And I had a friend with OCD who experienced that often. Both of my experiences happened when I was very depressed. I don’t have OCD. > > Thank you for being so open. I hope you find the right solutions for you soon. Thanks, **Zoe**. Despite the freezing being weird, I’m not actually bothered when it happens. Which means I’m not neurotic, right :). As far as one of your questions go, about why would people “choose” to be neurotic, I think we again need a definition of what constitutes “neurotic”. Because I can’t imagine ANYONE wanting OCD or clinical depression, but I can imagine someone exaggerating or constantly bringing attention to minor problems because they think it makes them interesting or special. Perhaps this attention-seeking behavior is a disorder in itself. Maybe what “neurotic” conjures up in the OP is that type of person, rather than someone who is genuinely suffering and wants to be well. But we will never know what the OP is talking about, because for some reason she will not participate in this thread. What’s that about, I wonder? ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742/26 "2010-09-03T14:44:39Z")
I really wish I had not read that stuff about being stuck. I have to remind myself that it has never happened to me before, so it’s probably not going to. But I’ve never heard of it affecting OCDers. Anyways, I’m often very others-directed in my Neurosis, to the point where I want to defend everyone from what is “wrong”. But, then again, I think that, outside of withdrawal, I lead a rather normal life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-neurosis-the-same-as-selfishness/551742.md?page=1)