Internal objects and self-destructive behaviours

Abstract

In this paper, the author explores the internal world of a patient who had suffered exposure to an acute and life threatening trauma and who subsequently developed a dependence on alcohol. It is suggested that a detailed exploration of internal object and self-representations, as these emerged through both acting out and in the transference/counter-transference dynamics of the therapeutic relationship, enabled a greater understanding of structural dissociation, splitting and the move to mourning and the recovery of objects previously lost through projective identification. Some thoughts are also offered by the author on primitive super-ego states, trauma and addiction.

Key words:

• addiction
• trauma
• dissociation
• splitting
• objects