A perpetual state of almost

ABSTRACT

Mr. B came to analysis describing what he called a perpetual state of almost, a feeling of almost living, both intrapsychically and intersubjectively. The perpetual state of Almost is a state in-between presence with the Other and absence from the Other. It is a state in-between a sense of self, and an absence of self. This paper proposes a deeper understanding of the defensive, insulating structure of this in-between gap, examining what enabled it to change from a static, inert state into a transient, fluid one, oscillating between states of presence and absence as a vehicle for transformation.

KEYWORDS:

• Almost
• presence
• absence
• movement
• masturbation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. This paper was first presented at the Nordic Psychoanalytic Congress in August 2018.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Fredrika Stjärne

Fredrika Stjärne is a Swedish psychoanalyst in private practice in New York City. She is a graduate of the Center for Modern Psychoanalytic Studies and a member of Society of Psychoanalysis and Psychoanalytic Psychology (Division 39) and Society of Modern Psychoanalysis.