Angst as the essential element of concern in all our dreaming

Abstract

This paper discusses a philosophical approach to dream interpretation based on the daseinsanalytic concept of Alice Holzhey, a concept that uses psychoanalytic thinking in the light of existential philosophy. Based on this concept, I consider the generally acknowledged finding that moods play a highly important role for our dreaming in an existential-philosophical view. Martin Heidegger claims that moods confront us with our own being, especially the fundamental “philosophical” mood that he calls Angst. Angst refers to the uncanny experience of being confronted with unfathomable conditions of the human existence. It is a consternating experience beyond every understanding. Assuming that in dreams, as in moods, we are concerned with issues of emotional significance concerning our own being, I claim Angst to be the essential factor for our dreaming. Usually, however, it remains hidden in some other mood, for example in the mood of fear. What makes dreams interesting, puzzling, amazing or terrifying, is their hinting at Angst. With three examples I hope to make clear my thesis that all dreams focus on certain fundamental issues concerning a person’s own existence, meaning issues determined by Angst.

Key words:

• Angst
• human existence
• daseinsanalysis
• existential-philosophical dream interpretation

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Uta Jaenicke

Uta Jaenicke, MD, is a teacher, training and supervising analyst at the Daseinsanalytisches Seminar in Zürich, Switzerland. Her main interest lies in developing the theory and practice of daseinsanalytic dream interpretation. She has written several articles on this subject: in English in the International Forum of Psychoanalysis and in German in Daseinsanalyse. A book on daseinsanalytic dream interpretation is in preparation.