Abandonment Neurosis
Germaine Guex, Peter D. Douglas
2015
Germaine Guex's "Abandonment Neurosis" explores the profound impact of early parental deprivation on the development of psychological distress, particularly anxiety and neurotic disorders. Drawing on psychoanalytic theory, the book details how unmet needs for consistent affection and security in infancy can manifest as persistent fears of abandonment and difficulties in forming stable relationships. Guex argues that these early experiences lay the groundwork for later neurotic and even psychotic disturbances, highlighting the critical role of maternal and paternal presence in fostering a secure sense of self.