Revival of early memories with the appearance of primitive defense reactions including aphthous mouth ulcers, muscle-tensing, and urticaria

Summary

A case in psychoanalytic therapy is reported. The patient revived memories of events that must have occurred in the early weeks of his life. Coincidental with this, there appeared aphthous mouth ulcers, muscle-tensing, and urticaria. These symptoms are explained as revivals of skin, muscle and oral eroticisms-mechanisms he might have used as an infant in an attempt to re-establish the sensations he had lost through separation from his mother.

The psychosomatic symptoms of a patient in analysis may be appropriate to the period he is in the process of remembering. Urticaria may represent a skin-stimulating situation created to reestablish the feeling of contiguity between the skins of the mother and the child.