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INHIBITIONS, SYMPTOMS AND ANXIETY

BY SIGMUND FREUD

Our verbal usage permits us, in describing pathological phe-
nomena, to distinguish between inhibitions and symptoms,
although without attaching very much importance to the dis-
tinction. If we did not encounter cases of which we are forced
to say that they exhibit only inhibitions, without any symptoms,
and if we did not wish to know the reason for this, we should
scarcely think it worth while to demarcate the concepts “inhi-
bition” and “symptom”.

The two concepts are not rooted in the same soil. Inhibition
relates specifically to function and does not necessarily denote
something pathological; a normal restriction or reduction of a
function may also be termed an inhibition of it. To speak of
a symptom, on the other hand, is tantamount to indicating a
morbid process. Thus an inhibition may also be a symptom.
Our habits of speech are such, then, as cause us to speak of an
inhibition when a simple reduction of function is present, of
a symptom when it is a question of an unusual alteration of
function or of a new modality thereof. In many cases it seems
to be perfectly arbitrary whether one emphasizes the positive
or the negative aspect of a pathological process, whether one
terms its result a symptom or an inhibition. All this is of little
real interest, however, and the way in which we have formu-
lated our problem proves not to be a very fruitful one.

Since inhibition is by definition so intimately bound up with
function, it is but a short step to the idea of investigating the
various ego functions with reference to the forms in which
disorder of these functions is manifested in the various neurotic
affections. We select for this comparative study the following:
the sexual function, eating, locomotion, and vocation.

(a) The sexual function is subject to a great multiplicity of
disturbances, the majority of which have the character of
simple inhibitions. These are grouped together as psychic
impotence. The execution of the sex act presupposes a very

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complicated sequence of events, any one of which may be the
locus of disturbance. The principal loci of inhibition are in
men the following: a turning aside of the libido at the initi-
ation of the act (psychic displeasure (Unlust)), absence of
physical preparedness (non-erectibility), abbreviation of the
act (ejaculatio præcox), which may equally well be described as
a positive symptom, suspension of the act before its natural
culmination (absence of ejaculation), the non-occurrence of the
psychic effect (of the pleasure sensation of orgasm). Other
disturbances result from the association with the sexual func-
tion of specific conditions of a perverse or fetishistic character.

We cannot long escape noting a relationship which inhi-
bition bears to anxiety. Many inhibitions are an obvious
renunciation of function, because the exercise of the function
would give rise to anxiety. Outright dread of the sexual func-
tion is frequent in women; we catalog this with hysteria, as we
do also the defensive symptom of disgust which arises originally
as a reaction following upon the sexual act as passively experi-
enced, but later appears in relation to the mere idea of it. A
great many compulsive acts likewise plainly serve as a precau-
tion and an assurance against sexual experience, and are there-
fore phobic in their character.

This does not add much to our understanding, however; one
sees merely that the most varied means are employed to disrupt
function, as: (1) the mere turning aside of libido, which seems
most easily to produce what we call pure inhibition; (2) impair-
ment of the execution of the function; (3) the rendering it
difficult through the imposition of special conditions, and its
modification through diverting it to other aims; (4) its preven-
tion by means of precautionary measures; (5) its discontinuance
by the development of anxiety, when the initiation of the func-
tion can no longer be prevented; finally, (6) a subsequent
reaction of protest against the act and a desire to undo it if it
has actually been carried out.

(b) The most frequent disturbance of the nutritive function
is anorexia through withdrawal of libido. Increased desire to
eat is also not infrequent; there is also a compulsion to eat,

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motivated by a fear of starvation, which has been little studied.
As a hysterical defense against eating, the symptom of vomiting
is familiar. Refusal to eat as a reaction to anxiety belongs
among the psychotic patterns of behavior (delusions of
poisoning).

(c) Locomotion is inhibited in many neurotic states by
antipathy to walking and weakness in walking; the hysterical
disability makes use of motor paralysis of the motor apparatus
or creates a specific suspension of this one function of the latter
(abasia). Particularly characteristic are the difficulties of loco-
motion brought about by the interpolation of definite condi-
tions as prerequisites, the non-fulfilment of which evokes
anxiety (phobia).

(d) Inhibition in the field of occupation, which so often
becomes a matter for treatment as an isolated symptom, is
evidenced in diminished pleasure in work, or its poor execu-
tion, or such reactive manifestations as fatigue (vertigo, vomit-
ing) if the subject forces himself to go on working. Hysteria
compels the suspension of work by producing paralysis of
organs and functions, the existence of which is incompatible
with the carrying on of work. The compulsion neurosis
interferes with work by a continuous distraction of the
attention and by loss of time in the form of procrastination and
repetition.

We might extend this survey to include still other functions,
but we should not expect to profit by so doing. We should
not get beyond a mere scratching of the surface in this way.
Let us therefore decide upon a formulation which will leave
the concept of inhibition with as little of the mysterious about
it as possible. Inhibition is the expression of a functional
limitation of the ego–a limitation which may have a large
variety of causes. Many of the mechanisms of this renuncia-
tion of function, and its general trend, are well known.

In the case of certain particular inhibitions the trend
expressed is rather easily recognized. When playing the
piano, writing, and even walking are made the subject of
neurotic inhibition, analysis reveals as the basis thereof an

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excessive erotization of the organ involved in the function in
question, the fingers and the feet. We have obtained the
impression that as a rule the ego-
function of an organ is
impaired whenever its erogeneity, its sexual significance, is
increased. The organ then behaves–if we may hazard a some-
what scurrilous metaphor–like a cook who refuses to stay in
the kitchen because the master of the house has embarked
upon an affair with her. If writing–which consists in allow-
ing a fluid to flow out from a tube upon a piece of white paper–
has acquired the symbolic meaning of coitus, or if walking has
become a symbolic substitute for stamping upon the body of
Mother Earth, then both writing and walking will be abstained
from, because it is as though forbidden sexual behavior were
thereby being indulged in. The ego renounces these func-
tions proper to it in order not to have to undertake a fresh
effort of repression, in order to avoid a conflict with the id.
Other inhibitions evidently subserve a desire for self-punish-
ment, as for example not infrequently those in the sphere of
vocational activity. The ego dares not do certain things
because they would bring an advantage and a success which
the strict superego has forbidden. Thereupon the ego
renounces these activities also, in order not to become involved
in conflict with the superego.
The more general inhibitions of the ego follow a simple
mechanism of another character. When the ego is occupied
with a psychic task of special difficulty, as for example by grief,
a wholesale suppression of affect, or by the necessity for holding
constantly mounting sexual fantasies in check, it becomes so
impoverished with respect to the energy available to it that it
is driven to restrict its expenditure in many places at the same
time, like a speculator who has tied up his money in his various
enterprises. An instructive example of such an intense but
temporary general inhibition I was able to observe in a patient
with compulsion neurosis who was overcome by a paralyzing
fatigue of one to several days’ duration on occasions which
obviously should have provoked an outburst of rage. From
this point of departure there must be found a path to the

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understanding of generalized inhibition whereby we may char-
acterize the depressive states and the most severe of these,
melancholia.

One may therefore say of inhibitions, in fine, that they repre-
sent a limitation and restriction of ego functions, either pre-
cautionary or resulting from an impoverishment of energy.
It is now easy to see wherein an inhibition differs from a symp-
tom. A symptom can no longer be described as a process taking
place either in or around the ego.

II

The general principles of neurotic symptom formation have
long been studied and have been laid down in incontestable
fashion, one may hope. Symptoms are supposed to be an indi-
cation of and substitute for an unachieved instinctual grati-
fication; they are, that is, a result of repression. Repression
proceeds from the ego, which, possibly at the command of the
superego, does not wish to be a party to an instinct cathexis
originating in the id. Through repression the ego accom-
plishes the exclusion from consciousness of the idea which was
the carrier of the unwelcome impulse. Analysis frequently
demonstrates that the idea has been retained as an unconscious
formation. So far the matter is clear enough, but presently we
encounter unsolved difficulties.

The description we have given heretofore of the process
involved in repression has expressly emphasized the result it
achieves in excluding something from consciousness, but has
left other points open to doubt. The question arises as to the
fate of the instinctual impulse generated in the id which strives
for gratification. The answer has been an indirect one; it was
to the effect that through repression the pleasure that was to
be expected in gratification was converted into unpleasure
(Unlust); whereupon one was confronted by the problem of
how unpleasure can be the result of the gratification of an
instinct. We hope we shall clarify the situation if we lay it
down definitely that in consequence of repression the excitation
arising in the id altogether fails of discharge: the ego succeeds