Deutsch 
English
Deutsch EnglishThe individual recognizes that the object of affection no longer exists. They undergo "reality-testing," which demands that all libido (emotional energy) be withdrawn from that object.
"Mourning and Melancholia" is a foundational text in psychoanalysis because it shifted the focus from external behavior to internal ego structures. It suggests that depression is often "interrupted grief"—an inability to let go that results in the self-destruction of the ego.
Overview
Unlike the mourner, the melancholic may not know exactly what has been lost (e.g., they know who died, but not what that person represented to them).
Mourning is complete when the person successfully detaches their energy from the lost object and redirects it toward new ones. 2. Melancholia: The Pathological Response On Freud's "Mourning and Melancholia"
The melancholic suffers from intense self-criticism and guilt. Freud argues these insults are actually directed at the lost object but have been turned inward. 3. Key Mechanism: Identification
In his seminal essay, Sigmund Freud provides a comparative analysis of how humans process loss. While both "mourning" and "melancholia" are triggered by the same event—the loss of a loved one or an abstract ideal—Freud distinguishes them by their impact on the ego. The individual recognizes that the object of affection
The most distinct feature is a "lowering of self-regard." The ego itself becomes "poor and empty."