Anorexia: a fome de desejo

Abstract

This study aims to circumscribe some reflections on Nervous Anorexia, as a psychic manifestation that appears inside the structure of hysterical neurosis, its treatment, considering the applied psychoanalysis in an institution. Several theoretical statements of Freud and Lacan were considered in this research, as well as statements from other authors to elucidate this topic. Beyond theory, this research presents a clinical perspective following some elements of a specific anorexic case, from a woman treated in an institution. The main purpose of this search is to study the structure of the anorexic symptom, following Lacanian appointments on this matter, as well as to discuss anorexia treatment. The main issues could be summarized in these questions: How to explain the refusal of one´s feeding, throughout the survival instinct? If it is not the instinct that guides human beings, what would it be? What does the subject aim when he or she adopts the behavior of eating anything? What is the “pleasure” gained from those subjects that are always about to die? What is so unbearable to see in this body when those subjects look themselves in the mirror?