From childhood trauma to the attempt to elaborate in puberty

a stitch with Alice in Wonderland in a transformative encounter

Abstract

The present work arouse from doubts and questions, as well as the emotional intensity experienced by the analyst while treating a girl during part of her childhood, puberty, and the onset of adolescence. Disruptive events and traumatic psychic experiences are reviewed so that we can think about and differentiate both concepts. We explore the works of Freud, Ferenczi, and Benyakar to contextualize these ideas in psychoanalysis. I question whether disruptive experiences in childhood are likely to not lead to traumatic emotional experiences. To this end, an analogy will be drawn between the clinical narratives of Alice, the patient, and those of Alice in Wonderland, intertwining the stories of both to reflect on trauma. The rabbit hole, which Alice enters, will be a starting point for considering trauma, from its split, traumatic aspect, to the possibility of connection.