Mrs Bick's contribution to the understanding of severe feeding difficulties and pervasive refusal

This chapter examines the contribution of Mrs Bick to the author's understanding and technique of working with children suffering from severe feeding difficulties and pervasive refusal of life. The observation of infants has provided examples of how retreat from the mother and the external world can ensue. The blockading thumb of primitive protections prevents access to the mouth of the infantile mind hungry for love and understanding. The most important aspect of this blockading thumb is that the self must hang on to it to deal with the fear of disintegrating, falling to pieces, losing the sense of self and dying both physically and emotionally. Criticism and pulling away the blockading thumb of primitive protections lead to more intense use of massive denial, bodily constriction and/or erotization, omniscience, omnipotence, and adherence to pathological parts of the self.