ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the author shows clinical experiences that have brought him to a new understanding, as he believes, of the meaning of a fear of breakdown. It is his purpose to state as simply as possible this understanding, which is new for him and which perhaps is new for others who work in psychotherapy. Fear of breakdown is a feature of significance in some of our patients, but not in others. From this observation, if it is a correct one, the conclusion can be drawn that fear of breakdown is related to the individual's past experience, and to environmental vagaries. Personal existence is represented by the projection elements, and the person is making an attempt to project everything that could be personal. This can be a relatively sophisticated defence, and the aim is to avoid responsibility or to avoid persecution. In the religions, the idea can appear in the concept of oneness with God or with the Universe.
