Phobias After Marriage:
Women's Declaration
of Dependence
ALEXANDRA SYMONDS
For many years I have been interested in a specific clinical problem that occurs when a young woman, who was apparently independent, self-sufficient, and capable, changes after marriage and develops phobias or other signs of constriction of self. These changes invariably cause her to become excessively dependent and helpless. This sometimes occurs suddenly and dramatically, as in the development of phobias, or it may occur gradually and insidiously over a period of years. Either way, her entire way of life is changed. Where before marriage she was an active, apparently self-sufficient young woman who traveled, drove a car, had many interests, held a responsible job, and went many places alone, now all these activities are sharply curtailed, or completely impossible. She becomes fearful of traveling, especially by plane or subway. She may be afraid to be alone even for a moment. She usually can no longer drive a car herself, and in extreme cases may not be able to travel in a car at all, even as a passenger. In the less dramatic cases where this change occurs without specific phobias, she becomes fearful of making any decision or of taking any sort of responsibility on her own. She clings to her husband for constant sup
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