自我機能の回復には非常に時間がかかる、名古屋の児童精神科医が解説

 

こんにちは、名古屋市千種区　児童精神科専門クリニック、医療法人永朋会　和光医院、加藤晃司です。

 

今回は、自我機能の回復には非常に時間がかかる、について解説します。

 

どんな主訴で来院したとしても、病名とその人の病態の重さは比例しません。

 

うつ病でも病態が軽い人もいれば、不安障害でも病態が重たい人もいます。

 

それはASDやADHDでも同様です。

 

生育歴が悪いと、基本的に病態水準は重たくなる傾向にあります。

 

特に０歳から５歳くらいまでの生育歴が非常に重要です。

 

そして病態が重たいと、自我機能の低下を認めます。

 

この自我機能が低い状態だと、自己評価もかなり低いですし、基本的信頼感を獲得することができる、他人との関係もうまくいかないことが多いでしょう。

 

漠然とした不安も認めてしまうかもしれません。

 

こういう状態から、自我機能の改善をはかっていくわけですが、ほんとうに長い時間がかかります。

 

まさに育てなおしに近い、と思います。

 

１０年くらいたって、だいぶ元気になったかなと、思うことが多いです。

 

生育歴が悪かったぶんだけ、育てなおしにも時間がかかります。

 

だからよくならないことをあせらないでほしい。

 

その不安をキープすることも自分にとって意味があります。

 

 

当院ホームページはこちらより

https://wako-psy-clinic.com

ご予約は公式ライン、ホームページから可能です。

友達追加はこちらから↓

https://lin.ee/HorvYiv

当院インスタグラムはこちら

https://www.instagram.com/wako_iin/

 

子どものためのメンタルクリニック

医療法人永朋会　　和光医院

児童精神科・精神科・心療内科

 

〒464-0092  愛知県名古屋市千種区茶屋が坂1丁目12番2号

電話　：　052－712-1777

地下鉄名城線「茶屋ヶ坂」駅 1番出口より徒歩3分

地下鉄名城線「砂田橋」駅 1番出口より徒歩10分

 

 

 

 

Recovery of Ego Function Takes a Long Time: Explained by a Nagoya Child Psychiatrist

 

Hello, I’m Dr. Koji Kato, Director of Wako Clinic, a child psychiatry clinic in Nagoya’s Chikusa Ward.

 

Today, I’ll be discussing the topic: “Recovery of ego function takes a long time.”

 

The Complexity of Psychological Conditions

Regardless of the presenting complaint, there is no direct correlation between a diagnosed condition and the severity of a person’s psychological state. For example:

 

Some individuals with depression may have mild symptoms, while others with anxiety disorders may experience extremely severe conditions.

The same applies to developmental disorders such as ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) and ADHD.

The Role of Early Life Development

A person’s developmental history plays a crucial role in determining the severity of their condition. Particularly, experiences during the critical period of ages 0 to 5 are highly influential.

 

Poor Developmental Environment: Those who experience adverse circumstances during early childhood tend to have a more severe clinical presentation.

Ego Function Decline: In cases of severe pathology, a significant decline in ego function is often observed.

What Happens When Ego Function Declines?

Low Self-Esteem: Individuals often have a poor self-concept, which makes it challenging to build confidence or feel competent in their abilities.

 

Difficulty Forming Relationships: The lack of basic trust, a foundational element for healthy interpersonal connections, often leads to struggles in relationships.

 

Persistent Anxiety: People may feel a vague, pervasive sense of unease, stemming from underdeveloped ego defenses and coping mechanisms.

 

Recovery Takes Time

Improving ego function in these circumstances is a long-term process. In many cases, it resembles “re-parenting” or “rebuilding” foundational emotional and psychological structures.

 

A Decade-Long Journey: It often takes around 10 years to see significant progress and observe a substantial increase in psychological resilience.

Proportional Effort: The greater the adversity in early life, the more time and effort are required to rebuild ego function.

Patience Is Crucial

For individuals on this journey, and for those supporting them:

 

Avoid Rushing the Process: Recovery cannot be expedited; it requires consistent effort and a supportive environment.

Find Meaning in the Struggle: Even the persistent challenges, such as enduring feelings of anxiety, may hold personal significance and contribute to growth over time.

Conclusion

The recovery of ego function is a long and gradual process, deeply influenced by early life experiences. For those who struggle with low self-esteem, trust issues, and pervasive anxiety, improvement requires patience, consistent support, and a focus on rebuilding the foundations of psychological resilience.

 

If you or someone you know is on this journey, remember that progress is possible—even if it takes years. The time invested in recovery is a meaningful step toward greater emotional and relational stability.