The expression and emotional release of a previously repressed traumatic experience, typically within a therapeutic setting.
From Latin 'ab-' (away) + German 'Abreagieren' (to react away). Reacting away repressed emotion. Term from Breuer and Freud.
Abreaction is when buried emotions finally surface in therapy — a powerful release that can feel like a dam breaking, letting old pain finally flow out and heal.
Freudian psychology pathologized women's emotional expression; 'catharsis through abreaction' reinforced gendered assumptions that women's emotions require 'purging' via therapeutic intervention.
Use in technical psychiatric/psychological contexts only; avoid implying emotional expression by any gender requires medical correction.
["emotional processing","therapeutic release","psychological catharsis"]
Women's emotional range and expression are valid; medical framing of emotional authenticity as pathology historically silenced women's voices.
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