This is another consolidation episode based on clinical work with a patient who recognized that he organizes his relationships around anticipated disappointment. When things are going well, he becomes anxious and uneasy, almost waiting for the other shoe to drop. In this episode, we explore the psychodynamic function of expecting disappointment, and why predictable letdowns can sometimes feel safer than the uncertainty of trust, hope, and real dependency in relationships.

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Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.