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Freud revolutionized the understanding and treatment of mental disorders. He created the psychoanalytic theory of personality. But beyond this, he profoundly changed our understanding of humanity, thought and culture.

My ears perked up when I heard a radio host tell an expert who described deceptive practices in the restaurant industry, “Thank you for lifting the veil from my eyes, though I might have been happier if I didn’t know the reality.” We can all identify with his reluctance to become aware of upsetting information. In fact, powerful factors interfere with awareness when something is truly disturbing. We tend to deny or resist being aware of things that makes us anxious.

Can addictive thoughts be useful? Ask anyone on the street whether addictive thoughts are useful and they will think you must be crazy. After all, that sounds like asking about whether having cancer can be useful. "Who would want addictive thoughts?" they might ask, while carefully backing away from you. The notion that there is value in these unwanted thoughts does seem peculiar.