The Unconscious Architect: Unmasking the hidden life of Sigmund Freud

Sigmund Freud is often remembered as the father of psychoanalysis but beyond his famous theories lies a life filled with unusual habits, bold ideas and surprising contradictions. Here are six lesser known facts about Freud that go beyond the textbooks. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

He died by assisted means: Suffering from severe cancer, Freud chose to end his life with the help of his doctor in 1939—raising ethical questions still debated today. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

He had a deep fear of the number 62: Freud reportedly had a strange superstition about the number 62 and avoided staying in hotel rooms with numbers higher than that. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

He used cocaine and promoted it: In the 1880s, Freud experimented with cocaine and even wrote about its potential medical benefits, long before its dangers were widely understood. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

He wasn’t always focused on psychology: Freud began his career studying neurology and marine biology, even dissecting eels to study their reproductive organs before turning to the human mind. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

His friendship with Carl Jung ended dramatically: Freud and Jung were once close collaborators, but their relationship collapsed over disagreements about religion, sexuality and the unconscious, shaping the future of psychology. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )

His work was once banned and burned: During the Nazi book burnings, Freud’s works were destroyed. He famously remarked on the irony of such censorship. (Source: Photo by wikimedia commons )