Define the psychological term "catharsis" and explain Joseph Breuer's theory of how it impacts individuals with a "troubled mind."

The psychological term
catharsis is associated with psychodynamic theory and is
described as the experience of intense emotional release.  In psychoanalysis, therapists
encourage patients to confront painful or traumatic past experiences in order to
psychologically heal from them.  They suggest that reprocessing and reexperiencing the
emotions and sensations related to the experience will result in an emotional release
that will reduce or eliminate related symptoms.  According to Joseph Breuer, tension and
anxiety that can lead to neurotic thinking and behavior is released when a person
experiences catharsis.  Individuals with a "troubled mind" experience unconscious
tension and anxiety that causes them to develop defense mechanisms to combat those
feelings.  These defense mechanisms are called neuroses and can lead to pathological
thinking and behavior.  Through cathartic therapy, the tension and anxiety can be
released and the neuroses can be reduced or even eliminated.