It’s all in the mind (or defending ourselves against
reality)
Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological
strategies that help us to cope with reality whilst also preserving our self
esteem. Normal, healthy people use them regularly. Examples could include
humour, thought suppression or sublimation (transforming negative emotions into
positive actions - like helping a friend when we’re feeling sad or down). They
only become pathological when they lead to problematic behaviours that
compromise our health or relationships. Examples of unhealthy defenses include:
Acting
out:
This is directly expressing an unconscious impulse without realising what is
driving the behaviour.
Fantasy:
This is retreating to a fantasy world to escape, or resolve, conflicts we are
battling with.
Idealization:
This is unconsciously choosing to see another person as being more ideal or
perfect than they really are.
Passive
aggression: This is expressing our anger indirectly, for
example, through being late or doing something that “inadvertently” destroys
another’s plans.
Projection:
This is attributing our own unacknowledged, and unacceptable, thoughts and
emotions onto someone else.
Somatization:
This is translating negative thoughts and feelings into physical symptoms. For
example, suffering from migraines when you’re dealing with a difficult
relationship.
Denial:
This is refusing to accept reality because it is too painful or threatening.
Regression:
This is temporarily reverting to an earlier stage of development to avoid
handling problems and concerns in a more appropriate and adult way.
Distortion:
This is totally reshaping your picture of reality so it’s now consistent with
your internal needs.
Splitting:
This is a primitive defense where the negative and positive aspects are split
off – and there’s no integration of these parts at all. For example, the person
may view others as being either completely good or completely evil, rather than
a mixture of good and bad traits.
Image Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1415643
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