Some people who feel threatened or anxious may unconsciously “escape” to an earlier stage of development. Those who are struggling to cope with events or behaviors may return to sleeping with a cherished stuffed animal, overeat foods they find comforting, or begin chain smoking or chewing on pencils or pens.
One of the most common defense mechanisms. It occurs when you refuse to accept reality or facts. You block external events or circumstances from your mind so that you don’t have to deal with the emotional impact. In other words, you avoid the painful feelings or events. A person is avoiding reality despite what may be obvious to people around them.
Some thoughts or feelings you have about another person may make you uncomfortable. If you project those feelings, you’re misattributing them to the other person. For example, you may dislike your new co-worker, but instead of accepting that, you choose to tell yourself that they dislike you. You see in their actions the things you wish you could do or say.
Developing a physical symptom in place of anxiety. Such as when a child who is being bullied begins to develop vague stomach aches and pains.
This is considered a positive strategy. That’s because people who rely on it choose to redirect strong emotions or feelings into an object or activity that is appropriate and safe. For example, instead of lashing out at your employees, you choose to channel your frustration into kickboxing or exercise.
Some people may attempt to explain undesirable behaviors with their own set of “facts.” This allows them to feel comfortable with their choices, even if they know on another level it’s not right. For example, people who might be angry at co-workers for not completing work on time could be ignoring the fact that they’re typically late, too.
Demonstrating an inability to reconcile negative and positive attributes of self and others. Will contrast sharply between positive feelings and negative ones. Often seen in Borderline clients. A client tells the nurse she is her favorite and then a bit later, will state how bad of a job you are doing.
Instead of facing unsavory thoughts, painful memories, or irrational beliefs that can upset you, you may unconsciously choose to hide them, or put them out of your memory in hopes of forgetting about them. For example, a client who had a bad experience at the dentist, may continually forget to go to his dentist appointments.
Creating a temporary compartmentalization or lack of connection between the person’s identity, memory or how they perceive the environment. It describes dealing with emotional conflict by a temporary alteration in consciousness or identity. For example, a parent blocks out the distracting noise of her children in order to focus while driving in traffic.
When you’re hit with a trying situation, you may choose to remove all emotion from your responses and instead focus on quantitative facts. You may see this strategy in use when someone experiences a tragedy and instead of openly grieving, they discuss all of the details in a realistic and unemotional manner.
People who use this recognize how they feel, but they choose to behave in the opposite manner of their instincts. A person who reacts this way, for example, may feel they should not express negative emotions, such as anger or frustration. They choose to instead react in an overly positive way.
You direct strong emotions and frustrations toward a person or object that doesn’t feel threatening. For example, you become angry at your child or spouse because you had a bad day at work. Neither of these people is the target of your strong emotions, but reacting to them is likely less problematic than reacting to your boss.
This is voluntarily denying unpleasant thoughts and feelings. For example, a person who just lost his job tells others he will worry about paying his bills next week.
Repression
Sublimation
Denial
Projection
Reaction formation
Splitting
Rationalization
Disassociation
Intellectualization
Suppression
Somatization
Displacement
Regression
