Those defense mechanisms are the subject matter of this post: how they
function, the painful elements of human experience they typically exclude from
awareness, the reasons why we rely upon them and the potentially great benefits
of acknowledging and facing the unconscious pain that lies behind them.

Psychological defense mechanisms are a universal and necessary part of human
psychology; they protect and help us to navigate the more difficult aspects of
human experience, but often, they stand in the way of growth and satisfaction.
Rigid or deeply entrenched defenses may prevent us from getting what we truly
need in our relationships, from leading a rich emotional life and living in ways
that promote authentic self-esteem.

Today, many of freud’s revolutionary insights have been incorporated into our culture as basic assumptions. Our culture has been profoundly and forever changed by his work, and we will forever on debt with him.

Since his death in 1939, many theorists have extended and
corrected his ideas with a deeper appreciation for his contribution to our culture, seeing in him a revolutionary genius who helped shape the way we all think about
ourselves and other people every day, even when we don’t realize it.

Our Psychological Defense Mechanisms.

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Most of us go through an experience when we feel, talk
or behave in ways that take us by surprise that seems like a minor
incident that may set us off and we suddenly realize we’ve been feeling something
intense for a while without being aware of it.

We believe that our conscious experience of ourselves is the beginning and end of who we are; in truth, important parts of our emotional lives may remain hidden from us. This is not a new idea.
students of human nature have observed always that people know themselves
better than others do.

You may privately have thought, ‘Oh stop’ lying to yourself.
We’re likely to resent it if someone presumes the same thing in relation to us. The
possibility that we’re unable to recognize something about ourselves that other
people can see is an extremely unpleasant for most.

Our defense mechanisms are invisible methods by which we exclude unacceptable thoughts
and feelings from awareness. In the process, they subtly distort our perceptions
of reality – in both our personal relationships and the emotional terrain within us. so
understanding how they operate and learning to identify them within ourselves.

the inherent problem in psychological defenses.

the problem inherent in psychological defenses: while they’re
necessary and useful, for each and every one of us, in coping with the inevitable
pain that goes with being human, when they become too deeply entrenched, they
may prevent us from accessing important emotions we need to face.
On the one hand, temporarily numbing yourself to overwhelming grief
may help you weather the loss of a loved one; on the other, blinding yourself to
the emotional poverty of your childhood might mean you can’t see how that past
plays a role in your unhappy marriage.

Shutting out the awareness that we’re all heading toward death allows us to function on a daily basis and get on with our lives; engaging in high-risk behavior because you unconsciously believe you’re
invulnerable, not mortal like everyone else, can have tragic results.
By excluding large parts of our emotional experience, we deplete
ourselves, diminishing our strength and ability to cope in the world. Anger, for
example, can motivate us to make important changes in our lives – to leave an
unhealthy relationship with a selfish partner or end a one-sided friendship, to
protect ourselves in the face of mistreatment.

the problems faced

According to Freud, when we’re confronted with an idea or feeling that we find too painful or
morally unacceptable, we ward it off, pushing it into the unconscious. It’s not a
deliberate decision; it happens outside of awareness, in ways that are often
automatic.

In conclusion Defense mechanisms operate in the here-and-now, with no thought for
tomorrow. They’re unthinking and reflexive; they aim only to ward off pain this
very moment and don’t take into account the long-term costs of doing so.
Sometimes we eventually “wake up” and face the truth. Sometimes unconscious
knowledge breaks through and we realize what has been brewing unnoticed
inside us for a long time.

see you soon,

sal.