Hello, I’m João Barros, psychoanalyst, and I’m here to talk about a fascinating theme: defense mechanisms. Have you ever wondered how we deal with difficult or stressful situations? This is where the defense mechanisms come in, strategies that our brain develops to protect us from emotional discomfort.
Introduction to Defense Mechanisms
Defense mechanisms are automatic psychological processes that help reduce anxiety, stress and other negative feelings. They can be healthy or not, depending on how they are used and prevent us from dealing with problems in a realistic way.
Imagine that you are in a situation where you feel threatened or overwhelmed. Your brain can use a defense mechanism to help you deal with this feeling, such as denying the reality of the situation or projecting your emotions to someone else.
Types of Defense Mechanisms
There are several types of defense mechanisms, including denial, repression, projection, rationalization and sublimation. Each of these mechanisms has a specific function and can be useful in certain situations, but it can also become a problem if used excessively or inadequately.
Denial, for example, is a common defense mechanism in which we deny the reality of a situation. This may be useful in the short term to avoid stress, but it can become a problem if you prevent us from dealing with real problems.
How defense mechanisms work
Defense mechanisms work automatically, that is, we do not need to think consciously to use them. They are like an autopilot that helps us deal with difficult situations without having to think much about them.
However, it is important to be aware of when we are using defense mechanisms and assess whether they are being useful or not. If we are using an excessively or inadequate defense mechanism, we can have difficulty dealing with real problems and improving our situation.
CONSEQUENCES OF DEFENSE MECHANISMS
Defense mechanisms can have positive and negative consequences. If used healthily, they can help us deal with difficult situations and reduce stress. However, if used excessively or inadequately, they can prevent us from dealing with real problems and improve our situation.
In addition, defense mechanisms can also affect our relationships with others. If we are using a defense mechanism to avoid dealing with a person or situation, we can have difficulty communicating effectively and building healthy relationships.
In short, defense mechanisms are strategies that our brain develops to protect us from emotional discomfort. They can be healthy or not, depending on how they are used and prevent us from dealing with problems in a realistic way.
It is important to be aware of when we are using defense mechanisms and assess whether they are being useful or not. With self -awareness and understanding of defense mechanisms, we can learn to deal with difficult situations more effectively and improve our quality of life.
