What are Defense Mechanisms?

In this episode I talk about how we use defense mechanisms in our lives. Didn’t really know what defense mechanisms were until I took one of my classes this semester and realized how much we sometimes use them.

Basically, defense mechanisms are used as a way to protect our ego and to lessen anxiety that we might experience in life. Some of the defense mechanisms are rationalization, projection, denial, which are all done as a way to keep the negativity off of us. One of the ones I think we see most often is rationalization.

We might choose not to study for a test as much as we should or eat poorly, but we say, “It’s alright everyone is doing it.” If we were to take the fault for those things ourselves, it would be a lot more uncomfortable to our ego. But when we feel in community with others in our shortcomings, then we feel at peace.

Later on in the episode, I talk about different ways we can recognize these defense mechanisms playing out in our lives, and how we can grow from this awareness. Tune in for more!

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