Defence mechanisms
Unconscious ways in which the mind reduces distress that would otherwise be unbearable.
How it shows up
Denial, rationalisation, projection, humour, withdrawal. They aren’t a fault — they were a solution. The problem arises when the defence stays on after the danger has passed and starts narrowing your life.
What we do with it in therapy
We don’t remove a defence until something else stands in its place. First we look at what it protects you from and what it would be like if it weren’t there for a moment.
See also
Hypervigilance
Constant excessive attention to danger, even when the surroundings are safe.
The gut–brain axis
The two-way connection between the digestive system and the brain, along which stress affects digestion and digestion affects how you feel.
Family myth
The story a family tells about itself, which determines what is allowed to be seen.
