A lot of the purpose of using Hypnosis and other Freudian and Ericksonian techniques is to get past defense mechanisms that we have set up unconsciously in order to protect our views of people and the world.
- Our minds are very proactive and reactive when it comes to protecting us from things that might damage our well-being or the security that we have about the world around us.
- As such, defense mechanisms can become very complex and intricate; and, they often elude us.
- One of the most common defense mechanisms is “denial”.
- It’s one of the most common defense mechanisms because it’s simple and easy.
- Just deny what will challenge, damage, or interfere with your current views of the society, people, and the world–which is thought to protect your present view of the world.
The problem is that DENIAL fails to deal with reality and it prevents you from growing, maturing and evolving as a person.
DENIAL is a very common defense mechanism because it requires very little energy or thought.
- Other common defense mechanisms that you may have heard of include “repression”, “reaction formation”, “sublimation”, and “rationalization.”
- You tend to see repression and sublimation a lot with people who have had to deal with repeated physical or psychological traumas.
- And, you tend to see rationalization a lot in politics.
- A defense mechanism analysis specifically looks at the defense mechanisms that you use that may be thwarting your efforts to change some things about yourself that you don’t like.
- It’s a great way to confront your baggage from past experiences.