Increase your self-esteem by understanding the primitive defense mechanism acting out (1 minute read)

This post “Increase your self-esteem by understanding the primitive defense mechanism acting out” continues with how you can increase your self-esteem by getting to know and manage your feelings.

Defence mechanisms are strategies learnt in childhood to manage difficult feelings and situations. The more primitive a defence mechanism, the less effective it will be over time.

Increase your self-esteem by understanding the primitive defense mechanism acting out:

Acting Out is using an extreme and often immature behavior in order to manage unacceptable thoughts or feelings.

As when a child is having a temper tantrum when not getting what he/she wants.

Or when adults are throwing things or hitting instead of saying “I am angry with you”.

Or theatrically storming out of a though meeting.

Self-injury may sometimes be a form of acting-out, showing the pain that the person does not dare to talk about, cannot stand to feel or has no words to express.

Acting out can become a way to release pressure helping the person to temporarily feel calmer and peaceful but it often comes with a cost. It is often a fight or flight-response and a sign of inability to manage strong emotions.