The foundation causes of self-destructive habits can fluctuate from individual to individual, in keeping with licensed drug and alcohol counselor Candace Kotkin-De Carvalho LSW, LCADC, CCS, CCTP. A few of the commonest causes embrace a scarcity of constructive coping expertise, unresolved points from childhood or adolescence, and poor psychological well being.
Lorz describes self-destructive behaviors as being the product of both misguided makes an attempt at self-protection or moments of dissociation. They’re usually formed by beliefs you have got about your self, what you deserve, and the way you have got taken within the messages of the world and people round you, she says, making them basically a response to private circumstances which have had a traumatic influence on you. They could have even labored (otherwise you believed that they’ve labored) previously to guard you from feeling confused, overwhelmed, damage, exhausted, scared, or at risk, she provides, however finally these coping mechanisms are actually inflicting extra hurt than safety.
Osibodu-Onyali provides that when individuals have skilled a number of unfavourable occasions and even traumas, it modifications the way in which they view themselves, others, and the world. “They start to count on unhealthy issues to occur, and when good issues come their method, they introduce self-destructive behaviors in order that issues return to the unfavourable sample they’re used to. It isn’t that they take pleasure in negativity; it is simply that it is acquainted,” she says.
Moreover, self-destructive behaviors will be signs of many psychological well being points, in keeping with Manly. For instance, an individual who’s affected by despair could have interaction in self-protective behaviors, like not going to work on account of a scarcity of power or to keep away from stress, which are finally self-destructive. Those that undergo from substance use problems could resort to self-destructive behaviors, together with stealing to keep up the habit or driving whereas beneath the affect, with little or no skill to genuinely admire the long-term influence; the cumulative results of those behaviors are sometimes tragic.
“A wide range of psychological well being problems similar to BPD usually depart the sufferer caught in a cycle of self-destructive behaviors that depart the person feeling indignant, remoted, and misunderstood,” she provides.
