Auto-aggression is a disease of much of modern society. Few people think about it, but the reason that your close friend is constantly engaged in samoyedstvom or sometimes inflicting physical damage, scratching, mocking his own body, is self-punishment. The worst thing is that both children and adults are inclined to this.
Autoagression - what is it?
Auto-aggression in psychology is also called autodestruction or "turning against oneself." Judging by this name, you can understand that this is a kind of activity, actions aimed at harming oneself. In the books on scientific psychology, the following definition of this phenomenon can be seen: auto-aggression is a self-destructive behavior caused by the redirection of aggression, anger at oneself. Any sane person understands that it is abnormal to harm yourself, to interfere with one's own well-being. In the case of autoagressors, the situation is different.
Autoaggression - Causes
There are following causes of autoaggression:
- External . This includes both physical and psychological violence of someone who in the future will be inclined to do physical harm to himself. In addition, the external causes of autoaggression are a violation of the process of interaction with society (socialization). In children, its foundation is laid by frequent quarrels between parents, humiliation and bullying in school.
- Internal . Self-aggression is affected by highly emotional people, those with unstable minds, unsociable personalities who often place high hopes on society. These people are prone to empathy (empathy), are subject to depressive states. Psychologists argue that there is a direct link between autoaggression and low self-esteem.
- Biological . Autoaggression can cause visual, auditory hallucinations, mental illness .
Auto-aggression - symptoms
It is determined by a number of such signs as:
- abuse of drugs, alcohol, tobacco (this includes any other chemical dependence);
- small destructive behavior (tearing up crusts from wounds, biting lips to blood, etc.);
- Attacks of autoaggression are characterized by suicidal attempts, irritability, the desire to be alone with oneself;
- conscious or unconscious desire to get into situations dangerous to life (extreme sports);
- deliberate committing of acts that will be condemned by society;
- refusal of food or overeating (food autoaggression);
- the accusation of oneself in all the sins of mankind;
- constant humiliation of one's self.
Types of autoaggression
To date, there are four types of self-destructive behavior that can be open (suicidal behavior) and closed (the desire to master a dangerous profession, a tendency to drink). By way of expression, the following types of "turn against themselves" are distinguished:
- Spiritual autoaggression . Here, a person, without realizing himself, becomes a hostage of his moral principles, qualities, as a result of which he may develop drug dependence. Often, these individuals are in a state of intoxication. It also happens that this type of autoagression is subject to a participant in a religious grid in which it is forbidden to show negative emotions.
- Physical . Here everything is clear. Man, if he can not answer his offender, alone with himself is injuring himself, rapes his own body. If he often undergoes physical autoaggression, he often tries to hide the traces of beatings under clothes with long sleeves, maxi-skirts.
- Mental aggression on oneself . All that you can hear from this person is that she can not do anything, she is not capable of anything. Has something bad happened? The autoagressor will say that it's his fault and no one else. He constantly talks about his own inferiority, inferiority. Engaged in self-insult.
- Social . These are some bad people, those who aspire to be a white crow, an outcast in society. They inherent immoral, and sometimes provocative, behavior. This sounds strange, but such a person is beside himself with joy when people are unhappy with his behavior.
Autoaggression - treatment
If we talk in more detail about how to deal with autoaggression, it is important to remember that it must be able to correctly diagnose. This option is appropriate in case of severe variants of self-destructive behavior ( anorexia , bulimia, alcoholism and so on). A specialist (psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist) heals a patient, invites him to fill out questionnaires, to pass projective tests.
As for the treatment itself, an individual approach is appropriate here. It is important to understand what caused the autoaggression. The main thing is for a person to realize his problem, to understand that it worsens the quality of his life. The ideal option for treating autodestruction is to seek help from a psychotherapist who practices cognitive-behavioral therapy. In addition to working with mental causes, a specialist can prescribe medication (antidepressants, antipsychotics).
If this method of treatment is difficult to implement, the autoagressor needs to learn how to express his emotions correctly. So, it is appropriate to write an angry letter, after which it should be broken. If anger from the inside tears you apart, you can safely beat the pillow, scream. Learn to fill the inner emptiness with positive emotions, impressions. Feel your own usefulness. Learn to relax (contact with nature, listening to soothing music).
Auto-aggression in the child
Children's autoaggression can be treated through care, caress and love from parents, the closest people of the baby. If you notice that the child begins, for example, to beat his head against the wall, to scratch himself, do not show him his fear. Here it is appropriate to talk about who offended him, draw offenders, portraying them in an absurd form. This option does not help? As soon as the child starts to hurt himself, give him tenderness and care. To save the child from self-destructive behavior, praise him more often, and most importantly - do not engage in self-flagellation .
Auto-aggression in adolescents
A conscious or unconscious auto-aggression manifests itself in teenagers with low stress resistance and those who are emotionally unstable. It is appropriate to talk with a teenager, to make it clear that you want to help him. Listen to it. The main thing to draw the attention of a teenager to his dignity, strengths of character (suggest together to make a list of positive qualities). It is important to make it clear that he can always rely on the help of adults.
Autoaggression in adults
Autoaggression, treatment in adults which proceeds not so easily, as in preschool children or adolescents, can disappear. On the first place is communication with a psychotherapist, if it is not easy to implement, then during attacks of aggression it is recommended to keep a diary, surround yourself with people who will help look at your life from a different angle. It is appropriate to revise the attitude towards our problem, take responsibility for our own lives and believe that, no matter how insoluble the situation does not seem, it can be corrected.
Prevention of autoaggression
If autoaggression treatment is not your case, but you sometimes have self-destructive behavior, then it is appropriate to take up its prevention. You need to learn how to correctly express your anger, be able to defend your opinion. If overflowing negative emotions , redirect them to engage in creativity, sports (beat the punching bag after a hard working day, relax on yoga).
Autoagression - books
Autoaggression, the literature about which will help everyone to know more in detail what it is and how to treat it, is a self-destructive behavior that can be talked about very much:
- " The role and place of the phenomenon of autoaggression in families of patients with alcohol dependence " author Merinova A. You will learn about what "alcohol" marriage and how divorces affect the autoaggressive personality.
- " A teenager. From self-destruction to self-development. "Ilatova A. The author tells how autodestruction is capable of destroying the life of a teenager.
- " Protective mechanisms " McWilliams N. Here you will clarify for yourself why autodestruction is seen as a protective mechanism of the psyche.
- " Auto-aggression, suicide and alcoholism " Shustova D. The book will be useful to social and medical workers, psychologists, who often in their practice face these three problems.