Dr. Dan: I can't seem to
stop sabotaging myself. For example, when I have a big work project, I find
non-essential tasks to do, like cleaning my desk or organizing my files into
super-spanky shape. Then I have to rush like mad to make the deadline. I obsess
endlessly over decisions, yet hours later I'm still undecided. At times I've
been blind to the inappropriateness of men I've dated, even though my friends
could see from the start it wasn't going to work. How can I gain self-confidence
after so many faulty judgments?
- Eileen
Dear Eileen: The fact that you're aware of your self-defeating behavior is a
big step. Once you see it, you can heal it. First, you have to understand why
you self-defeat. Nearly all of us get in our own way from time to time,
generally because we have conflicting beliefs or desires and don't want to let
go of any of them. To cope, a part of us "takes a vacation:" we distract
ourselves by procrastinating or fantasizing; deceive ourselves by rationalizing
or ignoring key facts; and/or desert ourselves by living half-heartedly or
feeling unworthy. The allure is the hope that we can have our cake and eat it.
For example, when you procrastinate before a big project, you lessen your
anxiety by completing familiar, low-risk tasks. Then, when you can delay no
longer, deadline pressure gives you a burst of energy that overwhelms anxiety
and focuses attention.
Obsessing over decisions allows you to sidestep feelings of loss that may
come with giving up all your options except one. Entering inappropriate
relationships can lessen feelings of loneliness, even though you have to deceive
yourself to do so ("He'll leave his wife for me"; "She's got special qualities
others don't see").
The payoff for self-defeating behaviors is that you temporarily avoid
unpleasant feelings or outcomes. The costs, which tend to surface later, include
wasted time, missed opportunities, dead-end relationships, and the grief, anger,
loss, and anxiety that accompany these.
Ask yourself: on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being highest), how much do you feel
that you deserve success, contentment, and a great relationship? If you give
yourself 7 or less, here are some suggestions:
Listen to your self-talk. Most self-defeating behavior is not
deliberate or even conscious but, if you look closely, you'll see that your
thoughts or feelings just prior to a self-defeating action offer clues to your
conflicting desires or needs. Once you identify the conflicts, you can choose
healthier resolutions.
Watch for the five Ds: self-distraction, self-deception,
self-deprivation, self-desertion, and self-destruction. When they surface, ask
yourself: "What were my fears and hopes?" Fears and hopes drive our behavior.
Seeing the fears and hopes accompanying self-defeating behavior lets you
consciously choose healthier alternatives to attain hopes and face fears.
Get support. With trusted friends or family members, share stories of
self-defeat. There are many great books on this topic; some of my
favorites. If you experience abnormal anxiety or depression,
seek professional help.
Get attached to your life. If you find yourself often zoning out or
feel that you're living half-heartedly, it may be that you simply need a break.
But it may be that you're afraid of risk. Studies have found that, as we near
the end of our lives, we regret the paths not taken - our heart's desires that
we didn't pursue - much more than we regret the paths taken, even if those paths
turned out badly.
As Jackson Browne said, "Don't be afraid to go out on a limb. That's where
the fruit is."
