According to statistics, about 96% of the world’s inhabitants at least once experienced a strong sense of dissatisfaction with themselves. Despite the fact that such emotions entail a stressful state, adequate self-criticism is considered a completely natural process, allowing later to draw useful conclusions. However, in some cases, objective dissatisfaction with one’s own person can develop into pathological self-hatred, which can manifest itself in self-flagellation, and even physical harm. Therefore, it is so important to understand the insidious state in order to help yourself or your loved ones.
Causes of auto-aggression and its classification
Auto -aggression is one of the forms of destructive activity that a person directs directly at himself. In this case, we are talking about excessive self-flagellation and even suicide attempts. Psychologists around the world agree that auto-aggression is a protective mechanism of the psyche.
Such destructive activity arises precisely when a person, for one reason or another, cannot send an aggressively colored message to other people who provoked the appearance of strong anger. Such an inability to openly express negative feelings towards another person leads to the fact that a person redirects the flow of rage towards himself.
Experts in the field of psychology identify a number of reasons that lead to this state of affairs:
- – there is no access to the object of anger;
- – there is a fear of losing the love of an important person;
- – there is a fear of strong condemnation by society.
At the same time, the aggression that has arisen deep inside is manifested by a person performing self-destructive actions. Just the abuse of strong alcohol, the use of illegal drugs and eating disorders are signs of the presence of auto-aggression. There are several categories of behavior inherent in such an ailment.
- – Intentional auto-aggression (manifested in the execution of cuts, thinking of an effective plan for the implementation of suicide).
- – Unconscious behavior (the presence of a desire for dangerous actions).
- – Direct danger (high risk of self-harm).
- – Indirect threat (manifests itself in the process of provoking situations that create danger).
- – Psychological autoaggression (occurrence of destructive thoughts).
- – Physical manifestation of negativity (direct self-mutilation).
Often, people who are prone to auto- aggressive disorder are able, on their own, intentionally or acting subconsciously, to provoke situations that endanger their lives.
Signs of a mental disorder
Due to the fact that adults tend to hide manifestations of aggression, fearing a negative reaction from the environment, it is quite difficult to recognize a progressive disorder in time. However, some symptoms may eloquently indicate the development of auto-aggression:
- the presence of fresh wounds, burns, bruises;
- manifestation of suicidal tendencies;
- open expression of desire to disappear;
- frequent repetition of words about one’s own inferiority;
- the desire for solitude on an ongoing basis.
If any of these symptoms are detected, you should immediately start a conversation with a person who should be convinced of the importance of visiting a psychologist for an early diagnosis. Despite the fact that auto-aggression is a protective mechanism in relation to a situation that is unpleasant for a healthy psyche, often such a disorder develops in people with an unstable nervous system, increased emotionality. Auditory and visual hallucinations can also cause the progression of the disease.
Sometimes self-aggression occurs in children of any age, especially if they have experienced serious physical or emotional trauma. Also, careless rude phrases of parents in relation to a child can lead to the emergence of such a psychological ailment.
An effective way to get rid of auto-aggression
Due to the fact that the treatment of auto- aggressive disorder can be started at any stage, there is a high probability of getting rid of the problem quickly with a responsible attitude to therapy. Having determined the true causes of the onset of the disease at a meeting with a specialist, it is important to work together to find effective ways to overcome unbearable experiences, which will differ in each individual case. A competent psychologist is able to select ideally suitable techniques and methods that can easily fit into the habitual lifestyle of a person with an auto- aggressive disorder in order to correct behavior day after day.