4. COMMON DEFENSE MECHANISMS
Repression
Involuntarily pushing unpleasant feelings out of one’s mind
Regression
Returning to behaviors characteristic of a younger age, rather than dealing with
problems in a mature manner
Denial
Unconscious lack of recognition of something that is obvious to others
Projection
Attributing your own feelings or faults to another person or group
Suppression
Consciously and intentionally pushing unpleasant feelings out of one’s mind
Rationalization
Making excuses to explain a situation of behavior rather than taking
responsibility for it.
Compensation
Making up for weaknesses and mistakes through gift giving, hard work, or
extreme efforts.
5. ANGER
Dif ferent ways to manage anger:
Do something to relax
Channel your energy in a different direction
Talk with someone you trust
What are some techniques you use to manage your anger?
6. FEAR
What is something your afraid of?
Ways to help combat fear:
Talk with a friend or adult
Community Resources (college decisions)
Face the fear head on
7. GUILT
Destructive emotion that can destroy self -esteem
Combatting Guilt:
Admit making a mistake
Apologizing
Being more thoughtful in the future
Remember that there are some circumstances that are out of
your control and ARE NOT YOUR FAULT!