Hello, dear readers of the site! The instinct of self-preservation is the most significant instinct in human life.
If only because it allows her to continue. And today we will try to figure out what it is, as well as what violations are most common?
What is it like?
How can we understand that the instinct of self-preservation has worked? And it’s easy, we are just afraid of any factors that threaten our health and life in general.
Modern man is in danger, almost every second, even while at home, he risks dying from a fire, collapse of a building, gas explosion, and so on.
What can we say about people whose professions are quite risky? The same firefighters, police officers, going to work every day, cannot be XNUMX% sure that they will return home safe and sound in the evening.
To ensure survival, a person must be able to concentrate on a task in extreme conditions. Simply put, pull yourself together, and, without being panicked, run away without looking back.
This feature of the body to respond to danger was quite relevant in ancient times, when people had to escape from predators.
Then the ability to break away in a second, just hearing a rustle, could really provide at least another day on this planet.
A modern person should not always react in this way, I think you yourself know a lot of cases when a panic attack only complicated an already difficult situation.
For example, in case of a fire, fearing the possibility of suffocation, a person simply jumped out the window without waiting for the help of rescuers, their instructions.
Violations
For some, this instinct of self-preservation (hereinafter referred to as IS) is hypertrophied, while for others it is almost completely absent, depending on the conditions in which the person is located.
For example, if a child was born during military operations, then he can perceive any noise as a threat, which is why he will shudder and try to hide in a secluded place that will not suffer during a collapse.
While a kid who has not experienced shelling and its consequences in his life may well not even notice that something is not very normal.
IC Gain
A person with an overly active IS usually suffers from various types of phobic and other mental disorders.
He is prone to hypochondria, when any symptom of any disease frightens him to death, and also causes a clear feeling that he is necessarily mortally ill.
It’s just that those around him don’t understand how serious everything is and do not take into account his health complaints, refusing to treat and, in general, diagnose the condition.
Usually, individuals with an enhanced instinct for self-preservation are wary of everything new, unfamiliar.
They are fixated on maintaining youth and health, which is why they refuse harmful foods, habits, play sports all their free time, harden, and so on.
And this is fine, if not for one thing — they are literally obsessed with a healthy lifestyle.
Every day is filled with anxieties and worries, which push them to actions that, in their opinion, can prolong their existence on this earth, almost making them immortal.
Weakening IP
It manifests itself in causing injuries to one’s body. They happen both accidentally and on purpose. That is, a person can simply get into unpleasant situations, crashing into something, falling.
Or he can commit damage quite consciously, for example, cut the skin, disfigure and mutilate himself.
Basically, the weakening of IP is observed in severe forms of mental illness, for example, with schizophrenia, a person loses touch with reality and the ability to correctly identify himself.
That is, he may well believe that he is part of some mechanism, or that certain parts of the body are simply superfluous and need to be disposed of.
Suicidal behavior can also be attributed to the weakening of IS, as well as aggressiveness.
In principle, the ability to protect yourself in a difficult situation is essential. But if a person, with or without cause, seeks to harm someone, behaves rather provocatively and is a constant participant, instigator of fights, then this by no means will allow him to ensure his safety and a long happy life.
What weakens IS?
Do you know how to turn off the instinct of self-preservation in a child? Just constantly stop him in activity, pointing out all the dangers around him.
With overprotection, parents do not allow children to gain experience and knowledge on their own, to get to know the world, to know it better.
Don’t go there, there are hooligans, don’t touch it — you’ll get burned, don’t stick your fingers here either — it’ll tear off. In general, such children have almost no chance to understand what is really a danger.
They only hear about it from their relatives, who control them, replacing the instincts themselves, as if playing the role of “external signaling devices”.
Accordingly, what was originally laid down by nature is lost due to non-use. After all, why worry about something if mom did not give the command?
This is exaggerated, but still, with hyper-custody, this is exactly how things are. Unlike, for example, the methods of education in African villages. Where kids without supervision can spend all day on the edge of the abyss.
And none of the adults will even think that the kids will stumble and break during the game. Because they feel their body, its boundaries, along with the boundaries of the abyss.
Completion
And that’s all for today, dear readers! We recommend that you read the «Phobias and Fears» section, it contains articles about people with a high level of anxiety.
For example, there are those who are terribly afraid to meet a bald person, or receive a gift, hear their name.
In general, subscribe to site updates, and you will find out how many phobias there are in the world and, in general, a lot of other information. Starting from how to become more harmonious, developed, successful, and ending with motivating poems and aphorisms.
Take care and be healthy!
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina