In Cyprus, the difference between psychological defenses and coping was explained — Cyprus Mail
In Cyprus, psychotherapist Vasilios Silivistris explained in an article for Cyprus Mail the differences between psychological defense mechanisms and coping strategies — conscious ways of dealing with stress. According to his description, defense mechanisms arise unconsciously and protect a person from anxiety, painful thoughts, or unpleasant feelings.
Unconscious psychological defense
The author notes that defense mechanisms are not harmful in themselves: they can help people get through painful experiences, maintain stability, and function during stressful periods. Problems, he says, arise when a person uses them excessively or inflexibly without addressing the real problem.
Among the eight main mechanisms, the author named projection — attributing one’s own unacceptable feelings or impulses to another person — denial, repression, regression, rationalization, displacement of emotions onto a safer object, reaction formation, and sublimation. Sublimation involves transforming unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable or productive activity.
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Conscious stress-coping strategies
Unlike psychological defense, coping strategies are conscious and purposeful actions used to respond to external stressful situations. They are considered adaptive if they reduce tension and help a person act more effectively. The author describes strategies that increase stress or avoid the problem as maladaptive.
Among emotion-focused ways of coping with stress, he included the opportunity to release accumulated emotions, temporary distraction, techniques for reducing anger or arousal, meditation, deep breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation. The effectiveness of a particular strategy depends on the person, the nature of the stressor, social support, and circumstances.
In psychotherapy, according to the author, it is important not only to identify a defense mechanism but also to understand what fear, shame, grief, or unmet needs it may be protecting a person from.
