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<\/a><\/p>\nThe first step is to realize that self-sabotage is a pattern of behaviors that you engage in, often without even realizing it. Then you need to pinpoint triggers that cause self-destructive actions.<\/p>\n
What is self-sabotage?<\/strong><\/p>\n Self-sabotage is when you engage in behaviors or thoughts that interfere with your long-standing goals and create problems in your life. These behaviors, whether purposeful or done unconsciously, prevent you from living the life you hope for and lead to feelings of insecurity, resentment and self-judgment.<\/p>\n Why do people do it?<\/strong><\/p>\n There are many reasons why a person may engage in self-destructive behaviors. It may be difficult for you to pinpoint why exactly you struggle with self-sabotaging behaviors, but a good starting point is to examine what behaviors hinder your ability to reach life goals, whether they are dietary, fitness, relationship, professional or personal goals.<\/p>\n Fear is a major factor in self-sabotaging behaviors. You may have a fear of failing or even a fear of being successful, which may seem unusual but occurs when the path to success is stressful. It\u2019s not uncommon for people to fear what will occur when they finally achieve a goal, so they will engage in behaviors that make the achievement more difficult or unlikely.<\/p>\n Self-sabotaging may occur when a person doesn\u2019t feel confident or worthy enough to find happiness or achieve a goal. Insecurities keep people from pushing forward and reduce motivation.<\/p>\n The uncertainty of new, perhaps beneficial outcomes can make people uncomfortable, leading to self-sabotaging behaviors that bring them back to more \u201ccomfortable\u201d situations. In this case, comfort is simply a place or emotion they\u2019ve experienced before, even if it\u2019s destructive.<\/p>\n If you are quick to point fingers every time something goes wrong, then you may be self-sabotaging by placing blame instead of taking responsibility or realizing that sometimes life just don\u2019t go as planned. Plus, placing blame on others doesn\u2019t allow you to learn and grow from challenging situations. It\u2019s easy enough to blame others in the face of adversity, but how is that contributing to your relationships and personal growth?<\/p>\n It\u2019s not uncommon to stall or hesitate before beginning an important task. This can be a reaction to fear or lack of motivation, but procrastinating is a type of self-sabotage.<\/p>\n Signs<\/strong><\/p>\n Wondering if you\u2019ve been practicing self-destructive behaviors in your own life? Here are some common signs: Causes<\/strong><\/p>\n What causes self-defeating behavior? There are several reasons why a person may form self-sabotaging habits or hinder his or her own ability to find success.<\/p>\n\n
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\n\u2022 chronic procrastination
\n\u2022 persistent self-defeating thoughts
\n\u2022 thinking that you\u2019re never good enough
\n\u2022 putting yourself down
\n\u2022 emotional eating
\n\u2022 avoiding tasks that need to be completed
\n\u2022 blaming others when something goes wrong
\n\u2022 looking for instant gratification
\n\u2022 being unable to achieve even short-term goals
\n\u2022 never feeling satisfied, even after achieving a goal
\n\u2022 pushing away or picking fights with people who love you
\n\u2022 dating people who don\u2019t treat you well<\/p>\n