Undoing is a defense mechanism where you attempt to reverse or undo a feeling by performing a corrective action. This often arises from a place of guilt or anxiety, aiming to neutralize the perceived negative impact of your thoughts or actions. It's common in healthy adults under stress and serves to keep threatening thoughts out of awareness. Undoing can be seen as a way to regain control over one’s emotional state, but it is not always adaptive. This mechanism stems from psychodynamic theory, which posits that our unconscious mind drives many of our behaviors.
Using Inner
In Inner, you can track your feelings and actions that follow stressful or guilt-inducing events. Ask yourself: What triggered this feeling? What action did I take to try to undo it? How did it make me feel afterward? Over time, notice patterns in your triggers and responses without judgment. Use the app’s reflection prompts to explore healthier ways to address these feelings.
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