Hello fellow steemians. I'm here again Rigel. Let's continue to our discussion about the book I read and I want to share the knowledge of what I read in my book named Psychiatric Nursing. Today let's talk about mental mechanism. This is his part 2. The terms "mental mechanism" "mental dynamisms", and "mental defenses" are used interchangeably in psychiatry when discussing methods used by individuals to resolve mental conflict. All human beings use mental mechanisms to alleviate the anxiety perceived during times of stress. Just as our bodies have physical defenses which combat disease conditions, such as the action of white blood cells, so do our mental defenses aid in the resolution of mental conflict.
Ordinarily, the limited use of a defense mechanism will help to resolve a conflict and reduce or alleviate the tension and anxiety produced by it. when mechanisms fail to resolve emotional conflict, an individual's defenses may become pathological to the extent of attracting attention and requiring treatment and sometimes hospitalization. Overt pathological manifestations of menttal mechanism represent attempts to resolve overwhelming mental conflict. Pathological defenses may be observed in the behavior of patients showing ritualistic behavior , in those who deny reality and phatasize. and in others.
It is generally believed that by the tenth year of life defense mechanisms are well established. These mechanism are characteristic ways of behaving in response to situations which threaten the security of the self-system. Mental mechanisms may be used consciously or unconsciously. They are seldom used alone but are more often used in combination with one another. They may be viewed as reaction to conflict which are associated with one of the three major defense patterns: moving againts, moving away, and moving forward.
ISOLATION
Isolation is used when the person consciously protects himself by avoiding painful situations or separates disturbing ideas from their affects. Some person suppress their feelings and manage to avoid taking apart in a problem situation by saying " I don't want to become involved." We observed this mechanism in various ways. Phobias and taboos are behaviours through which the patient relieves anxiety associated with unconscious experiences which are isolated from the patient's surface affect and behaviour.
SYMBOLISM
Symbolism is a mechanism whereby a person attaches significance to shapes of objects colors, materials, slogans, words, and so on. "Green as grass" "smooth as velvet", "sturdy as on oak", are symbolically meaningful statements. It is said that man's ability to symbolize experience distinguishes him from his animal predecessors.
UNDOING
Undoing is an unconscious, symbolic attempt by the patient to eradicate or eliminate the existence of a previous painful experience. Feelings of guilt and anxiety are relieved for the moment as the patient symbolically reversely enacts or undoes the steps of the painful experience. These reverse actions help the patient to feel more comfortable. It is a way of going back and amending or atoning for some past action.
REGRESSION
Regression is a process whereby an individual escapes the frustration anxiety of conflict by returning to methods of adjustment that proved successful at an earlier stage of life. The behaviour acted out by the person is considered reminiscent of behaviour observed in an earlier stage of personality development.
PHANTASY
The use of imagination or daydreaming is common behaviour, especially during adolescence . When used to a discreet degree, phantasy may be beneficial in satisfying innate longings, fulfilling denied wishes, and affording solutions to relief from anxiety and rumor of minor emotional conflicts.
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-rigel