The beauty of maladaptive coping responses....

Survival instinct gone wild….that’s what happens when there is no other way to respond in a stressful situation due to some internal or external force. Some stressful situations go on for long periods of time, such as childhood- and other sustained periods of stress may be shorter term such as an abusive relationship, or being a captive, soldier, patient, or cult victim. Humans respond to the threat of stress quickly, automatically, and deeply. It's the survival instinct When the natural impulse to remove yourself or change the stressful circumstance is not available due to lack of awareness or outside resources and choice........when you can’t actually “fight or flight” when you need to…another level of survival mechanism  kicks-in.

This is when the maladaptive coping responses of addiction, self-destructive or abusive behavior might develop as a last ditch effort to deal with the overwhelm. The benefits of maladaptive coping eventually ware off as the cons increase with addiction and abuse. It showed up out of desperation to help you...there is something noble and good at the root of maladaptive coping that deserves recognition and appreciation, while also paying attention to the benefits and harmful side effects. The harmful side effects always win until proper care and intervention is provided. 

How have you coped with periods of ongoing and repeated stress? How do you cope when faced with circumstances you do not want to be in?
Do you tend to shut down or get fired up?

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