REACTION FORMATION
REACTION FORMATION
REACTION FORMATION IS ONE OF THE FREUDIAN DEFENSES THAT WE MOVE THROUGH TO ACCESS AND GO INTO THE FEELINGS REFLECTIVE OF THE EMOTIONS. THE UNIQUE QUALITY OF REACTION FORMATION IS THAT UNLESS ONE IS ALERT TO ITS INSTANTANEOUS IGNITION, ITS TRIGGER, ONE IS INSTANTLY BEING CONTROLLED BY ITS POWER TO CONTROL OUR BEHAVIOR. IT'S ESSENTIALLY A LEARNED PATTERN THAT HAS RESULTED FROM OUR BEING, BEING HURT (USUALLY UNAWARELY) A TRAUMA, (THIS IS THE KEY), A KNEE JERK REACTION, THEN A BLICK OF AN EYE THOUGHT, THEN THE INTERNALIZED SELF-DEFEATING, SELF-DESTRUCTIVE SENSATION, THEN THE INTENSITIES OF FEELINGS, THEN THE EMOTIONS THAT CONTROL IRRATIONAL BEHAVIORS. THE SOLUTION IS ALERT AWARENESS, EXPERIENCE, AND TAKING CHARGE. WHEN WE CAN TAKE CHARGE AFTER BEING TRIGGERED WE CAN ADDRESS THE FEELINGS (FEAR, ANGER, OR SAD) QUICKLY. WE CAN THEN BEGIN TO DO THE WORK, DEEP WORK, TO RESOLVE MORE OF ITS POWER OVER US. IT'S SUBTLE FOR THE MOST PART AND THAT IS WHY ALERTNESS TO THE SENSATION IS SIGNIFICANT. IT'S A PROCESS AND DEPENDENT ON THE HURT OR TRAUMA IT CAN TAKE A LONG TIME. HOWEVER, WE ARE NOT POWERLESS OVER REACTION FORMATION FROM THE PAST! OUR REACTIONS TO IT BEING TRIGGERED NEEDS TO BE INSTANTANEOUS AS WELL. WE LEARN GRADUALLY THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO FEAR EVEN THE PARALYZING FEAR THAT WE MAY BE GRIPED BY ITSELF!BEST
JOEL V.
