How do we respond to stress, conflict and inner tension?

By Vasilios Silivistris Humans have always developed ways to protect themselves from emotional discomfort. Some of these responses arise automatically and outside awareness, while others are deliberate attempts to manage a difficult situation. Understanding the difference between defence mechanisms and coping mechanisms helps us recognise how we respond to stress, conflict, and inner tension. Defence mechanisms Defence mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies that shield a person from anxiety, distressing thoughts or uncomfortable feelings. They operate beneath awareness, often without any deliberate intention. Although sometimes viewed negatively, defence mechanisms are not inherently harmful. They can help people navigate painful experiences, maintain stability and continue functioning during periods of strain.

Problems arise only when people use them excessively or rigidly, preventing them from addressing the real issue. The concept originates from Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna. While Freud’s broader theories are difficult to verify scientifically and are no longer central to modern therapeutic practice, the idea of defence mechanisms has endured. Therapists across many schools of thought still observe these patterns in clients, even if they explain them differently. Cognitive behavioural therapy, for example, describes similar behaviours but attributes them to irrational beliefs rather than unconscious conflict. Freud proposed three interacting forces within the mind: The Id , representing instinctive, unconscious drives for comfort, food, and sex. The Superego , partly conscious, embodying moral rules and social expectations. The Ego , also partly conscious, mediating between the demands of the id and the restrictions of the superego. Anxiety…