New research explains why people deliberately harm themselves, from nail biting to procrastination. It turns out that these are not just bad habits, butbrain defense mechanismrooted in survival instincts.

The evolutionary logic of self-sabotage

According to clinical psychologist Charlie Heriot-Maitland, the brain evolved not for happiness, but forsurvival. His main goal is to avoid unpredictable threats.

“The brain would prefer that we control our own inaction rather than risk being caught off guard by an external threat,” believes He.

Thus, self-sabotage is a kind of“controlled explosion”.Procrastinationprotects against potential failure – “it’s better not to do it than to do it badly.” Plays a role andperfectionism– an attempt to avoid any mistakes, which can also lead to procrastination. Apessimismprepares for the worst so as not to be disappointed.

Why is self-sabotage so difficult to overcome?

When we avoid a task out of fear of failure, we actually perform worse on it, confirming our fears. In a moment of anxietythreat response systemtemporarily turns off rational thinking, triggering impulsive patterns of behavior. This gives the illusion of control over the situation, which reduces anxiety, although not for long.

The key to changing these patterns is not in fighting the habit, but in understanding its protective function:

• Compassion instead of judgment.Criticism only reinforces the vicious circle. I must admit: “My brain is trying to protect me, but it chose the wrong method.”

• Working with the cause, not the effect.It’s important to finddeep emotional pain or fearwhich trigger the mechanism of self-sabotage. It could be fear of rejection or trauma from past failure.

• Neuroplasticity.The brain can be “rewired” throughdeliberate practicenew, healthier reactions. But this takes time and patience.

Thus, self-sabotage is not a character weakness, butevolutionarily developed strategywhich once helped to survive. Today it often prevents us from living fully. By understanding its biological roots, we can stop blaming ourselves and begin to change our reactions with compassion and awareness. “We don’t want to fight this behavior, but we don’t want to let it rule our lives. We have a choice,” Heriot-Maitland concludes.