Many people find themselves repeating the same destructive patterns; bad relationships, overeating, job failure, depression, anxiety, etc. Many times utilizing techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; replacing negative thinking and retraining the brain, can be very beneficial and shows positive results. However, other times this may not be enough. So what does a person do? Being able to recognize your schemas can assist in identifying WHY these patterns are so persistent and can help a person discover how to change it.
Schema: Self-defeating, core themes or patterns that we keep repeating throughout our lives.
Early Maladaptive Schemas
DISCONNECTION AND REJECTION
Abandonment/Instability
Mistrust/Abuse
Emotional Deprivation
Defectiveness/Shame
Social Isolation/Alienation
IMPAIRED AUTONOMY AND PERFORMANCE
Dependence/Incompetence
Vulnerability to Harm or Illness
Enmeshment/Undeveloped Self
Failure
IMPAIRED LIMITS
Entitlement/Grandiosity
Insufficient Self-Control/Discipline
OTHER-DIRECTEDNESS
Subjugation
Self-Sacrifice
Approval Seeking/Recognition-Seeking
OVERVIGILANCE AND INHIBITION
Negativity/Pessimism
Emotional Inhibition
Unrelenting Standards/Hypercriticalness
Punitiveness
Being able to identify your schema helps to have the ability to recognize when the pattern is activated and how to stop it from causing more dysfunction. Once these patterns are broken, it can lead to self-fulfillment and life satisfaction!!
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Reference: International Society of Schema Therapy. (2020). The schema therapy model. Glossop-Ring 35, DE-61118 Bad Vilbel, Germany