How Defense Mechanisms Protect You

Your brain is lying to you — and it’s doing it to protect you. Psychologists call

these defense mechanisms — automatic mental reactions your brain uses to avoid emotional discomfort,

often without you realizing it’s happening. Blaming someone else when you feel insecure is projection.

Making excuses after a mistake is rationalization. Laughing something off when it actually hurts is humor as

a defense. These reactions feel natural because your brain is trying to keep you emotionally

safe. Defense mechanisms aren’t bad. They help us cope in difficult moments.

But when we rely on them too often, they can hide what we’re really feeling — and why we’re

reacting the way we do. Next time you react strongly, pause and ask yourself: