Yes. Yes but. So-called "self-sabotaging" behaviors have to be examined and analyzed in the context of a functioning personality and all aspects of a human life. What THAT means is that we need to be able to identify all our own "self-sabotaging" behaviors and arrange them in a descending order of importance to ourselves. No one will ever get rid of (or even be able to seriously resist) all of those behaviors at the same time. To even try to do so is a recipe for failure and simple reinforcement of the objectionable behaviors.

So it does come down to what's the worst? And deal with that one as effectively possible, make absolutely sure it's under control, before moving on to the next one on the list. There are many, many such behaviors. And unfortunately all too many of them are so necessary and fundamental to our functioning that getting rid of them is a real trick. So we well may wind up skipping down the list to find some that are perhaps easier to deal with.

There's usually a very serious reason for a destructive behavior to be on our lists. They fit in key spots in our unconscious arrangements of daily mixtures of pain and pleasure. Few of us fully understand the "keystone" nature of many such behaviors. So when you pull one out, you may well not understand what repercussions that may have on other pieces of stability. So go easy. Gingerly. Watching always for what may happen when you yank a behavior from your daily lists.

I'm not really crazy about "Psychology Today." I very much wonder whether their editorial staff does enough to ensure that their articles are realistic as opposed to exciting. I'm not quite sure what audience they think they're addressing. Average people not otherwise interested in psychology? The walking, self-diagnosed wounded? Serious patients in therapy? Do YOU find it helpful and accurate? I wonder. Take care.