Feeling like you are stuck in a battle with your mind? You aren’t alone! Depression isn’t just about feeling sad; it’s about feeling trapped in a cycle that makes even simple tasks feel overwhelming. But here’s the twist: sometimes, depression doesn’t just slow you down, it can make you work against yourself.

Can depression be self-sabotaging? Yes, it can! And that’s one of its sneakiest tricks. It pushes you to avoid opportunities, doubt yourself, and even walk away from the things you want most. The good thing is that, recognizing this pattern is the first step to breaking it.

In this article, we will see the link between depression and self-sabotage, show you how to spot it, and offer simple, effective ways to overcome it. If you have been feeling like your own worst enemy lately, keep reading; it’s time to change that.

Can Depression Be Self-Sabotaging?

Self-sabotage is when you actively block yourself from reaching personal objectives that you have set and are fully aware of what good things come out of such objectives. For instance, in the case of someone suffering from depression, it stems out to be an automatic response at times and can be classified as an unconscious act. It is the feeling of wanting to succeed in something, but without knowing it, you feel as though you are the reason why you aren’t succeeding.

A study found that 63.3% of psychiatric inpatients reported engaging in at least one medically self-sabotaging behavior, with an average of 4.11 different behaviors per individual.

Can depression be self-sabotaging? Yes, most definitely yes. The behavioral response in people begins to alter, and as a result, every scenario seems complicated and difficult to view as a solution. If you have been feeling depressed, then your sense of self may be quite low, which can make it seem like you do not ‘earn’ happiness or success. This way of thinking leads to a lot of actions that ultimately backfire, such as:

• Never be on the lookout for potential changes that will help, such as considering career transitions.

• Delaying work that is supposed to be done regardless of how many times one tries to accomplish it

• Putting distance between yourself and the people close to you or mistreating people who want to help

• Being unsure of themselves and eventually never acting on those instincts

All of the above can make you feel like you are in an endless loop, where every time you gain the willpower to reflect on any action you wish to accomplish as an outcome, there are constant thoughts telling you that you don’t deserve it in the first place. But the answer to the question, can depression be self-sabotaging, can be overcome with sufficient attention and optimism.

How Depression Triggers Self-Sabotage

Depression does not only affect your mood or functioning; it also pertains to the thoughts you have, the decisions you make, and what you choose to do. Depression is a valid cause to believe that struggling is pointless, which can have significant consequences in one’s life. This can lead to more harm in the long run.

Individuals with borderline personality disorder, often associated with depression, frequently engage in medically self-sabotaging behaviors, including intentional self-harm and neglecting necessary medical treatment. 

Some common ways depression leads to self-sabotage include:

• Negative Thoughts: Negativity tends to be a default state for depressed people and gets hard to control in day-to-day life. Tryouts may be associated with failure because of a belief that there is little to no chance for things to improve. Hence, one may never attempt it.
• Lack of Energy: The feeling of lethargy is one of the most common and troublesome symptoms of depression. This lack of motivation can be a huge obstacle to achieving success as one would rather delay their tasks instead.
• Low Self-Esteem: Depression always introduces a strong feeling of inadequacy in an individual, which then makes the person believe that they are unworthy of achieving anything in life. This is in contrast with how beneficial such accomplishments can be for them, leading them to even self-sabotage.
• Avoidance of responsibilities: Due to depression, an individual might become incapable of performing even the simplest of daily life activities. This delay tolerance then leads to the accumulation of unfinished work, which only makes the situation worse.
• Emotional eating or substance abuse: Depression can lead to habits such as alcoholism or overeating. These disorders tend to serve as a way of helping cope with depression. However, this just comes with a bigger headache down the line.

Can depression be self-sabotaging?: Yes. Most of the time, depression reduces the will of an individual, and as a consequence, a number of self-destructive patterns in behavior begin to form, but understanding self-destructive methods of behavior is the first step to getting better.

How to Break the Cycle of Self-Sabotage

If you’ve been asking, can depression be self-sabotaging? The answer is yes, but you can break the cycle.

Here are some ways to start overcoming self-sabotage caused by depression.

• Seek support: One of the steps that I consider one of my best practices is to ask for help. A well-wishing person or a specialist can assist in encouraging a person to look beyond the negativity out there.
• Set small goals: It is not always easy to set a plan and focus on trying to achieve it all at the same time. Hence, it is best to take large goals and set smaller segments to work towards. Celebrate small wins and gain the courage to work on the larger goal.
• Challenge negative thoughts: Negative thoughts come in real-time, and one can easily try and get up with them. And whenever a negative thought arises, resist it and change the scenery. Ask questions like “Is this thought reasonable?” or “What’s my evidence for this thought?” and get ready to switch your stance.
• Practice self-compassion: With depression, it’s very easy to become too critical of ourselves, so let’s not blame ourselves for this fact. Instead, let us start little by little and follow some gentleness to start self-practicing tender feelings. Become your best friend who is suffering.
• Focus on self-care: In order to develop depression that comes with such a monster and low self-esteem, which tends to make self-care techniques a very childish aspect, but yes, it’s the bare minimum that people do for feeding themselves, sleep, and a good workout is beneficial.

Like this, and let’s not forget the essential support going forward, one can totally break the cycle of self-harm, which is a frequent feature whenever one is suffering from low self-esteem.

The Role of Professional Help

If you’re noticing that depressive symptoms are increasing in frequency and intensity, do not hesitate to seek out help from a psychologist or a qualified professional. Understanding the challenges accompanying depression is an essential step toward recovering from it. Seeking therapy is a vital part of the treatment process.

Engaging with a coach or psychotherapist can assist individuals in understanding and overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors, leading to improved mental health outcomes.

Learning to change the way you think because of negative thoughts, as well as learning how to deal with medication through CBT and MAT as therapy methods, can be very helpful. These treatments will help you see how and when you tend to engage in behaviors that sabotage yourself and how not to do so.

Furthermore, you are not likely to be the only one suffering from depression. Calling for assistance could help you. You can free yourself.

Can depression be self-sabotaging? Yes, but with the right help, you don’t have to face it alone.

Conclusion

Self-sabotaging behaviors are the result of depression. However, the first step is realizing that it is there, and there are many signs of that. If it becomes unbearable, don’t worry. Calusa Recovery is here to help you treat this underlying self-doubt, endless procrastination, and general avoidance behavior while simultaneously addressing the depression that causes all of it.

If making the change to understand the negative things in oneself and seeking help feels like too big of a task, then the available resources will prove to be truly helpful. Comprehending something can be the first step to making that change. Starting over and becoming who you really want to be is just a step away. You only need to be able to want it.

FAQs

Q: Is self-sabotaging a symptom of depression?

A: Yes, self-sabotaging can be a symptom of depression. It often happens when negative thoughts and low self-worth lead to actions that disrupt personal growth or goals.

Q: What mental illness causes you to self-sabotage?

A: Mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder (BPD) can cause self-sabotage. These conditions impact thoughts and behaviors, leading to self-defeating actions.

Q: Can depression make you self-destructive?

A: Yes, depression can lead to self-destructive behaviors. Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness may cause people to engage in harmful actions like isolation or self-neglect.

Q: What are self-sabotaging behaviors?

A: Self-sabotaging behaviors include procrastination, negative self-talk, self-doubt, avoidance, and pushing away support. These actions hinder progress in personal, academic, or professional life.