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Writer's pictureAnne Athena

How to tell if you're sabotaging yourself

Self-sabotage is more common than we think. It comes in different sizes and forms and most of the times we don't realize we are sabotaging ourselves. Only recently I noticed I have been keeping myself back, after a series of journal entries lead me to take a step back and see my life clearly from afar. So today I would like to share some of the things you might be doing that are potential indicators of self-sabotage. Although there are a number of reasons you might be sabotaging your progress, your relationships, your health, in today's blog I will mainly focus on how to recognize it.


Disclaimer: This post is intended for educational and entertainment purposes only, and is not a substitute to therapy, nor a tool for self-diagnosing underlying mental health issues.



What is Self-Sabotage?

Self-sabotage refers to destructive or unhealthy behaviors or habits that undermine your goals, efforts, or values. Self-sabotaging behavior is often rooted in doubt, anxiety, anger, or feelings of worthlessness. It is often fueled by negative self-talk and low self-esteem, leading to feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness, which subsequently drives repeated patterns of self-sabotaging behaviors. These behaviors reinforce a sense of worthlessness and provide justification for negative thoughts, leading to a viscous cycle. It is therefore of utmost importance to take the first steps and recognize these behaviors, in order to understand them and eventually stop them.


Most of us occasionally undermine our best efforts by cheating on a diet or being late for an important meeting. However, for some people, self-sabotage is a chronic pattern that leads to significant problems in their life, work, and relationships. Self-sabotage damages reputations, because repeated lack of follow through leads others to view the self-sabotaging person as unreliable, unmotivated, uncommitted, lazy, or lacking drive. Repeated failures and disappointments create guilt and frustration. Over time, this feeds shame – further supporting low self-esteem. This devilish scheme manifests in many ways.


Some of the common behaviors I found online are the following:

  • Missing deadlines.

  • Repeatedly arriving late to work.

  • Procrastinating or putting something off – even though it might be urgent. Perfectionism is also a form of disguised procrastination, so watch out for this.

  • Starting projects but never finishing them.

  • Overeating/Comfort-eating.

  • Harsh self-talk.

  • Abandoning or ruining friendships and/or romantic partnerships.

  • Abusing alcohol or drugs.


I hope the above help you recognize some of the things you do as self-sabotage (if they are so).


healthline is a website I trust. I highly recommend you visit the following post to learn more:


How do you deal with self-sabotage?






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