Eliminating the victim complex in children
As for the treatment of the victim complex in children, here great responsibility for getting rid of the problem falls on the parents. 3 steps can help to strengthen your child's confidence:
Family traditions
It is important to spend time with your beloved child, talking about what you can thank fate for. During dinner, you should ask your child to tell about the joyful event of today
You can create a gratitude stand and regularly add entries to it.
. It is important to show your child how to cope with anxiety, anger, and sadness. It is worth teaching him to respond with dignity to the insults of others. Problem solving skills training. A child who doesn't make the soccer team may decide that he will never make a good athlete. To prevent such a situation from happening, it is important to teach him ways to solve problems. It is important to show him such methods by personal example. It is recommended to participate in role-playing games with the child and practice friendly communication.
How to get rid of the victim mentality? Psychology of the victim. How to stop being a victim? Satya Das
Thus, the victim complex is a serious problem in modern society. Fortunately, the disorder can be diagnosed at an early stage. Consultation with a specialist and help from loved ones will help you cope with it. The main thing is to follow all the recommendations of the psychologist and believe in your success.
Article updated: 05/11/2020
“Victim complex” in men and women and its manifestations
If anyone thinks that the “victim complex” is more common in women than in men, then we hasten to disappoint him, because this is not so. A position in which a person considers himself a puppet of fate and circumstances seduces representatives of both sexes equally; here, as one fairy tale says, everything depends “not on nutrition, but on upbringing.” It is all the more interesting to see the manifestations of the “disease” in women and men. Here they are:
A person blames others for his troubles. A person does not take responsibility for his life. A person does not understand how his action affects others and what it leads to. The person has no clear beliefs. Eternal discontent. A man is looking for a “master” to whom he can give his freedom, which hangs like a “crusader” around his neck. Tormentors, tyrants and despots of all stripes come to the unconscious call. After all, the attitude of others towards a person is a reflection of his attitude towards others.
This is the victim complex in men and women. Or rather, its manifestations. And we’ll talk about other aspects of the position of a “weak person” below.
How to recognize a victim: typical signs
All victims behave very similarly. Their income, social status, and place of work are not important here. A stylish insta-woman with a Furla bag and a tortured woman with her great-great-grandmother’s string bag make the same mistakes.
They do what they are told
The husband said: “On maternity leave,” which means on maternity leave. And so on any issue. Everything that is more important than the dinner menu is decided at a family council according to the principle: “We thought about it, and I decided.”
They don't do what they want
They don't do this all the time! One story is when the husband forbids it. The other is when they forbid themselves.
It seems that the husband does not care what color his wife paints her nails. She really wants to try red, black or pungent orange, instead of the usual French jacket.
She firmly decides: “Today it’s definitely red! Bloody! Scarlet! The reddest of all the reddest! It’s decided!” And he returns from the salon... with beige or pastel pink, as usual.
Because at the last moment I thought: “What will people say? At my age and such a color! Moreover, there is a parent meeting in a week. What will the teachers think?!”
Putting themselves in second place
Women victims always fade into the background. Anyone else's comfort is more important to them than their own. Not to anger their husband, not to deprive their son, not to offend their daughter - these are their life priorities.
Ready to endure for the sake of future happiness
These women are constantly waiting. They wait until her husband’s project is over, when the child grows up and stops annoying her father, when her husband finally appreciates her efforts. As a rule, they don’t wait.
They believe that the husband knows best
They are used to taking a leading position. At first, one of the parents directed it authoritarianly, then control passed to the spouse.
Victim girls are not used to making decisions and being responsible for them. They are ready to shift the burden of responsibility to anyone.
How to get rid of the victim complex?
Many people are interested in the question of whether it is possible to get rid of the victim complex. Can. But for this you need to work hard, for a long time and regularly on yourself.
People with a victim complex not only need the help of a psychologist, they need it. A person who turns to a psychologist for help is already taking the first step towards stopping being a victim.
Working on oneself, destroying the victim complex in oneself is pointless until a person admits to himself that he has a complex. Many people deny the fact that they are taking on the role of victim.
To get out of the victim role, practice the following daily:
- Stop living with the permission of others. If you want to return an item to the store, say: “I want to return the item.” Instead of asking if this dress can be returned. Don’t ask in a guilty tone for permission to go out with your friends. Communicate your intention directly, without question or excuse. Of course, this advice does not imply invading other people's borders or causing harm to other people. The typical behavior of a victim is to ask permission for something that he can allow himself.
- If you don't want to help, don't do it. You shouldn’t borrow money out of politeness, you shouldn’t babysit your friend’s children while she arranges her personal life, you shouldn’t constantly be a comfort vest. If you don't want this, say so directly. But don't force yourself.
- Be confident during the conversation. Don’t be afraid to say no, don’t look away if the question is awkward, don’t slouch, get rid of nervous gestures. During a conversation, stand straight, speak clearly, and do not grimace. This will show your confidence.
- Don't be afraid to say too much. Many victims are very afraid that anything they say will be used against them. Get rid of this fear. Don't torment yourself with fears that your interlocutor will think the wrong thing about you. At the same time, don't go to extremes. Maintain a balance in communication, open up when communicating, but do not cross the line.
- Don't be afraid to assert your rights. If you don’t like a product in a store or receive a low-quality dish in a restaurant, don’t be afraid to refuse such a product. You have every right to do this. There is no need to quarrel and be rude, but it is necessary to speak directly and clearly. Tolerating poor quality service, paying for bad services, silently brushing aside when you have been deceived is the lot of the victim, alas.
- Take action. While the victim waits for changes to come on their own and life to improve, the owner of his life acts. Don’t expect your life to miraculously change on its own; take concrete steps every day to get closer to your goal.
- Remember, mistakes are inevitable. Don't let negative experiences in the past make you fear failure. If one romance ends in disappointment, this does not mean that all men are bad. If you are not appreciated at one job, you can become an indispensable employee at another.
How to get rid of victim syndrome: tips
The moment you start to step out of the victim role, many people will say that you have changed a lot for the worse. Don't take this as a sign that things aren't working out and you've failed again. In fact, you just stopped being convenient for these people, that’s all. You will bring great benefit to yourself; you will finally feel what it is like to be a free person, deprived of the endless feeling of obligation to prove something to someone.
The victim complex not only leads to psychological discomfort, but often the person is also subjected to physical ailments. He may begin to eat poorly, experience insomnia, lack sexual desire, and not take care of his appearance. Therefore, it is necessary to get rid of the victim complex. If you realize that you have taken on the role of a victim, you are already on the path to victory. This complex brings only negativity; there is no benefit in the victim complex. We wish you to become the master of your life.
"Victim Complex" Human psychology plays against him
Let's return to what was discussed a little higher. From an early age, a child learns the technique of manipulating parents, and with it receives a basic attitude towards the world around him. In the future, an attitude that says: “People are only interested in you when you have problems” will greatly complicate a person’s life.
A logical question arises: if the “victim complex” is so bad, a person’s psychology, his entire internal structure should rebel against weakness, why doesn’t this happen? Because habit is a great thing, but in addition, there are three more points:
People with a “victim complex” are latent (hidden) masochists. They themselves build their lives in such a way that they suffer to the fullest. Federico Fellini said: “speak badly about me, speak well about me, most importantly, speak about me.” People get used to attention and it is very difficult to give up this “drug”, and the gender principle does not work here. Both women and men depend on attention. In addition, there can always be someone who will try to solve a person’s problems, even if they are of a mythical nature.
The victim's behavior strategy results in the following disadvantages:
Loneliness. Whatever the “victims” think, the life of every person is terribly difficult. And everyone has their own problems. Therefore, after comforting the groaning one for a month or a year, his friends, one after another, disappear into the darkness. Psychological vampirism has not yet been canceled. People want positivity, not solutions to other people's problems or even endless and never-ending conversations about them. Unhappy personal life. “Victims,” if they take not a passive position (like those women who give themselves wholeheartedly to their family and husband), but an active one (men who love to feel sorry for themselves), cannot count on a happy marriage, because the spouses dissolve into the distance according to those for the same reasons as friends - I want positivity, but there is none. Unemployment. A person thinks that those around him are to blame. Therefore, if something does not work out at work, he changes jobs. Then history repeats itself, and then there is no choice, or the offers run out.
Signs of a victim complex
Victims are manipulators. Their vocabulary comes down to a few phrases:
- “Don’t you feel sorry for me?”;
- “He doesn’t feel sorry for me at all (mother, wife, daughter, friend, sister - fill in the appropriate one)”;
- “Oh, what is happening in the world”;
- “Why are they doing this to me?”;
- “Oh, I don’t know what to do”;
- “My fate, apparently, is to suffer”;
- “Yes, I’m always unlucky”;
- “Don’t pay attention, something often happens to me”;
- “When will all this end?”;
- other.
It is easy to recognize a victim: he complains and does nothing to get out of his deplorable state. And if the victim follows someone’s advice, he will then find hundreds of reasons to blame the person for giving bad advice and not helping.
If you communicate closely with the victim, you notice the following about the person:
- He complains all the time. Any conversation comes down to a discussion of his problems or an abstract “How bad everything is in our world”; the victim is not interested in the interlocutor’s problems.
- Something constantly happens to him, and often it is you who rush to the rescue.
- He is sure that he was born under an unlucky star, that he is always unlucky in everything, that circumstances are extremely unfortunate for him. Other people's happiness and success is luck.
- He is unsure of himself. “I can’t”, “I don’t know”, “I don’t know how”, “I won’t succeed”, “what if it doesn’t work out” - again a transfer of responsibility.
- He does not know how to express his opinion, defend his position. And then he is offended that his interests are not taken into account.
- He lives in the expectation that everything in his life will work out on its own. He is not ready to work on himself and his life. The slightest difficulties further suppress his self-esteem.
- He does not know how to ask for help and does not know how to refuse others. Sacrificial behavior is a reason for further complaints: “I am everything to them, but they are nothing to me.”
- Judging by his words, he is good, and everyone around him is bad. It’s already suspicious, it’s probably all about him, and not about everyone else.
The role of offenders is not only close people, but also random passers-by, sellers, and fellow travelers on transport. That is, literally “everything”. It’s just that the victim herself provokes people to do this.
If we talk about the subjective signs of a victim complex, then this is the feeling of “I was cursed.” It seems to a person that all bad events happen only to him. He constantly gets into trouble, something happens to him all the time, everyone around him offends him. And a person lives in anticipation that something will happen again soon. The victim thinks negatively.
“Victim complex” in women and men. "Werewolf People"
A person with aspirations to life is not as simple as it seems. History knows examples when a woman sacrifices everything for the sake of her family, children, husband, pushing herself into the background. This position is occupied by either a virtuous person or a hidden tyrant. And this is where the victim complex in women turns into a tool of manipulation. We need some clarification, here it is. A virtuous person (whether a woman or a man) is not burdened by a “victim complex”; he lives for the sake of his loved ones, because he cannot do otherwise. Altruism does not exist. If a person does something good, it means that it brings him psychological satisfaction. A virtuous person does not demand “payment” from others, either because he is a saint or because he has already received it when he has done a good deed. There is nothing to be done, his mental structure is conducive to good. He was born this way.
It’s another matter when a woman is exhausted, dragging her husband, children, denying herself everything, but this is only at first glance. In reality, clear accounting is kept in the mind. Not a single action is performed for the benefit of others; it is simply, metaphorically speaking, deposited in the bank at interest. The tragedy of such people is that their loved ones perceive their behavior as an act of goodness and are unaware of their debts. The result is sad: when a woman does not get what she expects, she turns the life of her family into hell. God forbid you live with such a “creditor.” But the most tragic thing is that a person’s life was wasted. There are probably men who demand respect from their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and, just like women, they are abused if they do not receive moral benefits, but in women this is more noticeable. Therefore, it is difficult to immediately recall an example of a “victim complex” in men, which would manifest itself in the family and be tested on the wife and children. Men are not raised to tolerate discomfort. Men are a kind of “bare”. It’s a pity that a man plays the role of “master” only at home, but in the social world he easily, if necessary, tries on the jacket of “victim” and “opportunist.”
What are the reasons
If you look into childhood, you will most likely see unpredictable and emotional reactions from parents, perhaps even aggression. Such manifestations create a fear of people and a desperate desire to earn a good attitude towards oneself. A person with a victim's position constantly tries to please desires and needs, but, alas, not his own. The victim always has a full arsenal of masks, and underneath them lies: negative feelings, aggression and even vindictiveness.
Sacrifice is an attitude passed down through the mother's line. What does it mean? This is when in families the “favorite” phrase is from the mother, and perhaps also from the grandmother: “Oh, how hard life is, everything is on its own, there is no hope for anyone,” or here’s another: “Well, what did you want? We are all unhappy in the female line” and so on. The worst thing is when in such families the usual phrase “hitting means loving” becomes a disaster.
Growing up, victims most often blame their parents for everything. “They didn’t let me get married at 19, so now I’m single and so unhappy.” At the same time, they forget that happiness depends only on themselves.
The next stage is to learn to love yourself, appreciate and care!
You need to become selfish. In the best, healthy sense of the word. Think more often about yourself, about your interests, desires. What the hell! We live once, don’t think, but demand a good attitude towards yourself! The role of the sufferer in the family is for weaklings!
- Don't look at others. There will always be someone more successful than the most successful person. There is no point in comparing yourself to others. You need to go your own special way.
- Enough with vegetables sitting in the garden. Development courses, sports sections, training seminars, urgently boost your profit! Scary? Let it be scary. Be afraid and do it, even if you close your eyes!
- Any successes, achieved results - write in your diary, on the wall, on social networks, because you are proud of yourself!
- Speak out loud your emotions and actions from the position of “I”: “I feel offended by (name) because I allowed myself to be offended.” Say it out loud for 20 days until the words become automatic thoughts.
- Learn to say no. Deadened feelings, unpleasant people, boring events. And sometimes you even send it very correctly, gently, and kindly! Because it doesn’t matter, right? Love in a relationship should be given to the most worthy! You can learn this in the article, “Why do we find it difficult to say no? »
- Control yourself emotionally. I wanted to complain out of habit - stop! The tyrant again brought me to tears - stop. Don't lose yourself in a man. Over time, the surrounding aggressors will also change, as the usual style of communication has changed. If aggression persists due to the nature of the despot, there is an irrevocable break without discussion. If an irresistible love for the terrorizing person persists, most likely the sacrifice has transformed into everyday Stockholm syndrome. Perhaps there was a fact of cruel treatment or the psyche reacted to a long period of tyranny; in this case, I advise you to contact a good specialist and work through the destructive connection that has arisen.
That's all. I hope the article was valuable to you and you learned more about victim syndrome in relationships!
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Tired of living with the psychology of the Victim
A victim is a person who sincerely believes that everyone around him wants to suppress or use him. And the whole world is against him. And, yes, “According to your faith it will be given to you” - everything in his world happens that way.
With such a psychology, life is not sugar. All the time you need to look for someone who will help or guide - give advice, teach. The victim is looking for a Controller, but he then transforms into an Aggressor, Executioner, Tyrant. These are all the same company. Because the Controller first prescribes certain behavior, then severely punishes for non-compliance with the instructions.
It’s hard to live in this, I’m tired of it, I want to escape. For example, a wife, or husband, or child lives with the psychology of the Victim.
What does it mean?
- oppression
- resentment
- guilt
- self pity
- violence is partly physical, and always psychological
They, Victims in families are unhappy. And at work. And alone with myself. They do not have the most important thing for a person - freedom. And love is replaced by addiction. There is always someone above them who controls their life.
And they drag this misfortune, not knowing which ditch to throw it into. And all around are controllers, tyrants, aggressors or even executioners
It doesn’t matter what you call it – the essence is the same. They appear in the form of new partners, employees and even friends
If you get rid of one, a new one immediately appears, as in the fairy tale about the Serpent Gorynych.
And all this is not about love and security - on the contrary.
How does a person fall into the role of Victim?
As always - in childhood. A classic family - a strict father (Controller), a caring mother (Rescuer), a child - due to age and inexperience, occupies the vacant role of Victim. And then he carries and recreates this model in all his relationships.
In modern conditions, roles can change. Mom is the Controller (aka Tyrant-Aggressor), dad is the Rescuer. This does not change the essence, the emotions remain the same, and the vicious circle of events remains the same.
How can?!
“We live in the role of the Victim” - this is no longer for us
If we really want to change our life, we move to the level of the Hero - the opposite of the Victim, (in +1 triangle - about the evolution from Victim to Hero - here).
The victim transforms
One, its main part, becomes a Hero - strong, responsible for itself, relying on itself.
And the second now lives deep inside - this is the part of the personality that is responsible for a small, defenseless child.
All people sometimes feel small and defenseless. Such moods can be provoked by situations that return to childhood traumas - events of the past that were not emotionally experienced and not accepted in time.
Now, in adulthood, these may be
- disease
- a break up
- just a quarrel with your loved one
- stress
- fatigue
- excessive involvement in other people's problems
- of course, the death of loved ones.
What can you do to console yourself?
What should be done in this case? Take care of YOURSELF like a small child
Give YOURSELF the attention and love in the form that you need right now. Ask yourself: “What do I want? What can console me?
It could be:
- tasty food
- rest
- entertainment
- shopping
- Sometimes the simplest thing helps is to go to bed a couple of hours early.
The difference between the Victim and the Child inside you is that the Victim seeks help from the outside, realizing its hidden benefit (being unhappy is beneficial - you attract Rescuers - why take responsibility for your life if others are always ready to take it?)
By moving to the Hero stage, you are NOT suppressing your vulnerable and weak part (inner Child). You always know about her and do him (yourself) good. Only you know where your “good” is and how to get there.
What causes such complexes and where do they come from?
Like any complexes, the habit of sacrificing oneself is developed gradually throughout a person’s life. They arise:
- In early childhood
Some parents like to repeat that you owe and owe them: study well, eat a lot, be polite and well-mannered. We carry all these “shoulds” into adulthood and consider ourselves obligated not only to our parents, but also to many people around us.
- As an adult
If the victim complex did not “come” to us from childhood, then it can successfully develop at an older age. For example, in an unequal marriage, where one partner is emotionally stronger and is used to suppressing the other, it gradually instills in you a feeling of guilt and low self-esteem.
Experiencing these states systematically, you are ready to sacrifice a lot in order to look better in his eyes and try to please as much as possible. But this does not improve the situation, but only aggravates it.
Ah, these sweet sufferings
Have you ever heard of such a concept as “secondary benefit”? A person is instinctively programmed to act in a way that is beneficial to him. Otherwise, he simply will not survive in the biological and social world. Therefore, if at first glance an action does not have logic, then do not rush to draw conclusions. Dig around and find where the dog is buried!
Why should a person be a disadvantaged creature, offended by others? I am convinced that victim syndrome in family or parental relationships also brings secondary benefits to its bearer.
- First of all, there is no responsibility. Failures occur due to the fault of other people or circumstances. “I would have graduated well from school, but I was unlucky with the teachers”, “can you imagine, they fired me because of an evil boss”, “I would not have divorced my husband, but he turned out to be a bastard”, “I got a child who was kind of stupid, completely doesn’t listen to me,” “I live poorly because the state doesn’t provide for it.” Examples can be given endlessly.
- Secondly, constant energetic moral support. Friends feel sorry, empathize, offer help, freebies, in a word.
- Thirdly, in such a position it is convenient to put pressure on the feeling of guilt.
In order to maintain an infringed role, to confirm the status, it is necessary to have someone who will offend. Therefore, know that tyranny and assault in families are provoked by a wife with victim syndrome, and in relationships with an oppressive man, the disease takes on the most terrible forms. Some women walk around with bruises for years, but nothing changes. And if children see beatings, mental trauma is guaranteed for life.
What is a “victim complex”?
A person with a victim complex is someone who always sees someone else's fault in their troubles. He is not a bad student who skips classes - he is a victim of teachers who could not teach him their subject and did not give him a good grade out of spite. Not a mama’s boy who is too lazy to find a job - but a victim of total unemployment, scammed employers, lack of demand for his super-rare profession in this country, and God knows what else. Not an “ovulant” without work and education, who for some reason gave birth to 3 children by the age of 20, but a victim of a society that does not support young mothers in any way. And so on.
Interestingly, the victim complex of many women manifests itself not only in shifting responsibility for the consequences of one’s own actions onto other people and not only in carefully looking for far-fetched reasons to feel undeservedly offended, but also in the amazing ability to create very real troubles for oneself. It is the ladies with a victim complex who marry ugly men and live with them for decades, enduring lack of money and disgusting attitude on their part. They take the worst and lowest paid jobs, they give birth to children in the most inappropriate life circumstances, they thoughtlessly spend significant amounts of money, and then painfully pay off their debts, etc.
A long-term “snowball” of problems is a typical symptom of a “victim”.
And even if everything is fine, the “victim” begins to suffer from envy. In her eyes, more and more successful people are undeservedly lucky or, as an option, they got their success through dishonest means. Any beautiful and successful girl is seen as a “victim” solely as an unprincipled young lady of easy virtue (although “Beautiful and Successful” knows that this is usually far from the case!), any owner of serious capital is immediately classified as “bandits and thieves,” etc. d.
How is the psychology of the victim formed?
Victimization, that is, the predisposition to become a victim of deception or crime, is formed for various reasons. It is generally accepted that the individual himself is to blame for the fact that he was attacked. Allegedly, due to his increased anxiety of character, he sent signals to the world indicating his inner fear. Eventually, the criminal “caught” such a signal and committed an act of violence.
In reality, everything is far from so simple. The potential victim, due to increased anxiety due to minor problems, simply ignores the signals that the world sends her about a possible attack. The individual does not hear, see or feel the situation in which he finds himself. Signals about the danger that threatens him are simply unnoticed
A constant desire not to pay attention to obvious facts or, conversely, an incorrect interpretation of threatening events leads to the fact that the individual sooner or later becomes a victim of violence
The formation of such an attitude towards one’s own life and the environment is influenced by a person’s character. Many negative qualities arise in the process of improper upbringing. If parents are too protective of their child and solve all problems instead of him, the individual loses touch with reality. He consciously does not perceive a dangerous situation, subconsciously hoping that all difficulties will be resolved by his parents.
The reason for becoming a victim can also be such a character trait as excessive suspiciousness and self-doubt. If a person has low self-esteem, he does not believe that he can somehow change his life. If he is constantly offended, he does not strive to correct the situation, but only complains to everyone about his bad attitude towards himself. Pity, as a rule, causes reconciliation with the problem, rather than its resolution. Having felt sorry for himself, the individual has no choice but to come to terms with the circumstances of his difficult life. Helping him in this is such a character trait of all insecure people as quick release. In addition, one can benefit from being a victim. After all, everyone is offended, they try to help him, it’s easier for him to achieve what he wants and, ultimately, it’s easier to live.
View from the outside
There is a type of people who, by their very behavior, provoke others to treat them poorly (in particular, to use force against them, reinforcing the spoken word).
After all, in any interpersonal contact at least two participants are involved and the distribution of roles occurs according to established rules. If one of the parties begins to portray itself as a victim, then the opposite has no choice but to become a “villain”. It happens that just the sight of a person humiliatingly asking: “Don’t hit me, please!” awakens the thought of a blow, and the phrase “Won’t you do anything to me?” pushes one to do something “like that.” As they say, the bleating of a sheep only excites the tiger. But the villain himself is not as simple as it seems at first glance! Listening to the rapist, every time you are convinced that he, too, was once a victim for someone (for example, for his father, teenagers in the yard, etc.). The “former slave” remembers this incident... The man on his knees involuntarily awakens this memory of the past in his subconscious. In his appearance, our “hero” recognizes himself, as it were, just as rejected and dependent, fallen in the eyes of another person. And of course, he wants revenge! In other words, at such a moment a person does not kick a specific “victim” for some of his sins - he first kicks himself from his past. For a while he wants to be someone he once was not. No wonder they say: “There is no worse boss than a former slave.”
How are the roles gradually distributed in this neurotic duel called “policemen and thieves”? First, one takes a step towards the other, who retreats... Inspired by the weakness of the apostate, the strongest continues his onslaught - the victim turns his back to him and goes on the run. “Yeah,” the first one understands, “they’re afraid of me!” They are running, which means they need to catch up...Praying for mercy? Moreover, my prey is worth being treated poorly! He fulfills my first order, the second - which means there will be no resistance at all. She’s all shackled with fear!” Further events develop according to the already worked out scenario.
How to get out of the victim state?
Talk about yourself in the first person more often. Talk about what you think, feel or believe. Be sure to share your achievements with your loved ones to share your success with them.
Beware: they may take it negatively at first - they need time to get used to your new self.
At work, try to express your ideas
in meetings and brainstorming sessions more often than usual.
Add energy to your voice
- read fiction aloud. Breathe joy and interest into your speech, and they will naturally appear in your life. Think positively and express your thoughts in exactly the same way.
Make friends with your face
Look at it in the mirror, notice how you look at the moment of relaxation? This is very important, because impulses from the facial muscles pass to the cerebral cortex. Don't scold yourself if you find that negative emotions predominate on your face. Focus your energy on fixing the situation
Practice and look in the mirror at the reflection of a person satisfied with himself and life. Difficult? Sign up for a facelift course, they will help you.
Focus your energy on fixing the situation. Practice and look in the mirror at the reflection of a person satisfied with himself and life. Difficult? Sign up for a facelift course, they will help you.
Think about your feelings and how you yourself influenced today's situation
. Congratulations! You are on the right path to overcoming your victim complex.
Take time for yourself and spend it on your beloved self. Remember your hobbies and what brings you sincere pleasure. Take up dancing, start reading a book you bought a year ago
Don't be afraid to pay attention to yourself - it's normal
Don't tolerate humiliation
, especially for the sake of money. If you are deprived of self-esteem or you do not feel satisfied with what you do, feel free to look for something new: change your profession, change your place of work, open your own business. Break off false dependent connections.
Find two or three friends in your inner circle with whom you can talk (attention!) not only about their problems, but also about yours too. Learn to express yourself, recognize your feelings and desires and express them openly without accusations or reproaches.
Ask for help when you really need it, learn to accept refusal correctly and say “no” yourself.
Learn to express yourself
, recognize your feelings and desires and express them openly without accusations or reproaches. Ask for help when you really need it, learn to accept refusal correctly and say “no” yourself.
Give yourself permission to make mistakes
and at the same time praise yourself for the slightest steps towards success, thank you for what you have. Pamper yourself with gifts. Ask for compliments or gifts from a loved one.
Connect with the world
! Every evening, write three or four thanks to people who have shown you even an ounce of kindness. Happiness is in the little things, learn to enjoy them.
Create a self-love code
of 20 points. Write them with love and love yourself!
Types
There are several classifications of the victim complex. Depending on the emotional manifestation, the condition is divided into 2 types:
- Submissive victim. The patient is always quiet, he listens to the people around him. Their negative emotions are transferred to him. If aggression and negativity are shown towards him, he will lower his head and take it for granted.
- Demonstrative sacrifice. The patient loudly talks about how life is unfair to him. He constantly complains that people close to him offend him. However, in reality, this may not happen.
Depending on the gender of the person in whom the complex is formed, the condition is divided into 2 types:
- Women's complex. Typically, female representatives want to be protected and have shared love. It is important for them to be admired, especially they expect this from their partner. The complex is formed in three directions: rejected love, bad mother, failure in everyday life. All these factors negatively affect a woman. That's why she wants to be pitied.
- Male complex. Men want to be heroes for women and the people around them, capable of great achievements. If this does not work out for them, they begin to look for a woman with a strong will who can protect them. They become dependent on their partner and therefore lack self-confidence. They have a principle in their head that they can only achieve failure.
A psychiatrist identifies a certain type of victim complex through conversation. After classifying the patient's condition, he can begin treatment.
Psychology of the victim: how to get rid of the syndrome and prevent its occurrence?
There are various methods on how to get rid of victim syndrome in psychology. However, not everyone can do this on their own. An experienced psychologist will help develop a consultation scheme and suggest the most effective ways to solve the problem.
It is important to realize that fear is a normal protective reaction of the body. You should not get rid of fear completely and take risks, despite the signals of consciousness
This will only increase the chance of encountering deception or violence.
If you feel you are in danger, try to get people's attention or contact the police. There is no arrest based on suspicion, but this will show that you are ready to defend yourself
In case of beatings or sexual violence, you must report it to law enforcement immediately.
You can find many articles on psychology on how to stop being a victim and gain self-confidence. You need to learn to see and feel danger, but not panic. First of all, it is necessary to increase self-confidence and return self-esteem to a normal level. In this case, the instinct of self-preservation will remain, but the strength to resist will appear. To increase self-esteem, psychologists use various techniques: meditation, exercises. This is not a quick process, as you will have to completely change your worldview and outlook on life.
If we are talking about a child, teenager or a person who has no idea of danger at all, consultations are held containing information on how to correctly recognize a criminal and how to behave.
To reduce your risk of encountering violence, keep the following recommendations in mind:
Do not provoke, threaten or insult someone who poses a potential threat to you, even in self-defense. If a person has enough physical strength, he may well be able to resist the rapist, however, without exceeding the permissible limits. To avoid an attack, do not walk alone in deserted and dark places. Moreover, you should not take expensive things with you on an evening walk. As soon as you sense danger or see something suspicious, try to quickly leave or run away
There is nothing wrong with fleeing. When attacked, try to attract the attention of others, scream and call for help. Dealing with domestic violence is a little more difficult. However, if you receive a beating, it is better to immediately contact the police
Try to make as many recordings as possible, video or voice recorders, if your spouse threatens violence.
The pathological victim needs to learn to respect himself and not be afraid to take responsibility. Recognizing that you can change your life and deserve to be treated well is the first step to change.
People do not always become victims from early childhood. Sometimes this is caused by various circumstances that occurred in adult life. The right attitude towards yourself and people will help prevent this. You need to be clear that you and the people around you deserve to be treated with respect.
The problem gets worse if you are not aware of its existence. In this case, it is almost impossible to cope with the situation on your own. However, sooner or later the victim gets tired of suffering, wants to change something, but does not know how. A psychologist will help you find the cause of life’s failures.
Causes
Victim syndrome develops in childhood. This result is given by four pedagogical positions of parents:
Cold
Parents do not love the child and pay attention to him only in case of illness or trouble. The child is not praised or supported
They don’t say warm words to him, they don’t confess their love. And if you fail, they scold you. Because of this, he grows up unsure of himself and gets used to seeking attention through pity from an early age.
Overprotection. From the first days of life, everything is decided for the child, everything is forbidden to him. And he also constantly hears negative attitudes: “Don’t go there - you’ll fall”, “Don’t take risks - it’s dangerous”, etc. That is, the child is programmed to believe that any activity will definitely lead to failure and suffering. Education according to the “family idol” type. The child is overprotected, all his desires are satisfied, they sacrifice themselves for him. He grows up with the attitude that everyone must obey him, that everything in life naturally falls at his feet. But when he faces real adult life, he realizes that this is not so. And then he chooses the easiest way to earn the attention and favor of people (the first thing the subconscious suggests) - pity. Authoritarianism. The child is suppressed, insulted, devalued, humiliated. They are not interested in his opinion, his needs are ignored.
In rare cases, the victim complex develops in adulthood. But if this happens, the reasons usually include a strong shock in a relationship with someone. In some situation, a person felt helpless, and this affected his entire thinking and subsequent behavior.
Interesting! Behind the victim complex lies the transfer of responsibility for one's life to other people.
The victim receives not only attention, but also assistance with housing, employment, money, etc. For many years the victim can live at the expense of someone.
Why is it beneficial to be a victim?
Many people want to be victims because for them there is a certain benefit, consisting of the following points:
- lack of responsibility not only for one’s own life, but also for loved ones and children;
- lack of desire to change something in your life, to achieve your goals;
- no one depends on the victim, on the contrary, she relies on other people;
- the presence of surrounding people from whom you can receive energy, care, attention, gifts.
Often people do not understand that in their circle there is a person who has a victim complex. This could be a mother, daughter, husband, mother-in-law. What sets them apart is that even without a reason they can complain about life. At the same time, they receive from their loved ones everything they want. For example, a grandmother can constantly complain about her health, while feeling much better than any grandson.
Important! Complaints can be made in person, by telephone, or by message. A person can seek material assistance and compassion. Moreover, often he does not even need to leave the house. People around him will think that he is in trouble, constantly trying to help.
How to love and not suffer
Answer yourself honestly now. Are you in a healthy relationship? Where does a man love, appreciate and respect you? What do you really want - to suffer or to rejoice? There are people who honestly admit that they enjoy pain. And they look for a partner - consciously and without illusions, and then go with him to the store for a whip and handcuffs.
And it’s a completely different matter when a woman becomes a “righteous” martyr unconsciously, without admitting to herself or others that she receives any pleasure or benefit from pain and suffering. The whip is not needed here; there is much deeper, moral suffering here. A woman is constantly in tension, she worries about a man, tries to please, shakes over him, “protects” him from the attacks of other women (why you should never do this and how to remain yourself in a relationship is described in detail in the “Don’t stop him from falling in love with you! A technique that will revive even your husband"). But, at the same time, he expects something good from him. But he does not live up to her hopes and behaves completely differently from what she expects, sacrificing himself. If this continues long enough, then the woman firmly takes on the role of the victim and begins to revel in her suffering.
Thinking logically, she understands that she needs to break up with this man. And she even tells everyone about it. But at the subconscious level there is information that she cannot part with him, because she feels good with him! All this often comes from childhood, when parents or one of them were emotionally unavailable or somehow strongly suppressed the child. In this case, the child constantly overcame some obstacles in order to prove to his parents that he is good and has something to love. He deserved love by constantly being in tension. The child is used to living in such an environment, he is accustomed to such an attitude, and as an adult, he looks for the same environment, since it is familiar to him and he feels comfortable in it.
A girl who grew up in love will never tolerate aggression and humiliation, she will not be comfortable and she will part with such a man without a shadow of regret. She will end this relationship at an early stage. Simply because it has its own healthy, clearly defined boundaries. Female victims live with their tormentors for a long time; they are attracted to such people. What attracts them most of all is cruelty, since the main thing for them is to suffer regularly, because in this case they feel at ease. When such a woman meets a normal, adequate man, they simply are not “attracted” to each other.
“5 lessons of falling in love Or why you shouldn’t run after a man”
There are women who are looking for their “master”, who, like a dog, would show them their place, punish them and constantly keep them in suspense. And, again, I note that if in childhood a girl constantly felt discomfort and tension, then as an adult she will look for the same environment. But is this love, is this a healthy relationship? Of course not. Is it possible to love a dog devoted to you with “human” love? Hardly. At best, it will be gratitude for dedicated service.
Getting rid of the victim complex
Some people gradually realize that their psycho-emotional state is unstable. This interferes not only mentally, but also physically. Due to constant negative thoughts, blood pressure may increase and tachycardia occurs. In especially severe cases, people are capable of committing acts of violence against themselves and those around them.
Therefore, it is important to promptly contact a psychologist or psychotherapist who will give the right direction in treatment.
- Realize responsibility. A patient susceptible to the complex should not complain to other people about life circumstances. If he is not satisfied with something in life, he needs to take action. He must begin to decide for himself, to satisfy his vital needs.
- Don't be dependent on other people's opinions. Even if there are people around the patient expressing negativity, he needs to stop thinking about it. He should not agree with their opinion, but have his own assessment.
- Have your own rational opinion. If the patient is an adult, he can independently evaluate his actions. He must learn to recognize what is good and what is bad. If he has done an illegal act, he must know that it is punishable. There must be adult rationality in his actions.
- Act without the permission of parents or other people. Many patients with a victim complex can carry out any actions only with the approving assessment of others. Such people need to become adults and evaluate their actions independently.
- Demandingness. This action should be based on the buyer-seller system. If a patient receives any services, he must insist that he is rationally right. If he was not served or was offended in any institution, he can complain to the manager.
- Punctuality. This trait should be characteristic of all adults, independent people. Only in this case can they be taken seriously. To prevent any life circumstances from contributing to the opposite, you can get up earlier or do things in advance.
- Attentiveness. It can be expressed both towards other people and towards oneself. It is necessary to qualitatively assess your life situation in order to confidently make a decision. For example, if the traffic light is red, you need to stand and not cross the road to save your life. You should not follow other people, but make your own decisions.
- Self-love. This is the most important quality. If the patient does not love himself, no one may love him. Only this quality can elevate him in the eyes of other people. Self-love can manifest itself in skin and hair care, in finding the most suitable job or partner.
Victim syndrome: is it possible to get rid of it?
To help a person get rid of the victim syndrome, psychologists recommend not to sympathize or assent to pitiful speeches, but to silently listen to the interlocutor and ask specific questions, for example, “What conclusion did you draw from the situation so that it does not happen again?”, “What will you do?” further?". Theoretically, such tactics should force the individual to perceive the world more realistically and take responsibility for his own actions. Although a more likely scenario is that your counterpart will simply stop communicating with you and find someone who will feel sorry for him.
As we wrote above, the victim position is comfortable for those who are susceptible to this syndrome, and, as a rule, such people rarely manage to leave their cozy cocoon without outside help
. At the same time, unfortunately, some people seek help only after some critical situation (or it serves as an impetus for relatives/friends who understand that something needs to be done about this). However, for others the cup of patience runs out even without dramatic incidents. Therefore, one of the surest ways to get rid of victim syndrome is to persuade someone who is potentially susceptible to it to go for a consultation with a specialist. For the former victim, the main thing is to realize that only she is responsible for her life and deserves the same benefits as all other people.
Victim complex
Most of our fears and complexes arise in childhood. And they appear here for many reasons. “We all come from childhood,” as Exupery argued, and it’s hard to disagree with this. The psychological trauma we suffered in childhood, as well as the lack of attention and warmth from our parents, all this leads to the fact that we stop accepting ourselves as we are. We lose faith in ourselves, become weak and helpless in seemingly simple situations. One of these complexes that can significantly complicate our lives is the “victim complex.”
How is it acquired?
Parents and educators, often wanting to protect the child from danger or possible troubles, instead of clearly explaining what is bad in a given situation and what the consequences may be, parents may begin to scare the child. The most common example is the story about the scary “babaika”. Wanting to force the child to obey his elders in everything (not to leave the house alone, not to get out of bed at night), he is told that for disobedience a terrible and evil monster can take him away. As a result, the child has images of a terrible and evil monster that can steal him and take him to a dark and dense forest. This is how most phobias are born - fear of the dark, closed space, fear of loneliness. It is not surprising that later, as an adult, a person cannot get rid of such fears and he has to seek help from a psychologist. But the worst thing about invented horror stories is that they form in the child a clear image of possible danger, that he may be attacked. Gradually, thoughts of attack and danger develop into a victim complex. He will perceive any obstacle as a threat and instead of overcoming difficulties, he will want to run away, hide, hide. He will not have enough courage and willpower to fight difficulties.
On the other hand, when parents, “raising” their child, inspire: you need to do something to earn approval, attention (or even simple encouragement in the form of a toy, sweets), they unwittingly lay a solid foundation for this complex. Such formulations are often used to ensure that a child grows up “correct” and “obedient,” but if you think carefully, what does a little person understand from these words? One very important “truth” - love and attention cannot be obtained just like that, it all must be “earned”. Here is the basis of commodity-money relations: “you - to me, I - to you.” The subject of bargaining is parental attention and love. This is a terrible distortion of our essence and life in general, which takes us far from the truth. It prevents us from living when we have already matured and have not yet gained a true understanding of life. A “service” victim complex is formed. People with such a complex earn “points” throughout their lives. Even in childhood, having received the attitude “nothing is given for nothing,” “you have to pay for everything,” they begin to serve, “sacrifice themselves” for the sake of “love.” However, do not delude yourself. Everything is weighed and counted for later invoicing. The most terrible feature of this complex: a person suffering from this “disease” will always be disappointed, because he will not be able to get enough or be grateful. He just doesn't know how. He can only demand. After all, all his life he accumulated “points” in the hope that it would pay off. What should be the reward if a human life is wasted on this? The answer is simple - it does not exist and cannot exist!
The main feature of victim psychology is that such people cannot achieve anything; fear of everything new makes them think about possible mistakes and miscalculations in the future, about dire consequences. Consequently, a person cannot make a career, it is difficult for him to make important decisions and radically change his life. The “victim complex” is a terrible dependence on everyone and everything, with constant demonstration of the opposite. A person will meekly fulfill all duties, even if he does not like the work and others in his place would have given up on it long ago. Often the boss himself, who is unloved by everyone, appears for such a person in the form of a terrible and evil “granny” from childhood. The psychology of the victim “forces” the one who suffers from this complex to constantly feel guilty, and he, in turn, does everything to immerse those around him in this feeling. In addition, it is difficult for someone with a victim complex to voice their desires and needs. He is afraid of refusal, as another confirmation that he is “not loved.”
To summarize, we can say that the “victim complex” is a colossal lack of freedom. But no matter what they say, it is quite possible to get rid of the victim complex. And best of all, with the help of a professional psychologist. Having identified the cause of the complexes and undergoing training, fears and anxieties about possible dangers will disappear, and it will be much easier to adapt to the environment. The amount of internal work is comparable to the degree of neglect of this issue. But the result - absolute rebirth - is worth it!