Self-Destructive Behavior: 17 Signs & Why it Happens

Why do I refuse help from others? Why do I keep intentionally hurting myself? Why do I keep making the same mistakes over and over again?

How often have you asked yourself any of these questions?

Self-destructive behavior can be a daunting topic. It’s like a gremlin that lurks in the dark corners of existence, hiding in places we train ourselves to overlook and intentionally avoid.

But the more we put off facing our self-destructive behavior, the more it consumes us.

Are you ready to face the self-destructive parts of you? Remember that toxic behavior comes from only one part of you – it doesn’t define the whole of you.

(If you need more help after reading this article, I highly recommend checking out our Self-Love Journal and Shadow Work Journal to go deeper and help heal self-destructive tendencies.)

What is Self-Destructive Behavior?

Self-destructive behavior is any action carried out by an individual that causes them direct or indirect harm. This self-inflicted harm may be experienced on a physical, mental, or emotional level and creates immense suffering throughout their life. Examples of self-destructive behavior include workaholism, substance abuse, eating disorders, self-martyrdom, self-harm, and any behavior that negatively impacts a person’s life for which they aren’t actively trying to change or don’t feel worthy of overcoming.

Why Are We Self-Destructive? (+ My Experience)

I’m not the first, and I certainly won’t be the last person to admit that I’ve had self-destructive tendencies.

From pushing away the people I love and housing self-defeating mindsets to repeatedly self-harming in my teenage years, I’ve been down this dark alley more than once. 

As I’ve grown, however, I’ve realized that self-destructive behaviors are an expression of the Shadow Self (aka., our ‘dark side’), which causes issues such as low self-esteem, low self-worth, and eventually self-loathing.

While psychologists speculate that self-sabotaging behaviors could be coping mechanisms (i.e., to deal with stress, pressure, social demands, etc.), others consider self-destructive behavior as a way of maintaining comfort zones due to lack of confidence or feelings of unworthiness (e.g., staying at the familiar bottom of the social ladder).

17 Symptoms and Habits of Self-Destructive Behavior

Self-destructive behavior comes in many guises – some extreme, some more subtle.

Here are some of the most common symptoms and habits of self-destructive behavior:

1.  Self-defeating mindsets

Self-defeating mindsets are typically unconscious forms of self-destructive behavior that result in self-fulfilling prophecies. Examples include harboring thoughts, usually on a subconscious level, such as, “I’m going to fail; I just know it,” “I’ll never get out alive,” “This will completely destroy me,” etc.

2.  Failing to take action

Failing to take action may be passive, but it’s still self-destructive. When we know something is bad for us but fail to take any action or steps to remedy the issue, we are essentially setting ourselves up for (and guaranteeing) failure.

3.  Over-eating

Over-eating usually appears as the habit of cramming ourselves full of sugary, fatty, and processed foods. This unhealthy habit can result in many long-term health issues (not to mention the short-term negative impacts on mood, sleep, creativity, etc.).

4.  Under-eating

Many under-eaters fool themselves into thinking they’re benefiting themselves. The reality is that under-eating is usually a band-aid for serious self-image problems and other psychological issues.

5.  Forced incompetence or over-committal

Forced incompetence means portraying yourself as unintelligent or incapable of successfully achieving something. This habit usually stems from a lack of confidence in your abilities and can function as a coping mechanism (e.g., to deal with academic pressure).

The opposite of forced incompetence is over-committal, where we commit to too many responsibilities, become “super capable,” and turn into workaholics, even though it burns us out and begins to feel soul-sucking very quickly.

6.  Going out of your way to harm others

What goes around comes around, as they say, and the negative influence you have on others, whether by words or deeds, will eventually manifest in your own life (e.g., through sicknesses, tragedy, legal issues, isolation, etc.). On some level, we all know this truth, yet sometimes we go ahead and hurt others anyway.

7.  Physical self-harm

Physical self-harm is an extreme physical expression of self-destructive behavior. This practice is connected to low self-worth and the desire to cope with emotional pain in a physical way. Examples of physical self-harm include cutting, burning, and hitting oneself (or inciting others to do this to us, such as by intentionally provoking a fight). In extreme cases, physical self-harm can manifest as suicide attempts. (Please seek help from one of these hotlines if you do feel suicidal. There is always compassionate help available.)

8.  Self-pity

Self-pity is an unconscious form of self-destructive behavior. It is destructive because it encourages us to remain inactive (i.e., wallowing in our misfortunes) rather than encouraging a proactive approach toward life.

9.  Drug and alcohol abuse

Many people transform their anger into self-destructiveness—drinking their lives away or becoming oblivious in drugs or working too much. They make take it out on their children, employees, or animals. They may be passive-aggressive in a number of ways— being silent, uninvolved, offering insincere love and friendship, being available for people but making them suffer for it.

– Thomas Moore

A self-evident form of self-destructive behavior, drug and alcohol abuse creates endless misery in the lives of addicts and their friends and family members. Drug and alcohol abuse are usually connected to soul loss – or being disconnected from your soul.

10.  Social self-alienation

While not always done consciously, social self-alienation is the act of deliberately isolating yourself from your peers. This could be through a variety of irritating, repelling, or antisocial behaviors that, on some level, you know are self-destructive.

11.  Hiding from emotions

Failing to acknowledge negative (and sometimes positive) emotions creates a host of mental, emotional, and physiological illnesses. Hiding from emotions is another form of unconsciously manifested self-destructive behavior.

12.  Refusing to be helped

Pushing away advice, refusing to go to rehab, avoiding the psychologist – all of these examples are signs of not wanting to be helped which is a reflection of the deep core belief that “I’m unworthy.” Refusing to be helped is a form of self-destructive behavior because it prevents growth and healing from occurring within you.

13.  Unnecessary self-sacrifice

Some people are in love with their misery because that is all they have known for a large portion of their lives. Unnecessary self-sacrifice or being a martyr are good ways of making us feel “noble” and “altruistic” while masking the actual act of self-sabotage (which is giving up on the hopes, dreams, and passions that make us truly happy).

14.  Spending too much

Whether through chronic gambling or constant Amazon purchases, overspending may seem unusual to include on this list, but it is nevertheless a form of self-destructive behavior that limits one’s freedom and peace of mind.

15.  Physical neglect

Getting poor sleep, refusing to exercise, eating unhealthy food, and failing to maintain the general well-being of your body are all classic signs of common self-destructive behavior. Risky sexual behavior and poor personal boundaries are also a sign of physical neglect.

16.  Mental neglect

Refusing, avoiding, or failing to confront your psychological health issues (e.g., stress, anxiety, depression, paranoia, OCD, etc.) delays the healing process, resulting in the perpetuation of long-term issues.

17.  Sabotaging relationships

Sabotaging your relationships is a complex symptom as it involves many destructive behaviors such as jealousy, possessiveness, emotional manipulation, neediness, violence, and so forth. When we don’t feel worthy of love, we unconsciously manifest this in our relationships through the way we choose to behave.

You’re Not Broken (You’re Just Human)

If you identify with any or most of the above signs, you might feel your stomach sink, and a dark cloud of sadness or resentment may wash over you.

You might even start thinking that you’re fundamentally “broken” or that “something is severely wrong with you.”

But please understand that it’s normal to identify with many of the above signs. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re not broken. You’re not a lost cause. You’re simply human. And that’s totally okay.

Why is it normal to possess many of the above self-destructive behavior signs? The answer is that most people have either been negatively programmed by their family or society or have unconsciously adopted these actions as a defense mechanism to protect against mental and emotional pain.

In other words, it’s not your fault and you aren’t to blame for your self-destructive behavior. But it IS your responsibility to work through it. 

You didn’t choose to be self-destructive, did you? You didn’t think at some point, “Hmmm, I think I’m going to be self-destructive now,” did you? It’s just what happened.

The goal here isn’t to feel terrible about yourself. Instead, the goal is to see that “it is what it is” and find ways to reverse, undo, and overcome your self-destructive tendencies.

Self-Destructive Behavior and the Journey of Self-Love

The very fact that you’re here right now reading this guide is already a sign that you’re awakening out of the dream of self-destruction.

In other words, you’re starting to become more self-aware, and self-awareness is a sign that you’re spiritually awakening or at least you’re making self-care more of a priority in your life.

If you’ve been on a shadow work journey of working through your inner darkness, you may have come across some self-destructive behavior pattern within yourself, which is why you may find yourself here.

Going through the dark night of the soul is also another reason why you might find yourself exploring your self-destructive tendencies as you seek to find more meaning and deeper fulfillment in life.

Whatever the case, it’s helpful to understand that self-destruction is the opposite of self-love. And in many cases, our tendencies towards self-destructive behavior are totally unconscious and on autopilot because we were never taught how to love and value ourselves.

In the words of writer and speaker Alan Watts,

When you won’t love, or won’t let it out, it emerges anyway in the form of self-destruction. The alternative to self-love, in other words, is self-destruction. Because you won’t take the risk of loving yourself properly, you will be compelled instead to destroy yourself.

As such, we can see that learning how to love yourself is the antidote to self-destructive behavior.

How to Stop Being Self-Destructive (6 Pathways)

While I can’t give you a magical cure, I can give you some ideas, inspiration, and a few tried-and-tested paths to follow. Try all of these practices systematically or select a few and work with them consistently.

On average, it takes around 66 days to establish a new habit, according to what researchers have found. So make it your goal to stick with at least one of these activities for two months.

Here are the practices:

1. Grow your self-awareness by keeping a journal every day

Journaling has numerous mental health benefits, and it’s a powerful way of increasing your self-awareness. In fact, we could say that self-awareness is the most crucial ingredient in overcoming self-destructive tendencies! Read more about how to journal and the practice of self-awareness for more guidance.

2. Free yourself of compulsive, self-destructive behavior through meditation or mindfulness

There’s a reason why you keep hearing about these two practices, and it’s because they work! Even if you struggle to meditate traditionally, there are endless forms of mindfulness meditation out there that might spark your interest.

Examples of meditation/mindfulness activities include breathwork, walking meditation, mindful art therapy, chanting mantras, guided journeys, chakra visualization, etc.

If you don’t know where to start, I recommend downloading a meditation app such as InsightTimer, Calm, or Headspace. I started off with these apps, and they helped me tremendously. Bringing these key spiritual practices into your life can have profound benefits.

Try starting with 5-10 minutes in the morning or evening every day at the same time (to create a habit out of it).

Meditation and mindfulness are so effective because they help you to come back home to the present moment and create more inner space, which frees you from the compulsiveness and autopilot of self-destructive behavior.

3. Release your pent-up emotions by doing some emotional catharsis

Sometimes, the reason why we’re self-destructing is that a deeper emotion (such as anger, grief, or fear) isn’t being expressed.

Just think of a kettle: the more it boils, the more steam is released. But if that kettle had no way to release that steam, it would eventually explode! The same thing applies to you: you need a pressure valve, a way to channel your pent-up emotions.

When you don’t channel those buried emotions in a healthy way, they can come out in self-destructive behaviors.

So find something you enjoy doing that requires intense mental or physical effort. Examples include boxing, running, singing, dancing, creating art, or plain old screaming and crying (doing this privately is a good idea if you’re living with people!). One unconventional form of catharsis is called dynamic meditation.

4. Learn self-care and self-love through some simple habits

Self-love is a basic attitude of kindness toward yourself: it is the practice of taking care of your mental and emotional needs.

Self-care, on the other hand, is generally more oriented toward your body: it involves eating properly, getting enough sleep, drinking adequate water, wearing comfortable clothing, staying healthy, etc.

Both self-love and self-care go beautifully hand-in-hand as allies against self-destruction.

I understand that self-love may feel like a bit of a stretch for you, so if you want a place to start, begin with self-care.

Begin with even just one self-care practice each day and make it into a habit by doing it at the same time and same place.

For example, you could decide to take a morning walk at 7:30 am each day to help your body feel energized and relaxed. Or you could drink a cup of chamomile tea at the end of your day as a winding down self-care ritual.

You can find more ideas in my self-care ideas article. And if you’d like to practice self-love, I recommend my how to love yourself post, as well as our guided self-love journal.

5. Explore your core beliefs which are at the root of self-destructive behavior

Core beliefs are at the very root of self-destructive behavior because that which we think we often become. Whatever internal dialogue that runs around in our mind is often what dictates our behavior. After all, isn’t it true that we often act on what we believe to be true?

For example, if you carry the core belief that “no one will ever love me,” you will unconsciously and perhaps sometimes intentionally behave in ways that alienate other people so that they don’t hurt you, therefore reinforcing your belief that “no one will ever love me” because you don’t give others the chance to even try!

Core beliefs can be tricky because they’re usually unconscious and automatic, and yet, once we shine the light of our awareness onto them, we can see through them, change them, and find more freedom and peace.

Examples of core beliefs that can result in self-destructive behavior include:

• I am bad
• I am unlovable
• I am unworthy
• I always hurt people
• I am stupid
• I am weak
• I don’t deserve happiness

Core beliefs often start with the words “I am …” and they can be discovered through reflection, inquiry, and journaling. You can find out how to pinpoint yours in my core beliefs guide.

6. Sometimes, there’s a limit to what you can do, and you’ll need to find a coach, counselor, or therapist

If you have strong self-loathing or intense self-destructive tendencies, you might not even have the impulse to take on board any of the advice in this article (*ding ding!* that’s another form of self-destruction, but it’s okay, you’re only doing what you’ve been unconsciously programmed to do).

As such, my best advice is to find a coach, counselor, or therapist ASAP. Sometimes the best thing is to see our true worth in the mirror of another. Sometimes we need someone to hold our hands and actively guide us in a 1-to-1 way.

If this is the case, your search engine is your best friend. Look up the keywords “self-destructive behavior counselor near me,” and you’re bound to find someone who can help. If you’re fine with online sessions via places like Zoom, just use a keyword like “help for self-destructive behavior therapy” or look up “therapy near me.”

There’s only so much an article on the internet can do to help you. While you’ve taken a wonderful step towards health and healing, seeking out guidance in the form of a therapist or counselor will aid you with ongoing support and tools. These, in turn, will transform your life little by little. And soon, you’ll be able to look back on this behavior with a gentle smile and a sigh of relief, proud of your ability to overcome and heal.

Self-Destructive Tendencies Q&A

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Self-destructive behaviors can be both conscious and unconscious – and they can end up sabotaging our health, happiness, and long-term well-being. But please remember that these harmful tendencies are a symptom of a deeper wound that needs to be shown compassion.

It’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Like me, you can probably identify with a couple or more symptoms of self-destructive behavior on this list. But when you take the first step on your healing journey of developing more self-awareness, self-care, self-forgiveness, and self-love, you will eventually be free of your self-destructive tendencies.

Don’t forget that if you need more help from now on with your self-destructive tendencies, our Self-Love Journal can help you with just that.

What are your experiences with self-destructive behavior? How did you learn to overcome them? I’d love to hear your stories below! Let’s help others not feel so alone.