A team of researchers and psychologists who specialize in behavioral health and neuroscience. This group collaborates to produce insightful and evidence-based content.
Certified recovery coach specialized in helping everyone redefine their relationship with alcohol. His approach in coaching focuses on habit formation and addressing the stress in our lives.
Recognized by Fortune and Fast Company as a top innovator shaping the future of health and known for his pivotal role in helping individuals change their relationship with alcohol.
July 10, 2023
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25
Reframe Content Team
July 10, 2023
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25
You’re on the verge of a huge breakthrough. Maybe it's landing that dream job or building a healthy, loving relationship. But then, almost unconsciously, you start doing things that push your goal further away. Sound familiar? This frustrating pattern is a classic case of self sabotage. It’s that internal tug-of-war where your best intentions get derailed by your own actions. But here's the thing: it's not a personal failing. It's a deeply human response we can understand and change. We'll explore exactly what self sabotage is and how to stop it.
Self-sabotage happens when we actively or passively take steps to prevent ourselves from reaching our goals. This behavior reflects our internal, often unconscious, fear of failure or success.
Understanding Self-Sabotage
At its core, self-sabotage is when our own behavior gets in the way of what we truly want. It’s the frustrating gap between our intentions and our actions. You might set a goal to reduce your alcohol intake, but then find yourself in situations where you consistently drink more than you planned. This isn’t a failure of willpower; it’s often a sign of a deeper, subconscious conflict. Your conscious mind is aiming for a healthier lifestyle, but your subconscious mind might be driven by old beliefs, fears, or a desire for comfort, creating actions that contradict your goals. Recognizing this internal tug-of-war is the first step toward making a real change.
Self-sabotaging behaviors can be sneaky and show up in many forms. Procrastination is a classic example — putting off an important task until the last minute, which ensures the final result isn’t your best work. Perfectionism is another, where the fear of not doing something perfectly prevents you from even starting. For many, these patterns are closely tied to their drinking habits. You might over-drink the night before a big day, effectively sabotaging your performance. Or perhaps you use alcohol to numb uncomfortable emotions, which prevents you from addressing the root cause of your stress and ultimately hinders your personal growth and well-being.
So, why do we engage in these counterproductive behaviors? Often, self-sabotage is a misguided form of self-protection. These patterns are frequently rooted in past experiences and learned beliefs about our own worth. If you have a deep-seated fear of failure, not trying at all can feel safer than trying and falling short. Similarly, a fear of success can trigger feelings of inadequacy or the anxiety of new expectations. Your brain is trying to shield you from potential pain, but it’s using an outdated strategy that no longer serves you. Understanding that these behaviors come from a place of protection can help you approach them with compassion instead of criticism.
Is Your Brain Sending a False Alarm?
Self-sabotage is complex and multifaceted, with many psychological and neurological elements at play. The roots of self-sabotage lie in our brain's natural "fight or flight" response.
When confronted with a physical threat — a stranger in a dark alley, a poisonous snake on a hiking trail, a potted plant falling from a balcony above — our brain activates this response to protect us.
However, when faced with abstract threats — such as the fear of failure or of discomfort — our brains can misinterpret the feelings of danger and respond by getting our bodies ready for action even when there’s nothing to “fight” or “flee.” The result is counterproductive: fleeing from a job interview won’t get you any closer to landing the job, and snapping at a coworker who annoys you certainly won’t do you any favors.
How Cognitive Dissonance Fuels Self-Sabotage
According to psychologists, another factor at play is cognitive dissonance — that uncomfortable feeling when our actions don't align with our beliefs or values. For instance, if we see ourselves as introverts but our job requires networking, we may sabotage our own efforts to avoid that discomfort.
Why Do We Self-Sabotage?
Self-sabotage isn't just a random impulse; it's a complex behavior that often serves as a misguided form of self-protection. It can stem from a variety of deep-seated beliefs and past experiences that shape how we view ourselves and the world. Understanding these underlying reasons is the first step toward recognizing the pattern and making a change. Whether it's a fear of repeating past mistakes or an attempt to control an unpredictable outcome, these behaviors are often our brain's clumsy way of trying to keep us safe from perceived harm, even when that "harm" is actually an opportunity for growth and success.
The tricky part is that self-sabotage often feels like the right decision in the moment. It provides a temporary sense of relief or safety, which reinforces the behavior. For example, turning down a promotion might feel like you're avoiding the stress of new responsibilities, but in the long run, it prevents you from achieving your career goals. By exploring the common triggers, like low self-esteem or a fear of the unknown, we can begin to untangle these self-defeating patterns and choose a different path for ourselves—one that aligns with our true aspirations.
Past Experiences and Low Self-Esteem
Our past often has a bigger role in our present than we realize. If you grew up with criticism or experienced significant setbacks, you might have internalized a belief that you aren't worthy of success. This low self-esteem can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might unconsciously act in ways that confirm this negative self-view, like messing up a project right before the deadline. As noted by experts at Verywell Mind, self-sabotage often acts as a coping mechanism for past hurts. It’s a way of protecting yourself from potential disappointment by never letting yourself get too close to the finish line.
A Need for Control
It sounds counterintuitive, but sometimes we self-sabotage to feel more in control of a situation. If you're convinced you're going to fail at something, orchestrating that failure yourself can feel less painful than having it happen unexpectedly. For instance, if you're worried about being rejected after a second date, you might just stop replying to their texts. You've controlled the outcome—the connection ends, but it ends on your terms. This preemptive strike gives you a sense of agency, even though it ultimately prevents you from getting what you might actually want: a meaningful relationship.
Fear of Success
Just as we can fear failure, we can also fear success. Achieving a major goal means stepping into the unknown. It brings new responsibilities, higher expectations, and more visibility—all of which can be incredibly intimidating. This fear can trigger self-sabotaging behaviors designed to keep you in your comfort zone. You might downplay your achievements or turn down opportunities that would lead to growth. It feels safer to stay where you are than to risk the potential pressures that come with success. This is your brain trying to protect you from a new, unfamiliar kind of stress.
Avoiding Difficult Feelings
At its core, a lot of self-sabotage is about avoidance. We do things to sidestep uncomfortable emotions like anxiety, stress, or emotional pain. Procrastinating on a big presentation helps you avoid the anxiety of public speaking, at least for a little while. Similarly, as Psychology Today points out, some people use substances to escape difficult feelings. This is a temporary fix that creates a much larger problem over time. The behavior provides immediate relief, but it prevents you from developing healthier coping skills and ultimately holds you back from living a fulfilling life.
What Does Self-Sabotage Look Like?
Self-sabotage can be sneaky. It doesn't always show up as a dramatic, life-altering decision. More often, it's a series of small, seemingly harmless choices that accumulate over time, quietly steering you away from your goals. It can look like consistently hitting the snooze button when you promised yourself you'd start working out in the mornings, or picking a fight with your partner right after a really wonderful, intimate moment. These actions might seem unrelated, but they often share a common root: an unconscious effort to undermine your own happiness and progress. Recognizing these behaviors is the first step to understanding your personal brand of self-sabotage.
The key is to look for patterns. Do you find yourself constantly missing deadlines, even when you have plenty of time? Do you tend to overspend right before you hit a savings goal? These are classic examples of self-sabotaging behaviors. They are the practical, everyday ways our deeper fears and insecurities manifest. By identifying what self-sabotage actually looks like in your day-to-day life, you can start to connect the dots between your actions and your underlying anxieties, giving you the power to intervene and make a different choice next time.
Common Self-Sabotaging Behaviors
Self-sabotage wears many different masks, but some are more common than others. These behaviors often serve as coping mechanisms, providing a temporary escape from stress or discomfort while ultimately causing more harm. They can range from subtle habits, like negative self-talk, to more overt actions, such as substance use or picking fights in relationships. The common thread is that they all create obstacles on the path to your goals, whether those goals are related to your career, health, or personal relationships. Understanding these common forms can help you spot them in your own life.
Procrastination and Perfectionism
Procrastination and perfectionism are two sides of the same coin. Perfectionism isn't about having high standards; it's about setting standards so impossibly high that you're too intimidated to even start. You might delay working on a project because you're afraid you can't do it perfectly, which leads to procrastination. This delay tactic protects you from the possibility of failure or criticism. If you never finish the project, no one can judge it. This cycle of inaction ensures you never have to face potential disappointment, but it also guarantees you'll never achieve your goal.
Self-Medication and Comfort Eating
When difficult emotions surface, it's natural to want to numb them. For many, this takes the form of self-medication with alcohol or drugs, or turning to food for comfort. These behaviors offer a quick and easy escape from feelings like anxiety, loneliness, or stress. However, they are a temporary solution that often makes the underlying problem worse. Using alcohol to cope, for example, can become a destructive cycle that damages your physical and mental health. Learning about mindful drinking can be a powerful first step in breaking this pattern and finding healthier ways to manage your emotions without sabotaging your well-being.
Four Common Patterns of Self-Sabotage
While specific behaviors can vary, they often fall into one of four main patterns: fleeing, freezing, fighting, or folding. These categories describe our go-to reactions when we feel threatened by success, failure, or emotional discomfort. Think of them as your default settings for self-protection. Identifying which pattern you tend to fall into can be incredibly insightful. It helps you understand your typical response to stress and provides a roadmap for how to react differently in the future, allowing you to consciously choose a more constructive path.
Fleeing
Fleeing is all about avoidance. When a situation feels too difficult or emotionally charged, your instinct is to run. This doesn't necessarily mean physically running away; it can manifest as quitting a job right before a big promotion, ending a relationship when it starts to get serious, or using distractions like binge-watching TV to avoid your own feelings. Addictive behaviors are also a form of fleeing. You're essentially trying to escape discomfort, but in doing so, you're also running away from opportunities for growth and connection.
Freezing
Freezing is the pattern of overthinking to the point of inaction. You get so caught up in analyzing every possible outcome and trying to make the "perfect" choice that you end up doing nothing at all. This is often driven by a deep-seated fear of making a mistake. You might spend weeks researching the best workout plan but never actually go to the gym, or endlessly edit a single email without ever hitting "send." By staying in the planning phase, you protect yourself from the risk of failure, but you also prevent yourself from making any progress.
Fighting
The fighting pattern shows up as chronic anger, negativity, or a tendency to be argumentative. You might find fault in everything, complain constantly, or pick fights with others as a way to push them away. This behavior creates a barrier, keeping people and opportunities at a distance. While anger can sometimes be a motivating force, living in a constant state of conflict is a form of self-sabotage. It keeps you focused on external battles, so you don't have to face your internal fears or vulnerabilities, but it ultimately leaves you feeling isolated and unfulfilled.
Folding
Folding is characterized by a sense of hopelessness and resignation. You believe that nothing you do will make a difference, so you simply give up. This can look like apathy, passivity, or falling into a state of depression. You might stop trying at work, neglect your health, or tell yourself, "What's the point?" This pattern is particularly insidious because it drains you of the motivation needed to make positive changes. It’s a self-protective shutdown where you decide it's safer to expect nothing than to risk being disappointed yet again.
What Does Self-Sabotage Look Like?
Self-sabotage often masquerades in different forms. Its favorite disguises? Procrastination, perfectionism, and the often-overlooked self-deprecation.
Procrastination is the sly fox of self-sabotage. It whispers sweet nothings about the allure of "later," until we find ourselves scrambling to meet deadlines.
Perfectionism, on the other hand, is the immaculate wolf in sheep's clothing. It persuades us that unless everything is perfect, it's not worth doing, ultimately leading to avoidance or half-hearted attempts.
Lastly, self-deprecation is the sullen “sad clown” mask. By belittling ourselves, we create a self-fulfilling prophecy in which our low expectations for ourselves turn into reality.
When Self-Sabotage Feels Like Self-Care
Before we track down self-sabotage, let's pause for a moment. While it's true that self-sabotage can hinder our progress, it also provides valuable insights into our hidden fears and insecurities.
Our self-sabotaging behaviors may be our brain's clumsy way of trying to protect us from perceived threats. Understanding this helps us change our perspective, transforming self-sabotage from an enemy to a quirky, well-meaning friend who just needs a little guidance. In other words, not every thought or automatic reaction we have has to be taken seriously — it’s okay to be picky about what thoughts we identify with.
How Self-Sabotage Shows Up in Your Life
Self-sabotage isn't a one-size-fits-all problem. It’s a sneaky chameleon, changing its colors to blend into different areas of our lives. Recognizing its patterns is the first step to breaking free. From our love lives to our career ambitions and health goals, these self-defeating behaviors often pop up where we least expect them, disguised as protection or comfort. Let's look at some of the most common places you might find self-sabotage at work.
In Romantic Relationships
Have you ever been in a relationship that felt almost too good to be true, only to find yourself picking fights or pulling away for no real reason? This is a classic example of self-sabotage. If you have a deep-seated fear of abandonment, you might push your partner away first. It’s a way to control the situation — if you end it, you can’t be the one who gets left. This behavior can also stem from low self-worth. When a kind and loving partner enters your life, their affection might clash with a negative inner belief that you aren’t good enough, creating that uncomfortable feeling of cognitive dissonance. To resolve it, you might unconsciously create conflict to prove to yourself that you were right all along.
In Your Career
Procrastinating on a major project, consistently showing up late, or staying quiet in meetings when you have valuable ideas are all ways self-sabotage can appear in your professional life. Often, this is tied to a fear of success or failure. If you get that promotion, the stakes are higher, and the fear of not meeting expectations can be paralyzing. It can feel safer to play small. On the flip side, you might put your work out there but secretly hope it fails. Why? Because if people don’t like it, it confirms that inner voice telling you that you aren’t good enough, which can feel strangely comforting in its familiarity. Sometimes, we even make a job we dislike worse on purpose, creating enough drama with coworkers or our boss to finally give us the "reason" we need to quit.
With Health and Weight Loss Goals
You start the week with great intentions: meal prepping, hitting the gym, and cutting back on alcohol. But by the weekend, you find yourself falling back into old habits, telling yourself you’ll start again on Monday. This cycle is incredibly common. Often, we use food and drink for emotional relief from stress, anxiety, or sadness. So while one part of you wants to build healthier habits, another part is still seeking comfort in the familiar. Success can also be intimidating. Reaching a health goal might mean receiving more attention or shifting your identity in a way that feels uncomfortable. This discomfort can be enough to send you right back to the patterns you know, even if they don't serve your long-term well-being. Learning to practice mindful drinking and eating can help you understand these triggers and respond to them in a new way.
Self-Sabotage and Your Relationship with Alcohol
If you're trying to drink less, first of all, hats off to you! It's a brave decision that requires courage and determination. But as you journey towards your goal, you might notice that self-sabotage creeps in to get you off track.
You might find yourself making excuses to drink, skipping your support group meetings, or neglecting to use the coping strategies you've learned. Why does this happen? Once again, there’s science behind it.
The human brain loves its comfort zone, and any change — including cutting back on alcohol — is perceived as a threat to the comfortable status quo. Your brain isn’t working against you: it's just sticking to its job of keeping things in balance and avoiding the unknown.
Additionally, neuroscientists have found that substances like alcohol can modify the brain's reward system. When you try to cut back, your brain may instigate self-sabotaging behaviors to seek the reward it's used to receiving from alcohol.
Identifying self-sabotage can be tricky: it's a master of disguise. It might come as procrastination ("I'll start cutting back tomorrow"), denial ("I don't have a problem with alcohol"), or even justification ("I've had a hard day, I deserve a drink”).
Remember, self-sabotage isn't the real enemy. It's just a sign of deeper issues like fear, guilt, or low self-esteem. Unpacking these underlying feelings can work wonders in getting past self-sabotage and progressing on your alcohol reduction journey!
How to Stop Self-Sabotaging for Good
Recognizing self-sabotage is the first step, but breaking the cycle for good requires conscious effort and the right strategies. It’s about replacing old, unhelpful habits with new, supportive ones. This process isn't about achieving perfection overnight; it's about making small, consistent changes that build momentum. By becoming more aware of your actions and the thoughts that drive them, you can start to dismantle the patterns that hold you back. The goal is to treat yourself with compassion and curiosity, turning self-sabotage into an opportunity for self-discovery and growth. Let's explore some actionable ways to get started.
Track Your Behavior to Find Your Triggers
The first step to changing any behavior is awareness. You can't fix a problem you don't fully understand. Start by becoming a detective in your own life. Keep a journal or use an app to note when self-sabotaging behaviors pop up. What were you doing? Who were you with? What were you feeling right before it happened? This practice isn't about judging yourself; it's about collecting data. By tracking your actions, you’ll begin to see clear patterns and identify the specific situations, thoughts, or feelings that trigger your self-sabotaging responses. This awareness is your superpower, giving you the information you need to anticipate and interrupt the cycle before it starts.
Challenge and Reframe Negative Beliefs
Self-sabotage is often fueled by deep-seated negative beliefs about ourselves and what we deserve. Thoughts like "I'm not good enough" or "I'll probably fail anyway" can become self-fulfilling prophecies. It's time to put these beliefs on trial. When a negative thought arises, question its validity. Is there concrete evidence that it's 100% true? Usually, there isn't. Practice reframing these thoughts with more balanced and compassionate self-talk. For example, instead of "I always mess things up," try "I'm learning and growing, and it's okay to make mistakes." This shift in mindset is a core part of building healthier habits and is central to neuroscience-based programs like Reframe, which help you rewire these thought patterns over time.
Seek Professional Help
Sometimes, self-sabotage is too tangled to unravel on our own, especially if it leads to issues like substance misuse or self-harm. There is absolutely no shame in asking for help. A therapist can provide a safe space to explore the roots of your behavior and equip you with effective strategies to overcome it. Think of it as hiring a personal trainer for your mind. They have the expertise and tools to guide you through the process, helping you build resilience and develop healthier coping mechanisms. Reaching out is a sign of strength and a powerful commitment to your well-being.
Understanding Therapy Options like CBT and DBT
When you look for a therapist, you might come across different approaches. Two common and highly effective types are Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). CBT focuses on helping you identify and change destructive thought patterns and behaviors, improving your overall well-being. It’s a practical approach that gives you tools to manage your thoughts in the moment. DBT is particularly helpful if you struggle with intense emotions and impulsive actions. It teaches skills in mindfulness, emotional regulation, and distress tolerance, helping you manage difficult feelings without resorting to self-sabotaging behaviors.
The Connection to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
In some cases, chronic self-sabotage can be a symptom of an underlying mental health condition, such as Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). For individuals with BPD, intense emotions, a fear of abandonment, and a distorted sense of self can lead to self-destructive behaviors on emotional, physical, and social levels. This isn't to say that everyone who self-sabotages has BPD, but if your patterns are severe, persistent, and causing significant distress in your life and relationships, it may be worth exploring with a mental health professional. Understanding the deeper issues at play is crucial for finding the most effective path to healing and breaking the cycle for good.
How to Stop Self-Sabotaging for Good
If you're ready to make some changes, here are some practical steps to help you steer clear self-sabotage:
Recognize the signs. Become aware of your patterns. Do you tend to procrastinate, aim for impossible perfection, or put yourself down?
Understand your fears. Dive deep and try to understand what fears or insecurities might be driving your self-sabotage. Are you afraid of failure? Or perhaps, success?
Practice mindfulness. Regular mindfulness practices can help you stay in tune with your thoughts and behaviors. They can also help reduce stress, which is often a trigger for self-sabotage.
Set realistic goals. Too high, and they're daunting; too low, and they're uninspiring. Setting goals that are "just right" can help keep self-sabotage at bay.
Cultivate self-compassion. Being hard on ourselves fuels self-sabotage. Practicing self-compassion can help you respond to setbacks with understanding rather than criticism.
Reframe failures. Changing the narrative around failure can be a powerful tool. Instead of viewing it as a defeat, see it as a learning opportunity.
As for tackling self-sabotage in the context of alcohol, here are some things to try:
Identify your triggers. Recognize situations, emotions, or people that provoke your urge to drink. Understanding these triggers can help you develop effective coping strategies.
Replace old habits. Instead of focusing on eliminating drinking, try to replace it with fun and healthy activities, such as exercising, meditating, or pursuing a hobby. Also, if your social life has revolved around situations where alcohol is the main event, try exploring new social settings that don’t involve drinking. Join a club, take up a new hobby, or volunteer in your community.
Try the "HALT" method. This acronym stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired — states that can often trigger the urge to drink. When you feel the urge, check in with yourself. Are you experiencing any of these states? Addressing them can help reduce the urge to drink.
Make your environment alcohol-free. If possible, remove alcohol from your home, at least initially. This can drastically reduce the availability and accessibility, hence reducing temptation.
Seek support. Joining a support group or seeking professional help can provide you with the necessary tools to combat self-sabotage and stick to your alcohol reduction plan.
Use visualization techniques. Visualization can be a powerful tool. Picture yourself successfully resisting a drink or waking up the next morning hangover-free and feeling great. These positive images can reinforce your motivation.
Reward yourself. Positive reinforcement can motivate you to stay on track. Celebrate your milestones, no matter how small they might seem.
It's About Progress, Not Perfection
By understanding the science behind self-sabotage and employing practical steps to manage it, we can change our relationship with this pesky mental roommate. By integrating these steps into your journey, you can build a robust, comprehensive approach to managing self-sabotage while successfully reducing alcohol consumption. With some introspection and a dash of self-compassion, we might even come to appreciate the insight that self-sabotage can offer.
With every challenge you face, you're not just moving closer to your destination, you're also gaining strength, resilience, and a deeper understanding of yourself. So buckle up, keep an eye on the horizon, and embrace the journey with all its unique challenges and rewards.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I tell the difference between self-sabotage and just having a bad day? The key difference is the pattern. Having a bad day is usually a one-time event; you might oversleep or miss a workout because you genuinely feel unwell. Self-sabotage, on the other hand, is a recurring cycle of behavior that consistently gets in the way of a specific goal. If you notice you always seem to pick a fight with your partner right after a moment of closeness or procrastinate on projects just as you’re about to succeed, you’re likely looking at a pattern of self-sabotage rather than just an off day.
It feels like I only self-sabotage when things are going well. Why is that? This is incredibly common and often stems from a fear of success. When you achieve a goal, life changes. You might face new expectations, increased visibility, or responsibilities that feel intimidating. Your brain can interpret this unfamiliar territory as a threat and try to pull you back to what feels safe and known. So, you might unconsciously act in ways that undermine your success to avoid the discomfort of stepping into a new, more challenging role.
Is self-sabotage always a conscious choice? Most of the time, it’s not. Self-sabotaging behaviors are often driven by subconscious beliefs and fears that we’ve carried for a long time, sometimes since childhood. You might not consciously decide to ruin a good opportunity, but your ingrained habits and automatic responses can lead you there anyway. The work is in bringing these unconscious patterns into your conscious awareness so you can begin to understand them and make different choices.
What's the most important first step to take if I think I'm self-sabotaging? The most powerful first step is to simply become an observer of your own behavior, without any judgment. Start paying attention to when these patterns show up. Instead of criticizing yourself, get curious. Ask yourself, "What was I feeling right before I did that?" or "What situation triggered this response?" This simple act of noticing helps you gather the information you need to understand your triggers, which is the foundation for making any lasting change.
When should I consider getting professional help for these patterns? If your self-sabotaging behaviors are causing significant harm to your relationships, career, or overall well-being, seeking professional help is a great step. A therapist can provide a safe space to explore the deep-rooted causes of these patterns and give you effective tools to manage them. It's especially important to reach out if your behaviors involve substance misuse or put your safety at risk. Think of it as getting an expert guide to help you navigate a tricky internal landscape.
Key Takeaways
Reframe self-sabotage as a protective instinct: These behaviors aren't a personal failing but your brain's outdated strategy to shield you from potential pain or failure. Approaching your patterns with curiosity instead of criticism is the first step toward change.
Identify your unique sabotage signature: Self-sabotage often appears as specific patterns like procrastination, perfectionism, or avoidance. Pinpointing your go-to behaviors and the situations that trigger them gives you the clarity needed to intervene.
Break the cycle with small, consistent actions: Lasting change happens when you replace old habits with new ones. Start by tracking your triggers, questioning the negative thoughts behind your actions, and intentionally choosing a different response that supports your goals.
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually, with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
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At Reframe, we do science, not stigma. We base our articles on the latest peer-reviewed research in psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science. We follow the Reframe Content Creation Guidelines, to ensure that we share accurate and actionable information with our readers. This aids them in making informed decisions on their wellness journey. Learn more
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