Define Internal Conflict

Internal conflict can disrupt a person's life and cause them undue hardship. However, it is sometimes difficult to determine what issue an internal conflict is present over and how it can best be dealt with.

Definition

• Internal conflict is the struggle within an individual's mind when opposing views simultaneously exist for that individual in relation to a specific thing. Such conflicts can sometimes lead to certain anxiety disorders.

Features

• Internal conflicts are typically considered the result of an individual confronting something in which two or more various portions of their learned behavior, ideals, beliefs or social patterns are incongruent. However, such conflicts can often be unconscious and go entirely unnoticed even once problems arise.

Effects

• Indecision, apprehension and doubt are just a few of the potential results of internal conflict. Extremely problematic internal conflicts may contribute to certain disorders. Many issues with internal conflicts develop because some who have intense internal conflicts become more stressed and conflicted as a result of them.

Types

• Of the varied forms of internal conflicts, some relate to having two opposing desires at once while others may be as differing from that as having two opposing undesirable options of which it is felt that one must be chosen. There are an immense number of variables which psychoanalysts often examine to determine the exact nature and cause of an internal conflict.

Solution

• Taking action to combat internal conflict's debilitating effects may involve therapy or counseling. If someone is aware of their internal conflict, that individual may find progress in reasoning with themselves or asking for an outsider's perspective. There are also numerous other possibilities for helping people overcome the issues that may arise due to internal conflicts which vary greatly depending upon their specific problem.