The Acorn Programme Guide
1.1 About the Acorn Programme
This is a programme we have developed to help people who harm themselves, or who use other self-defeating behaviours to cope with their experiences. This guide is intended to explain what we do and why, and what we will expect of you on the programme.
1.2 What are Self-defeating Behaviours
Self-defeating behaviours might be self-harming behaviours, which can take a range of forms. We most commonly think of taking repeated overdoses of tablets or of cutting oneself, but people find many ways to harm themselves. Other examples are drug or alcohol abuse, eating disorders or stealing. They are dangerous and humiliating behaviours for those who do them, and frightening or worrying to those who witness them.
Self-defeating behaviours can also be less immediately damaging, but nevertheless lead to distress. This would include things like withdrawing into isolation and avoiding contact with others, or becoming dissociated so as to lose contact with what is going on around you.
It is difficult to break patterns of self-defeating behaviours which have been used for a long time. Usually it is clear that people have learned these behaviours under quite extreme stress, and for good reasons. The behaviours help in the short term usually by reducing distress or dulling intense feelings. We call them ‘self-defeating’ because in the longer term they leave you feeling worse about yourself.
These types of behaviour can become so automatic you may not think about why you do them, or imagine you have a choice. Commonly they will make others worry, and lead to repeated admissions to hospital with frustrating attempts at treatment. The difficulty in understanding the behaviours can lead to conflict with people trying to help, and can lead you to feel rejected or beyond help.
Download The Acorn Programme Guide
