The Achilles complex

The Achilles complex is a term used in psychology to refer to the insecurity of a person regarding any of their abilities. The individual considers this quality as fundamental for their self -esteem or personal development and considers that it is below other people in that aspect.

Some qualities that are usually affected by the Achilles complex can be The physical appearance, intelligence, the ability to sport or music, or any other that a person considers important for their development.

For example, a person can have an Achilles complex regarding their physical appearance, which can make it insecure and hinder their relationships with others. Another person, on the other hand, can have an Achilles complex in relation to their intelligence, which can make it doubt their own abilities and can prevent you from achieving your potential, either in studies or your work. In both cases, the Achilles complex can negatively affect the self -esteem and emotional well -being of the person.

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• The origin of the term
• Some common cases
• How to overcome the Achilles complex
• Therapies recommended to overcome the Achilles complex
• How to assess whether someone suffers from the Achilles complex
• Start of the test
  • You think that overcoming the weakness that completes you is essential to feel good.
  • You feel insecure or vulnerable because of your weakness.
  • You feel anxiety when you have to put into practice that capacity or directly avoid situations in which you should put it into practice.
  • You compare yourself with others and you feel lower about that ability.
  • You think no one is going to love you because you are not good enough with that ability.
  • You often feel that you have to overcome that weakness to feel safe from yourself.
  • It is hard for you to accept that you have that weakness.
  • You get angry with yourself or you feel frustrated when you do not get what you set out with that ability.
  • You feel stressed by the pressure you perceive to highlight in that ability.
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The origin of the term

The name of the complex refers to The Greek legend of the Achilles hero. In Greek mythology, Achilles was an invincible warrior and one of the main heroes of the Trojan War. According to the legend, when she was a baby, her mother, goddess Tetis, immersed him in the Estigia river to make it immortal, but holding it through the heel, who did not come into contact with the water and was, therefore, vulnerable. During the Trojan War, the invincible Achilles was defeated by an arrow that hit his heel, his only weak point.

Achilles' legend has become a symbol of human vulnerability And how anyone can have a weak point, even if it is strong in other aspects.

Some common cases

A common example of Achilles complex could be the fear that a person can have to speak in public. If this person believes that his ability to speak in public is essential for his success in his work or in his social life, and feels that he is not good enough in that ability, he could experience insecurity and low self -esteem in relation to that area of his life.

This can manifest itself in the form of anxiety, avoidance of situations in which you have to speak in public, or a general sensation of inferiority.

Bulimia and Anorexia, Self -esteem diseases

How to overcome the Achilles complex

To overcome this problem, you have to follow 5 well -defined steps:

1. Identify the Achilles complex: The first step is to realize which quality that makes us feel insecure. It is possible to do so through reflection or looking for the help of a therapist or a reliable friend. This first step may seem very obvious, but we must bear in mind that the problem is not always in what is not good. For example, someone can consider that their weakness lies in their difficulty in speaking is public, but it could be that this was due to a bad memory, or by some complex related to the physical appearance.
2. Accept limitations. We all have certain limitations or areas in which we are not so good. Accept that it is not perfect in everything, it will help the patient to free himself from the pressure he feels to be.
3. Focus on strengths. Instead of focusing on what he cannot do well, the affected person must focus on his skills and strengths. This will help you feel safer and develop a positive image of yourself.
4. Practice the ability in question. If the Achilles complex is related to a specific skill, such as speaking in public, it is possible to improve that ability through practice. You have to look for opportunities to implement that ability to lose the fear of doing it.
5. Seek support if necessary. Overcoming the Achilles complex can be difficult without help, so it is important to seek the support of people from their environment as family and friends. They can help see the positive qualities of the person and remind him that you are not perfect, like everyone else, and that that's fine. Also, a therapist can provide help and tools to overcome complexes.

The world of complexes

Therapies recommended to overcome the Achilles complex

There are different therapies that can help treat Achilles syndrome. The therapist will be in charge of deciding which one is the most appropriate in each case.

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: Focuses on how thoughts and actions influence the emotions and behaviors of the person. The therapy helps identify negative thinking patterns and replace them with more realistic and positive thoughts.
• Acceptance and commitment therapy: It is a form of behavioral therapy that focuses on helping the person to accept their emotions and thoughts, without trying to change or avoid them. This type of therapy helps develop a more flexible attitude and live a fuller and more satisfying life, despite insecurities or weaknesses.
• Interpersonal therapy: Focuses on interpersonal relationships and how they affect the emotional state of the individual. Therapy contributes to improving social skills and resolving conflicts in relationships, which helps to feel safer and overcome insecurities or weaknesses.

In general, any therapy that helps identify and work on the insecurities or weaknesses of the person can be useful to treat Achilles syndrome. It is important that the person will contact a mental health professional to obtain an appropriate evaluation and recommendations for their particular case.

How to assess whether someone suffers from the Achilles complex

With this test you can evaluate whether another person suffers from Achilles syndrome. Before starting the test, you have to determine which quality that completes you, since the test questions will refer to this quality. If you already have it, ¡forward!

2 friends of laziness: anxiety and low self -esteem

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