Compartmentalizing

Hello, Long time.

I recently found myself compartmentalizing. This is a new form of defence mechanism I seem to have mastered for my 9-5 office relationships with my co-workers.

If you work in teams or an organization your co-workers are hard to agree with. You can possibly relate. Most times for peace you have to deal with or suppress your emotions so that you will not send anyone to the emergency room or end up in prison.

When you’re being asked if you can work under pressure, with teams, multi-task, work long hours, don’t agree head-on. I repeat don’t agree head-on. Ask questions or better still don’t fake a yes and believe you can fly. It is a trap!

In some organizations where there is no structure, i.e. one man heads it all, no ranks, no system in place to help workers, so many things can go wrong. If everyone reports to the same person who hires, manages, and oversees the activities of the company, you could lose your shit, Issues like lack of transparency, favouritism, etc. will divide the whole system and emotions will come into play.

I found myself in this situation and had to compartmentalize – Break my emotions into bit sizes and put them aside. This – my friend is emotionally stressed.

Here’s another example,

I once dated a young man who vehemently refused to stop arguing. When we had relationship issues he would go on and on for hours describing the times – (He kept track) I had done some particular things, relate it with what we were talking about at the moment and compare it. Other times he would remind you why he should not change and why he is structured the way he is. In his words ” How long have you known me, I cannot change” Whew!

I had to compartmentalize my emotions.

Why did I have to pull out some experiences? Most of us compartmentalize unconsciously and then it becomes an addiction.

Does it have its Benefits? Yes.

For example – Firefighters leave their families and emotions aside and do their job. It is life-threatening but that is what they signed up for. They compartmentalize their realities and it allows them to work under intense pressure.

When you’re going through a divorce and still being able to separate your emotions.

Or working with a team or group that you don’t agree with, but you have to get on with the work and pull through.

Ways it can get worse

• You become emotionally unavailable
• It becomes an addiction
• Refusing to acknowledge problematic thought patterns

Ways to get better

• Separate your personal life from your work life.
• Deeply analyze your past or current experiences and identify how you compartmentalize
• Seek professional help

Compartmentalizing is not all negative. But you need to tread carefully.

Jae.