The need for control has a huge influence in all of our lives. Gaining and maintaining control can makes us feel more content and relaxed. However sometimes it can operate as a survival mechanism, offering an unhealthy way to protect ourselves. This can be due to trauma, a chaotic childhood, perfectionism and attachment issues. By attempting to control others, situations or the outside world, it creates a false way of decreasing anxiety.
Therapy is a wonderful way to get support and insight into the need of control and how to help overcome it. Discovering and recognizing the source of distress and learn instead to meet it with empathy and self- compassion, can help overcome the need for control as self-protection.