This post contains “Am I Self-Destructive Quiz” to help you become aware of ways you might be sabotaging yourself.
What Is Self-Destructive Behavior?
Self-destructive behavior is something will likely cause self-harm, be it emotional or physical, deliberate and planned or unconscious and impulsive, obvious or subtle.
The Risky, Impulsive, & Self-destructive behavior Questionnaire (RISQ)
Self-destructive behaviors can take many different forms:
- Attempting suicide
- Binge eating
- Compulsive activities like gambling, gaming, or shopping
- Impulsive and unprotected sexual behavior
- Substance use, such as alcohol and drug abuse
- Physical harm or elf-injury, such as cutting, hair pulling, burning
The Risky, Impulsive, & Self-destructive behavior Questionnaire (RISQ) is a 38-item self-report questionnaire that measures risky, impulsive, and self-destructive behaviors in 8 domains (aggression, self-harm, gambling, impulsive spending/driving, impulsive eating, risky sex, illegal behavior, and alcohol use).
For each behavior, you note the number of times you have engaged in the behavior in your lifetime, how many times in the past month, how old you were when you first started engaging in the behavior, if there were any consequences (e.g., legal, relationship, financial) as a result of their behavior (dichotomous: yes/no), and how strongly you agree with statements that assess your motivation (distress or pleasure) for engaging in the behavior.
A copy of the questionnaire is provided here: RISQ self-report
Note: If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out for help immediately. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 and can be reached at 1-800-273-8255, or 988.
Related: How To Step Out Of Denial? Top 10 Steps To Overcome Denial When The Truth Is Heartbreaking
Am I Self-Destructive Quiz
There are also more subtle forms of self-sabotage.
The following questions represent common forms of subtle self-destructive behaviors:
Results
#1. Do you often talk about yourself in a derogatory way, insisting that you’re not attractive enough, smart enough, or good enough?
#2. Do you often cling to people who are not interested in you?
#3. Do you often change yourself to please people or seek validation?
#4. Do you often find yourself blaming others or feeling like a victim?
#5. Do you often engage in maladaptive behaviors, such as procrastination, chronic avoidance, indecisiveness, passive-aggressiveness?
#6. Do you often ignore difficult feelings, suppress them, or numb them using distractions or addictions?
We will not sell your information. All results are kept confidential.
This quiz is for informational purposes only. It is not meant as a diagnostic or assessment tool.
Results
The questions above represent common signs of subtle self-destruction. If you answered yes to most of these questions, then you might be sabotaging yourself.
Related: Inner Teenager Healing: 14 Proven Exercises to Heal Your Inner Teenager
FREE Resources
Podcasts
FREE Worksheets
- Inner Teenager Healing Worksheets Download PDF
- Negative Core Beliefs List Download PDF
- Self-Compassionate Statements Download PDF
- Emotional Sobriety Worksheets Download PDF
- Find Your Purpose Worksheets Download PDF
- Avoidance Worksheets Download PDF
- Healthy Relationship Checklist Download PDF


References
- Human Survival and the Self-Destruction Paradox: An Integrated Theoretical Model on JSTOR
- (PDF) Self‐Destructive Behavior (researchgate.net)
- Self Destructive Behavior: What It Is & Why We Do It (healthline.com)