--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ..but maybe this was a defense mechanism…" description: "\"..but maybe this was a defense mechanism. Maybe my mind was making me see things I refused to accept were gone forever. It was filling the void, becaus..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/becca-fitzpatrick-321_accepting_but-maybe-this-was-a-defense-mechanism-m_1491699.png" --- # ..but maybe this was a defense mechanism. Maybe my mind… ![“..but maybe this was a defense mechanism. Maybe my mind was making me see things I refused to accept were gone forever. It was filling the void, because that was easier than letting go.” quote by Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/becca-fitzpatrick-321_accepting_but-maybe-this-was-a-defense-mechanism-m_1491699.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/becca-fitzpatrick-321_accepting_but-maybe-this-was-a-defense-mechanism-m_1491699.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ed0/becca-fitzpatrick-321_accepting_but-maybe-this-was-a-defense-mechanism-m_1491699.png) > “..but maybe this was a defense mechanism. Maybe my mind was making me see things I refused to accept were gone forever. It was filling the void, because that was easier than letting go.” [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She describes using a mental defense that fills emptiness with imagined acceptance, avoiding the pain of loss. **In simple terms:** She creates a mental shield to avoid confronting loss. Key Takeaway Allow yourself to grieve rather than fill void with denial. Themes grief defense mechanisms psychology Mood somber introspective Type psychological emotional When to use this quote - breakups - bereavement - major life changes - personal growth Key Concepts denial emotional avoidance coping strategies Questions to Reflect On - What are healthier ways to cope with loss? - How does avoidance affect long‑term wellbeing? A Different Perspective Denial can delay healing and deepen emotional pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Defense mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-mechanism/) [Defense mechanisms](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-mechanisms/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Letting go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/letting-go/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Void](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/void/) ## Related quotes > [As soon as I accept that you're gone, you're back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-soon-as-i-accept-that-you-re-gone-you-re-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you're going to try, go all the way. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives, jobs and maybe your mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-bukowski/if-you-re-going-to-try-go-all-the-way-this-could-mean-losing/) [Charles Bukowski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-bukowski/) > [There are times the memories are just not enough. Will the pain ever ease? Will I ever be able to accept you are gone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-are-times-the-memories-are-just-not-enough-will-the-pain-ever/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Maybe if your mind was as open as your mouth, You'd understand that regardless of what anyone wears, looks like, or sings about, we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/motionless-in-white/maybe-if-your-mind-was-as-open-as-your-mouth-you-d-understand-that/) [Motionless In White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/motionless-in-white/) > [“Despite her misgivings, she understood that he was somehow filling a void we might have not even known was there.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/despite-her-misgivings-she-understood-that-he-was-somehow-filling-a/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [“When we do those things, we’re actually filling a void in our lives with debt. It’s a slow but sure self-destructive process, and one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/celso-cukierkorn/when-we-do-those-things-we-re-actually-filling-a-void-in-our-lives/) [Celso Cukierkorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/celso-cukierkorn/) > [“..it's not about scrabbling in the void for people to share your lonliness. It's about filling the void with the people you love, to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stella-newman/it-s-not-about-scrabbling-in-the-void-for-people-to-share-your/) Stella Newman > [“That is how defense mechanisms work—in this case, denial and rationalization. We can distort reality so that we don’t feel its effects on our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/that-is-how-defense-mechanisms-work-in-this-case-denial-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [As a kid I was short and only weighed 95 pounds. And though I was active in a lot of Sports and got along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-conway/as-a-kid-i-was-short-and-only-weighed-95-pounds-and-though-i-was/) [Tim Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-conway/) > [I don't really know. I think the first test is when you're very little and you fart, and you laugh at it and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-really-know-i-think-the-first-test-is-when-you-re-very-little/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [When my wife and I met, I couldn't talk to her - and my defense mechanism is sarcasm. I belittle someone with verbal pokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-vogel/when-my-wife-and-i-met-i-couldn-t-talk-to-her-and-my-defense/) [Mike Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-vogel/) > [All art is an intensely vulnerable gesture, and it is made with no small amounts of risk, and fear. So, I have plenty of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-erikson/all-art-is-an-intensely-vulnerable-gesture-and-it-is-made-with-no/) [Steven Erikson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-erikson/) > [“Defense mechanisms protect us. Fortresses isolate us. And far too often we begin with the former and end up constructing the latter.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-d-lounsbrough/defense-mechanisms-protect-us-fortresses-isolate-us-and-far-too-often/) [Craig D. Lounsbrough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-d-lounsbrough/) > [Christianity has a built-in defense system: anything that questions a belief, no matter how logical the argument is, is the work of Satan by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/christianity-has-a-built-in-defense-system-anything-that-questions-a/) [Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/) > [What are you going to do when you are not saving the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/what-are-you-going-to-do-when-you-are-not-saving-the-world/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) ## More by Becca Fitzpatrick > [I nibbled my lower lip. "If you could see into my past just by touching my back, you'd have a hard time resisting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-nibbled-my-lower-lip-if-you-could-see-into-my-past-just-by-touching/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Cheshvan starts tonight," Rixon said, "What are you doing arsing around in a graveyard?" "Thinking." "Thinking?" "A process by which I use my brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/cheshvan-starts-tonight-rixon-said-what-are-you-doing-arsing-around/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [and just like that, I shut off the switch to my brain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/and-just-like-that-i-shut-off-the-switch-to-my-brain/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Hang on, did you just call me Angel?” I asked. “If I did?” “I don’t like it.” He grinned. “It stays. Angel.” He leaned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/hang-on-did-you-just-call-me-angel-i-asked-if-i-did-i-don-t-like-it/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [You’re impinging on my private space,” I said, inching backward. Patch gave a barely-there smile. "Impinging? This isn’t the SAT, Nora.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/you-re-impinging-on-my-private-space-i-said-inching-backward-patch/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“I have a hard time keeping my hands off you without that added bonus”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-have-a-hard-time-keeping-my-hands-off-you-without-that-added-bonus/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Tacos." "Tacos?" I echoed. This seemed to amuse him. "Tomatoes, lettuce, cheese." "I know what a taco is!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/tacos-tacos-i-echoed-this-seemed-to-amuse-him-tomatoes-lettuce-cheese/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [class was like watered down porn today. Vee said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/class-was-like-watered-down-porn-today-vee-said/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [That woman." Vee hissed, "I'm making the sign of the cross right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/that-woman-vee-hissed-i-m-making-the-sign-of-the-cross-right-now/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“Good sleuthing takes practice”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/good-sleuthing-takes-practice/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [For the first time all day I felt safe. Except that Patch had cornered me in a dark tunnel and was possibly stalking me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/for-the-first-time-all-day-i-felt-safe-except-that-patch-had-cornered/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [You smell good." "It's called a shower. Soap, shampoo, water-" "Naked. I know the drill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/you-smell-good-it-s-called-a-shower-soap-shampoo-water-naked-i-know/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Nora: I have questions. Patch: I should have known you've only been keeping me around for answers. Nora: Well, that and your kisses. Anyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/nora-i-have-questions-patch-i-should-have-known-you-ve-only-been/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [“I like having you around, Britt. That's the truth. I'm not leaving you. Even if you were a pain in the butt, I'd stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/i-like-having-you-around-britt-that-s-the-truth-i-m-not-leaving-you/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) > [Vee is my un-twin. She's green-eyed, milky blond, and a few pounds over curvy. I'm a smoky-eyed brunette with volumes of curly hair that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-fitzpatrick/vee-is-my-un-twin-she-s-green-eyed-milky-blond-and-a-few-pounds-over/) [Becca Fitzpatrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) [Explore all 635 Becca Fitzpatrick quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-fitzpatrick/) ## More Accepting quotes > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [Laughing, laughing, laughing, laughing! It is the jester! A voice from the Void, to cheer poor Cicero! I accept your gift, dearest Night Mother.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/laughing-laughing-laughing-laughing-it-is-the-jester-a-voice-from-the/) [Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/) > [This duo inside of me causes the perfect opportunity to live and learn twice as fast as those who choose to accept simplicity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/this-duo-inside-of-me-causes-the-perfect-opportunity-to-live-and/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [Don't be bitter. Everybody suffers. If you can accept your suffering then you will understand other people better. Be grateful for pain. Love life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/don-t-be-bitter-everybody-suffers-if-you-can-accept-your-suffering/) [Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/) > [It takes an unusually philosophic mind to accept that all one’s suffering might be to no end, really, in the larger scheme of things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-takes-an-unusually-philosophic-mind-to-accept-that-all-one-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No nation being under another nation can accept gifts, and kick at the responsibility attached to those gifts, imposed by the conquering nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/no-nation-being-under-another-nation-can-accept-gifts-and-kick-at-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Even with clothing naked animals, there were people who wanted to send in money. A woman in Santa Barbara, California, sent a $40,000 check.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-abel/even-with-clothing-naked-animals-there-were-people-who-wanted-to-send/) [Alan Abel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-abel/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [Whatever your conscious mind assumes and believes to be true, your subconscious mind will accept and bring to pass. Believe in good fortune, divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-murphy/whatever-your-conscious-mind-assumes-and-believes-to-be-true-your/) [Joseph Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-murphy/) > [Losing someone is easy, but accepting it is hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/losing-someone-is-easy-but-accepting-it-is-hard/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [… and so he tried to accept the ache in his heart as what Dr. Larch would call the common symptoms of normal life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/and-so-he-tried-to-accept-the-ache-in-his-heart-as-what-dr-larch/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [I think what was special about 'Music by Prudence' was the classic story of the title subject's life path - from being an outcast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-think-what-was-special-about-music-by-prudence-was-the-classic/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [As my films are born at the moment when they are reflected into another person's mind and memories, there are no misconceptions. I totally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pirjo-honkasalo/as-my-films-are-born-at-the-moment-when-they-are-reflected-into/) [Pirjo Honkasalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pirjo-honkasalo/) Browse all 6,788 Accepting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "..but maybe this was a defense mechanism. Maybe my mind was making me see things I refused to accept were gone forever. 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