Monsters of the ‘ID’: How Scam Victims’ Own Emotions Can Sabotage Their Recovery

Overcoming Anger, Shame, and Desperation to Take Back Control After Being Scammed

Primary Category: Scam Victim Recovery Psychology

Intended Audience: Scam Victims-Survivors / Family & Friends

Authors:
•  Vianey Gonzalez B.Sc(Psych) – Licensed Psychologist, Specialty in Crime Victim Trauma Therapy, Neuropsychologist, Certified Deception Professional, Psychology Advisory Panel & Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
•  Tim McGuinness, Ph.D., DFin, MCPO, MAnth – Anthropologist, Scientist, Polymath, Director of the Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.

About This Article

Scam victims often face not just financial and emotional loss but also internal psychological battles that can hinder their recovery. The concept of Monsters of the Id, originating from Freudian psychology, represents the primal, unfiltered impulses that can drive victims to act irrationally. Modern psychology identifies these impulses as emotional dysregulation, cognitive distortions, and trauma responses—each of which can lead to impulsive decisions, self-blame, or paranoia that isolates victims from the support they need.

Uncontrolled anger, shame, and desperation can turn victims into their own worst enemies, leading them to lash out, withdraw, or make reckless choices in an attempt to regain control. Recognizing when these psychological forces are at play is essential to preventing self-sabotage. Victims must ask themselves whether their decisions are being driven by raw emotion rather than rational thought.

Strategies such as pausing before acting, seeking professional guidance, and focusing on long-term recovery can help victims regain stability. True recovery is not just about seeking justice—it is about mastering emotional impulses, restoring confidence, and making thoughtful decisions that lead to healing and security.

Monsters of the Mind: How Scam Victims’ Own Emotions Can Sabotage Their Recovery

Overcoming Anger, Shame, and Desperation to Take Back Control After Being Scammed

Monsters of the Id – an Introduction

The concept of ‘Monsters of the Id’ originates from psychology and science fiction, referring to destructive impulses and fears that originate from the unconscious mind when placed under unbearable stress. The term is rooted in Freudian psychoanalysis, where the ‘id’ represents the primal, instinctual part of the psyche that houses desires, aggression, and repressed urges.

The phrase gained prominence through the 1956 sci-fi film ‘Forbidden Planet’ [we highly recommend it,] where an advanced alien civilization was destroyed by its own subconscious fears and desires made manifest. In a psychological context, Monsters of the Id symbolize how repressed emotions—such as anger, guilt, or trauma—can emerge in destructive ways if not properly understood or managed.

This concept is often explored in literature, psychology, and criminal behavior studies, particularly in how suppressed impulses can lead to irrational or harmful actions.

While it is not so much in fashion in psychology, it is a very useful and relatable concept that most people can understand.

Scam Victims

Scam victims face an uphill battle in recovering from fraud, not just financially but emotionally and psychologically. While the external damage of being scammed is evident, the internal struggle is often just as severe. One of the greatest threats to a victim’s recovery is not just the scammer but their own mind—specifically, the unfiltered, unrestrained impulses that emerge from deep within. This phenomenon, sometimes referred to as monsters of the Id, can lead scam victims to make irrational, self-destructive decisions that hinder their ability to heal and seek justice effectively.

Understanding how these psychological forces operate and recognizing when they are in control is essential for scam victims to regain stability and move forward. In this article, we will explore the origins of the Id, its modern psychological equivalents, and the ways in which scam victims may fall prey to their own destructive impulses. We will also outline how victims can recognize when their inner monsters are in control and how they can regain rationality before making decisions that worsen their situation.

Understanding the ‘Id’ and Its Modern Equivalents

The concept of the Id comes from Sigmund Freud’s model of the human psyche, which is divided into three parts:

The Id – The primitive, impulsive, and instinct-driven part of the mind that seeks immediate gratification without concern for consequences. It is the seat of anger, fear, and desire.

The Ego – The rational part of the psyche that mediates between the Id’s desires and reality.

The Superego – The moral compass, representing internalized societal norms and values.

Freud’s theory suggests that when the Id is left unchecked, it can manifest in self-destructive behaviors. While the terminology has evolved, modern psychology still recognizes the impact of unchecked impulses. Today, we see parallels in concepts such as:

Emotional Dysregulation – The inability to manage intense emotions, leading to impulsive decisions.

Cognitive Distortions – Irrational thought patterns that reinforce negativity, such as blaming oneself or assuming all people are untrustworthy.

Trauma Responses – Emotional overreactions stemming from past experiences, including the fight-or-flight response.

When scam victims suffer a major emotional shock, the Id—or its modern equivalents—can take over, leading to impulsive, irrational, and often harmful reactions.

Emotional Dysregulation: When Intense Emotions Take Over

One of the most immediate psychological challenges scam victims face is emotional dysregulation—the inability to manage overwhelming emotions in a controlled, rational way. The shock, anger, and devastation of realizing they have been deceived can send victims into an emotional freefall, leading to impulsive decisions that often make the situation worse. Emotional dysregulation occurs when the brain prioritizes raw feelings over logical thinking, making it difficult for victims to weigh their options carefully.

This can manifest in several ways. Some victims lash out at those around them, directing their anger at family, friends, or even law enforcement officials who may not be able to provide immediate solutions. Others spiral into panic, desperately trying to “fix” the situation by making hasty financial or legal decisions, such as taking out loans to recover lost money or engaging with scam recovery fraudsters who promise to retrieve their stolen funds for a fee. Emotional dysregulation can also lead to self-destructive behaviors like excessive drinking, reckless spending, or avoidance of responsibilities.

Victims trapped in this state often feel like their emotions are controlling them rather than the other way around. The key to overcoming emotional dysregulation is recognizing when emotions are running unchecked and taking steps to regain balance. This may include deep breathing exercises, journaling, or delaying important decisions until the initial emotional storm has settled. The goal is to shift from reactionary behavior to thoughtful, measured responses that prioritize long-term recovery.

Cognitive Distortions: The Mind’s Trap of Negativity

After experiencing fraud, scam victims are especially vulnerable to cognitive distortions—irrational thought patterns that reinforce negativity and make it harder to move forward. These distortions shape the way victims interpret their experiences, often in ways that are exaggerated or untrue. One of the most common distortions among scam victims is self-blame, where they convince themselves that being scammed was entirely their fault. Thoughts like “I was so stupid to fall for this” or “I should have known better” create a cycle of shame that prevents victims from seeking help.

Another damaging distortion is the assumption that all people are untrustworthy. After being deceived, many victims begin to view the entire world through the lens of betrayal, believing that no one can be trusted—not financial institutions, law enforcement, advocacy groups, or even loved ones. This mindset can isolate victims, making it harder for them to accept support and guidance from those who genuinely want to help.

Cognitive distortions also feed into catastrophic thinking, where victims assume the worst-case scenario about their future. They may believe they will never recover financially, that they will always be a target for scams, or that they will never be able to trust anyone again. These distortions, while powerful, are not grounded in reality. Overcoming them requires actively challenging negative thoughts, reframing perspectives, and seeking factual, logical insights to replace exaggerated fears with balanced reasoning. Victims who recognize these distortions can take back control over their mindset and work toward recovery with a more constructive approach.

Trauma Responses: When Past Pain Amplifies Present Reactions

For many scam victims, the emotional fallout of fraud is not just about the immediate loss—it triggers deeper, unresolved trauma from past experiences. This can lead to heightened trauma responses, where the body and mind react as if they are in a life-or-death situation. One of the most well-known trauma responses is the fight-or-flight reaction, in which the body is flooded with stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, preparing for survival. Scam victims may experience this as a rush of panic, anger, or a desperate need to take action—whether that action is helpful or not.

Some victims fall into the fight mode, aggressively seeking revenge on the scammer, confronting people they believe are responsible, or attempting to take justice into their own hands. Others enter flight, where they withdraw from the situation entirely, avoiding phone calls, ignoring financial problems, or refusing to report the crime out of fear or embarrassment. A third response, freeze, can leave victims feeling emotionally numb, unable to take any action at all, stuck in a cycle of despair and inaction.

The intensity of these trauma responses can be confusing and overwhelming, especially for victims who have never experienced something similar before. Recognizing these reactions as trauma-related, rather than as rational conclusions, can help victims regain perspective. Grounding techniques—such as breathing exercises, speaking with a trusted support system, and seeking professional counseling—can help regulate these responses so that victims can move forward in a way that is thoughtful and productive rather than driven by emotional survival instincts.

Understanding emotional dysregulation, cognitive distortions, and trauma responses is key for scam victims looking to regain control over their recovery. By identifying when these psychological forces are at play, victims can take proactive steps to manage their emotions, challenge irrational thoughts, and ensure that their responses are guided by logic and long-term well-being rather than immediate emotional impulses.

How Scam Victims Become Their Own Worst Enemy

After being scammed, a victim’s emotions become a battlefield. Anger, shame, grief, and despair collide, making rational thinking difficult. This creates fertile ground for the monsters of the Id to emerge. Here are some of the most common ways scam victims can become their own worst enemy:

Uncontrolled Anger and Revenge Fantasies

One of the strongest emotional responses after being scammed is rage. The desire for revenge, justice, or to make the scammer suffer is overwhelming. While this anger is understandable, it often leads victims to act recklessly:

• • • Engaging in online vigilantism, which can result in legal trouble.
    • Lashing out at law enforcement or financial institutions rather than working with them.
    • Publicly exposing scammers in ways that could lead to further harassment.

Victims may believe that unleashing their fury will provide relief, but it often backfires, leading to more stress and fewer productive results.

Destructive Self-Blame and Shame

On the other end of the spectrum, some victims turn their anger inward. They berate themselves for being “stupid” or “gullible,” convincing themselves that they deserved to be scammed. This internalized rage leads to:

• • • Avoiding seeking help out of embarrassment.
    • Withdrawing from loved ones and isolating themselves.
    • Falling into depression or anxiety, making recovery even harder.

Shame is one of the most paralyzing emotions for scam victims. When the monster of self-blame takes over, it stops victims from taking action to recover.

Irrational Financial or Legal Decisions

A scam victim in crisis may feel compelled to take extreme, impulsive actions to fix the situation immediately. These often lead to even worse consequences, such as:

• • • Taking out risky loans or gambling to recover lost money.
    • Falling for “recovery scams” that promise to get their money back for a fee.
    • Filing false police reports in desperation, which can lead to legal trouble.

These desperate reactions are the result of fear-driven thinking. When a victim is ruled by their emotions instead of logic, they are more likely to fall for further deception.

Distrusting Everyone and Pushing Away Support

After being scammed, many victims develop an extreme distrust of people, believing that everyone is a potential threat. While some skepticism is healthy, victims who become overly distrustful may:

• • • Reject help from legitimate victim advocacy groups.
    • Refuse to report the scam to authorities because they assume no one will help.
    • Cut off friends and family who try to offer emotional support.

This paranoia creates a self-imposed prison where the victim isolates themselves instead of accepting help. In reality, recovery often requires working with others to find solutions.

How to Know If Your Inner Monsters Are in Control

Recognizing when the monsters of the Id are in control is the first step toward regaining rationality. Scam victims should ask themselves the following questions:

• Am I making decisions based on anger, fear, or desperation rather than careful thinking?
• Have I considered the long-term consequences of my actions, or am I reacting impulsively?
• Am I blaming myself in a way that prevents me from seeking help?
• Am I shutting out people who genuinely want to help me?
• Do I feel like I am spiraling into deeper negativity rather than working toward a solution?

If the answer to any of these is yes, it is likely that emotions—not rational thinking—are in control.

How to Regain Control and Overcome the Monsters Within

Pause and Breathe – When emotions are overwhelming, stop and take deep breaths. Give yourself time to think before making any major decisions.

Seek Professional Guidance – Consult scam victim advocacy groups, financial advisors, or mental health professionals who can provide clarity and rational options.

Write It Down – Journaling thoughts and emotions can help separate rational concerns from irrational impulses.

Talk to Someone You Trust – Speaking with a friend or support group can help put emotions into perspective.

Avoid Impulsive Actions – If an action feels like an immediate reaction to pain or anger, delay it and reassess later.

Shift Focus to Recovery – Instead of dwelling on the scam itself, focus on actionable steps such as securing accounts, reporting the crime, and seeking emotional healing.

Winning the Battle Against the Inner Monsters

The greatest danger scam victims face is often not just the scam itself, but their own emotional response to it. When anger, shame, and desperation take over, rational thinking is replaced by destructive behaviors that can worsen the situation. By understanding the concept of monsters of the Id and recognizing when they are in control, victims can take steps to regain rationality and make informed decisions.

Recovery is not about getting justice—it’s about healing, regaining confidence, and ensuring that emotional impulses do not create further damage. By mastering their inner battles, scam victims can reclaim control of their lives and move forward toward a healthier, more secure future.

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