雖然有關柳宗元貶謫後的心理反應，學者大抵已有論述，但有關貶謫後的防衛機轉上有未盡之處，本文以柳宗元永州詩為探討的文本，特以此點加以說明。柳宗元47歲（819AD）而卒，短暫的一生，經歷簡單，仕宦生活三部曲，在朝為官、永州司馬、柳州刺史。雖只有三部曲，但落差很大，從少年得志的朝官，變為待罪南荒，形同拘囚的謫吏，其中的情感起伏，回環往復，化作一篇篇的詩作，藉此抒發心中的鬱悶。於是我們在作品中窺知了柳宗元貶謫後的心理反應。筆者認為柳宗元防衛機轉的啟動，是源於貶謫後的心理反應，這些心理反應來自於貶謫的政治懲罰。人的求生本能，會在潛意識中啟動防衛機轉，使自己在困境中有放鬆的時刻。貶謫---心理反應---防衛機轉形成柳宗元貶謫後內心世界的樣貌。

Liu Zhongyuan's psychological state as a result of his exile has been previously discussed by scholars countless times, but it does not appear that the steps of his actual defense mechanisms have been fully evaluated. This paper pertains to the deficiencies in this area, exploring what we believe to be the true driving force behind Liu Zhongyuan's poems in Yongzhou. Liu Zhongyuan was dead in fourty-seven years old (819AD). In his short life, his experiences were simple in three stages, being a government official in three different places at the imperial court, Yongzhou and Liuzhou. Though it only went on three stages, it was quiet different. From the young, ambitious government official to the banisher with accusation in the south. Amid the changes in his life, he placed his feelings and expressed the depression through the poems. Then we could know his psychological reflection after the demotion in his political career by these poems.It is our strong belief that Liu's defense mechanisms stem from the psychological reaction to his exile, his own method of coping with the situation. Human survival instinct begins with ubconscious defense mechanisms, especially in times of trouble. In those moments, there are fleeting instances of relaxation. Psychological reactions and defense mechanisms are all formed in the inner world of the Liu Zhongyuan's mind as a response to exile.