Denial is a natural and justifiable and default response in many situations, for example; when we are accused of something or when we need time to consider an offer, the first reaction is to reject the prospect as a defence mechanism that buys time to consider the options.
To avoid anxiety and emotional pain or to make ourselves “acceptable” to others, we employ defence mechanisms, which are unconscious forms of self-deception. Denial is linked to other forms of defence. These include projection, which is the refusal to accept responsibility for thoughts, feelings, and actions by attributing them to someone else, and repression, which is the banning of stressful things from our memories.
At times we also have to deny negative ideas about ourselves to maintain a foothold on aspects of our personality like self-worth or self-esteem.
In day-to-day life, we frequently encounter denial as a retort to something that is not true, does not exist, did not happen, or is not allowed. Though we may ask why it is denied and further challenge it, we more often tend towards tagging denial as valid or faulty judgement against our own belief system. This means that we do not need to give much thought to the deeper scenario and are able to psycologically dismiss it’s relevance.
When we do ask people why they deny something that is blatantly obvious, they usually offer superficial excuses or divert to conceal the discrepancy. The frequency and repetitive nature of this can lead us to ignore hazy denials without further thought and this is especcially the case with denials that surround addiction. In modern life, enquiries about incidents which are denied can reveal many important facts, but we usually only look for tangible facts. Delving into deeper mental issues is not a practical option when building a case against someone. We present denial as a plain and simple malicious effort to conceal the truth and we choose to ignore any deeper foundation for it.
We are so conditioned by frequent encounters with denial, that we become inured to it. On top of that, we do not have the professional knowledge, and often lack the time, to properly deal with the complexities of emotional disturbances that lead to instances of false denial.
In psychotherapy, denial is afforded the significance and deeper analysis that it deserves. It is a proven fact that denial is a common response among victims of substance abuse. It ranges from an outright refusal to admit the problem, to partial acceptance and delusional promises of self-control.
Examples of denial
There are different forms of denial. The most common examples are:
- Refusal to comply with or satisfy a request.
- Refusal to admit the truth or reality of unpleasant things.
- Refusal to admit the truth or reality of positive things.
- The assertion that a statement, allegation or proposal is false.
- Refusal of things needed, requested, demanded, desired.
- Rejection of things needed, demanded, requested, desired.
- Reducing what is needed, demanded, requested, and desired.
- A belief created and exists in the imagination only.
- Reluctance to accept that something unpleasant is true.
- Unconsciously disallowing intolerable thoughts and realities.
Professional help with denial in treating substance use disorder patients
Denial is the most common defence used by substance use disorder patients. It may seem like a simple defence to overcome, but when you talk to trained mental professionals, you realise that it is far more complex than you think. If it were easy, it would not be such a big issue for ordinary people who want to help people with mental health issues. They battle it for years, and sometimes they never conquer it.
People who try to help, find that normal attempts to persuade abusers end in unresolved arguments. After a while, people get tired of the fighting. They give up and desert the abuser, but people close to the abuser retain the scars because they did not obtain closure.
If an intervener calls on a professional, experienced substance use disorder therapist for help, they can avoid an unnecessarily long and anguished, hit-and-miss process. In South Africa, we are blessed with highly competent therapists and rehabilitation centres where this issue is treated on a daily basis.
Trying to use common sense, logic, random advice and other self-help efforts rarely succeed. The best option is to contact a therapist in person. When you consider all the emotional and material consequences of a drawn-out DIY process, there is no other option.
Features of denial in addictions
Denial occurs frequently, especially in people who are battling addictive behaviours. Nobody wants to admit they have an addiction to alcohol, drugs, or gambling because doing so allows them to distort the truth to look better. A person in denial may engage in a variety of actions, such as:
- Minimizing: If you mention your addiction, the other person might act as if you’re exaggerating or blowing everything out of proportion. It’s not that bad, they might say, or people do a lot more than I do.
- Rationalization: Many addicts will justify their behaviour by claiming they are under stress and require some help getting through, or that they deserve a reward for their dedication.
- Self-deception: This is a destructive form of denial in which a person persuades themselves that circumstances aren’t as dire as they actually are.
Denial is a strategy used by addicts to keep engaging in their addictive habits. Destructive consequences, such as health problems and damaged relationships, can result from persistent denial.
Unfortunately, getting past denial is not always simple. Before they could start to confront the truth of their problems, it was frequently believed that addicts would have to “hit rock bottom.” This gave the individual the chance to start accepting the situation, looking for assistance, and moving on. But now that we know how to do it, we can step in before the individual reaches this point of despair.
Dealing With Denial
There are additional techniques that can assist in ending denial by emphasising reality, such as
- Counseling:Addiction therapists can assist clients in confronting their issues.
- Consequences: Addiction can have negative consequences that can be a big wake-up call, like emptying a bank account, ending a relationship, or losing a job.
- Education: Many people simply aren’t aware that they are addicted, but by reading up on various addictions, they may be able to identify certain behaviours in themselves.
People can use denial as a coping strategy to excuse or explain their addiction but it doesent serve them in the long run. A person struggling with addiction can take the first crucial steps toward recovery with the help of therapy and support.
Please Note: Self-diagnosis and recuperation techniques based on help and advice gathered from the web can be confusing or inaccurate. If you believe you might be struggling with a related issue, always get in touch with a certified therapist for individual insights specific to your circumstances.
The Johannesburg Recovery Retreat
Thanks for visiting Recovery Direct’s website. Johannesburg’s number one therapy centre for chemical-related disorders and behavioural disorder assistance such as common eating disorders, gambling and sex addiction. The governing operators of substance addiction and self-destructive routines are normally rooted in distress and traumatic events faced often in physical form or emotionally. Our professional led CPTSD recovery centre works by learning about your different requirements and allowing you to establish the best techniques to move on. Thank you for checking out this guide. Our team really hope you found something of benefit and merit from the information.
