Codependency Addiction Treatment Grief, Loss

The Denial Stage of Grief and Loss

What the Denial Stage of Grief and Loss is... Does... How to Move on

Denial and what is does:
Affects judgment
Is a characteristic of many diseases
Distorts the truth
Grows in strength as the disease progresses

Examples:
People with heart disease keep smoking
People with cancer or a lump deny going to a Dr.
Alcoholics keep drinking after five DUI's blaming the police

Denial is a natural defense system, present in everyone to some extent. Making excuses for the reason people do things is natural and normal, but must be overcome before healing codependency or the stages of grief and loss recovery can take place. Some common ways denial is present as a defense system are:

Rationalizing: I drink because I am under pressure.

Intellectualizing: Some physicians recommend alcohol for health

Blaming: Life is boring without alcohol

Minimize: I only overuse on holidays

Joking: I like making people laugh at me

Projecting: Find someone worse to compare yourself with

Generalizing: Everyone has bad habits

Denial is differs from lying in that a person in denial believes the lie to be true. Listening to others is the way to begin breaking denial

Personal questions to ask in order to reach the truth:
How much do I drink or use at a time?
How often do I drink or use?
What are the problems caused directly by alcohol or drugs in my life?
Do I live in codependency?
What is the harm I have brought to others by using?

Life Events that start with denial:
Death of loved one
Divorce
Loss of a job
Loss of a pet
Loss of a friend

Situations that start with denial:
Rejection
Betrayal
Breaking of a confidence