Brain disorders like addiction cause compulsive activities despite the damage, often involved in denial in addiction. Many connect addiction with drug or alcohol usage. However, it can also include gambling, obsessive sexual activity, and substance abuse. Millions of Americans have substance use disorders, and drug overdose deaths are at historic highs. Additionally, alcohol-related deaths are rising. Gambling disorder affects millions, and OCD affects 1% of adults. These numbers emphasize the need for comprehensive addiction treatment and prevention.
Denial is a standard part of addiction. People who are addicted may hide their behavior because they feel ashamed, afraid of being judged, or think they can control it. This rejection can keep people from getting help and care.
Denial of addiction is a complicated psychological defense strategy that people use to say they don’t use drugs or are addicted to them. It helps addicts keep up their bad habits and makes healing harder. To beat addiction and stay sober, you have to understand and deal with denial.
What is Denial in Addiction?
Denial of Addiction involves denying one’s substance misuse problem. This can take several forms:
- Reducing substance use.
- Justifying addiction.
- Blaming others for addiction.
- Avoiding addiction discussions.
- Neglecting substance abuse’s harms.
Denial is common in addicts owing to shame, fear of judgment, and the overwhelming nature of addiction. Denial protects the individual from facing the truth and the need for change.
Denial must be addressed first to begin rehabilitation. Helping people understand their addiction and seek help demands a sympathetic and non-judgmental attitude. Therapy, support groups, and interventions can help overcome denial and start recovery.
Causes Of Denial
The following factors can lead to the development of addictive behaviors: These factors can lead to the development of Denial in addiction behavior:
- Stressful situations
- Traumatic events
- Family history
There are changes in the brain’s reward system and logic board of brain, and these might result in impulsiveness of the person.
Investigating the genetic factors can be so good in understanding how alleles will affect the development of addiction. Heritability rates could be obtained from a range between 50% and more in families of alcoholism and opioid use.
Environmental factors, which may include social model, lack of coping, or accessibility, highly increase the probability of one becoming addicted.
Sign And Symptoms of denial in Addiction
Denial is usually the most common defense, which is employed by individuals with the addiction problem to shield them from their real condition This is wherein early denial signs and symptoms are identified, thus it helps to tell when a person is already having difficulty managing addiction.
Here are some common behaviors and signs associated with denial in addiction:
1. Minimization
People may pretend that their substance dependency is being very moderate or its adverse effects not so severe, respectively. Such as they might say, “I drink Friday nights only”, somehow getting drunk all weekend.
2. Rationalization
Those who are in denial are likely to be quick to offer plausible explanations or reasons for their conduct. They can rationalize the alcohol consumed like this: “I need a drink to unwind after a stressful day at work,” for instance.
3. Blame
The people may divert the responsibility (for their addiction) to others or come up with unrealistic reasons that are not true. A common thing is they say, “If my office is not too stressful, I won’t drink,” absolving themselves which is not true.
4. Avoidance
The big-headed individuals may feel it necessary to avoid the subject of their substance abuse and may get defensive when confronted with these problems. They may claim they are not around and look for changing subjects in conversation, or ignore any questions about their actions.
5. Justification
6. Lack of Awareness
Individuals like that may be totally clueless about the degree of their addiction to the benefits.
Stages Of Addiction Denial
Addiction related negativity is not a stable condition, so it remains faithful internally. The stages of change could be altered as aging could speed or slow the process; however, for either type of addict, the path could be somewhat different.
Stage One
People in the first stage of denial in addiction don’t think they have a drug or an alcohol problem, even though they feel worse as their habit is getting worse.
People with type B fail the self-awareness test and refuse to see what’s wrong or do anything about it. Type A people, on the other hand, accept the problem and know they need to change it, but they aren’t passionate about getting there, which is the cause of the problem, not some of the consequences they think it will have.
To move past stage one, the person with addiction must:
- Be taught and let them understand what substance use disorder is altogether.
- Acknowledge that their domain extends to this organism. My favorite part of living in an urban environment is its diversity.
- Acknowledge that lactose-intolerant constitutes total indifference, which is the only way since no other option exists.
Stage Two
Moving past the initial phase of denial usually involves rehabilitation. This is usually done in a recognized recovery clinic or outpatient program.
After the departure of drug addicts from the treatment center or as the Druggies called the ‘powerlessness’ of drugs, the solution to the problem is not completely provided once they leave it.
However, in the present situation of this narrative, many will neglect sobriety totally and will go on unguided. Hereby the person is thus back in the cycle of alcohol or drugs and under some circumstances is again using these substances, thus stopping him from addiction at its first stage.
A transition from stage two requires one to surrender to something greater and look up to a higher power, may it be a purpose, entity, or process beyond himself, to give up control of which parts he can attain through his willpower, and which ones he has to seek help from the higher power
Stage Three
Those people who have progressed to stage three have accepted that SUD is causing them problems and that they need a higher power but they are hesitant to follow all the prescribed steps necessary to be completely sober. This frequently becomes the case that despite all the odds they still volunteer to withstand triggers in various forms, whether caused by people, certain places, or expectations.
Usually, the participants in Horror Picture Three are destined to break down eventually; however, the key to sustainable recovery is the involvement of support groups and taking responsibility for the recovery journey as a life priority.
However, gains are made in areas of social as well as employment and relationships but while in the journey of recovery, one may need to back himself up and put up with sobriety than everything else.
Helping Someone Who is Suffering From Denial in Addiction
Denial of addiction can frustrate relatives and friends of addicts. There are some ways to help:
- Discuss concerns with the client and offer to assist them find and joining an addiction rehabilitation program if safe and comfortable.
- To change, one must be patient and willing to change. Support is available through resources, support groups, and professional aid for loved ones of individuals with alcohol or drug addiction.
- Medical detox, inpatient treatment, and peer support groups can be scary, but they can change a person’s life and recovery from alcohol or drug dependence.
Well of hope Denial in Addiction Services
Well of Hope can aid with addiction denial. Our method is customized for each client. Our supportive and empathetic setting allows individuals to address their denial and work through it with trained specialists.
Through therapy, counseling, and education, we help people overcome denial and live sober. Our goal is to give clients the tools and methods to sustain recovery. Contact Well of Hope Mental Health Center immediately if you need help with denial in addiction.
