The Different Form Of Denial: Triggers & Psychology
In this essay, we will look at the various types of denial, its roots in trauma response, what causes it and the tremendous psychological and behavioural impacts it may have on individuals.
What it means to be in denial?
Denial definition is refusing to admit the truth or reality of something unpleasant. For exemple, a patient can be in denial about his health problems. A denial is a refusal and often means a refusal to believe or accept something as the truth.
What is the psychology of denial?
Denial is a psychological phenomena that many people experience at some point in their life. It is a defence system that assists us in dealing with overwhelming emotions and events to avoid uncomfortable realities (such as grief), anxiety, or truths or a means of coping with distressing or painful situations, unpleasant feelings, or traumatic events.
How does denial affect a person?
Though denial can provide temporary relief from painful realities, over time, it tends to compound mental health issues. It can escalate levels of stress and anxiety by preventing the individual from confronting and addressing the source of these feelings- and even lead to depression or suppression of authentic self.
Denial occurs without realizing it is occurring. Lying is intentional and willful; Denial is a form of massive self delusion. It affects not only individuals, but in the form of “group-think” can recklessly take over families and entire groups.
Denial of the victim or survivor
Denial manifests itself in numerous forms, each serving a distinct function in protecting us from emotional distress: Human need attachment and authenticity: In dysfunctional family or environment, we often sacrifice one in order to ‘ receive’ the other. People, children sometimes suppress emotions if not part of themselves in order to fit in a restricted setting, prohibiting the expressions of your feelings. Part of the healing process is recognising our triggers and integrating that we have grown to partly become the independent, stable, adult figure we once needed : Our present wellbeing is more important than our past attachment and our reality has evolved.
Denial as a Trauma Response: As a result of trauma, denial frequently forms as a protective screen against overpowering emotions. Trauma can be defined as an incident, a set of experiences, or even ongoing situations that have a profound impact on an individual's psyche. Denial appear as a coping mechanism In order to overcome traumas, uncomfortable realities (such as grief), anxiety, or truths. The brain consciously or unconsciously cooperate by fragmenting reality; Suppressing, avoiding or distressing painful situations, unpleasant feelings, or traumatic experiences to prevent the expression of our traumas in an unsafe setting.
Simple Denial: The most fundamental type, in which people completely deny the presence of an unpleasant fact. Refusing to accept a terminal sickness diagnosis, for example.
Minimisation: is the process of acknowledging a problem but downplaying its seriousness or severity in order to relieve worry.
Deflecting personal responsibility: by attributing one's own bad ideas, feelings, or behaviours to others. In the face of trauma, regressing to a juvenile state, finding refuge in simpler, less stressful periods.
Compartmentalising: To avoid internal conflict, competing emotions or experiences into discrete mental compartments.
Denial is not a mental disorder; Yet denial is sometimes uncover alongside certain types of mental health conditions: For example, people who have substance abuse disorder, alcohol use disorder and narcissistic personality disorder, may use denial as a defense mechanism to avoid facing the reality of their condition.
However, people often mistakenly believe that anosognosia is denial.
Is denial a symptom of PTSD?
Denial/ Numbing Stage. Not everyone who experiences PTSD experiences the denial or numbing stage. In this stage, people suffering from PTSD will do their best to protect or numb themselves through denial that the event occurred.
What are the stages after denial?
The five stages – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance – are often talked about as if they happen in order, moving from one stage to the other.
How do you help someone in denial?
Let Them Know You're There for Them.
Don't Try to Force Them to Vent to You.
Accept That You Can't “Cure” Them.
Let them take their time to process
Guide them toward expert help
Ask Them What They need.
Do Things With Them That Will Improve Their Symptoms. ...
Find Support for Yourself.
Denial Triggers include:
When a traumatic incident challenges one's self-concept or beliefs, denial might assist preserve a sense of reality or structure.
Survival Mechanism: Denial can work as a survival instinct, allowing people to survive in the face of adversity.
Fear of Facing suffering: Facing the emotional suffering connected with trauma can be frightening, leading to denial as a means of avoiding that pain.
Psychological and Behavioural Effects: Denial has significant psychological and behavioural consequences:
Coping Mechanism: Denial aids in the management of discomfort, making it an important coping strategy.
Dissociation: Individuals may disconnect from their own feelings, resulting in emotional numbness and alienation from reality.
Personality Suppression: Constant denial can lead to the suppression of one's actual self in order to keep the illusion alive.
Personality Suppression: Constant denial can lead to the suppression of one's actual self in order to sustain the denial-created illusion.
Neglecting Personal Needs: Denial can create the mistaken impression that external relationships or structures are being preserved, frequently at the price of one's health and well-being.
Sickness Development: Because of the suppression of emotions and stress, chronic denial can show as physical and mental health difficulties.
Understanding denial is critical to unravelling the intricate web of human psychology. It is a valuable survival technique since it often arises from the need to protect ourselves from uncomfortable truths. It is, nevertheless, critical to recognise when denial becomes a hindrance rather than a benefit. Addressing denial and the traumatic memories that underpin it can be a transformative path towards healing and self-acceptance. Individuals can progressively recover their genuine selves, free of the burden of denial, in this way.
The Denial of the abuser by Bill Herring
If you’ve ever been significantly mistreated by someone (and who hasn’t?) you may decide at some point to confront that person. This can be an important step to take in order to reclaim the sense of personal power you may have felt you lost through their actions. Examples can range from a situation as serious as confronting a parent who abused you as a child to letting a fake friend who betrayed you.
However, in any such confrontation it’s important that you not set yourself up for further damage to your self-esteem depending on how the other person responds. This is where knowing about the “four denials of responsibility” can be very useful. These four denials are typical responses that you may get from someone you confront for past inappropriate behavior. They are common barriers that prevent people from fully accepting responsibility for their actions. I think I remember first coming upon this concept in the book “The Courage To Heal” by Ellen Bass and Laura Davis. If you are not prepared for these denials you may feel frustrated rather than relieved after your confrontation.
(1) The first denial is the “denial of fact”. This is the person’s refusal to acknowledge that an inappropriate act even occurred. He or she is likely to say such things as “it never happened, you’re wrong, your allegation is not true.” So the first level of acceptance is for the person to acknowledge that the problem is a real one.
(2) The second denial is “denial of impact”. This is the attempt by the person you confront to minimize the importance of the event you are bringing to their attention. At this stage a person is likely to make statements such as “it’s no big deal”, “don’t be so sensitive”, “you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.” These are all examples of how a person may downplay the importance of the problem he or she caused. The second level of acceptance is for the person to admit that the problem or infraction not only exists but that it is serious.
(3) The third denial is “denial of accountability”. This is an attempt to avoid responsibility for a misdeed through some sort of explanation that the circumstance was somehow out of the person’s control. “I was stressed out”, “I had too much to drink”, “I was in a bad mood” are all examples of attempts to deny responsibility for the problem. Sometimes the person will even try to say you brought the damage on yourself, i.e. “You made me hit you”. The third level of acceptance is for the person to assume full responsibility for the inappropriate action.
(4) The last type of denial is what I call “denial of hope.” It takes the form of refusing to acknowledge the willingness to do the work to improve the situation. “That was in the past so there’s no point in bringing it up”, “that’s just the way I am”, “nobody’s perfect” are all examples of how a person can try to duck responsibility for making things better. The fourth level of acceptance is for the person to actively demonstrate remorse and a desire to heal through words and actions.
To summarize, denial of fact says that the offense in question never happened, denial of impact trivializes the consequences of the inappropriate behavior, denial of responsibility attempts to justify or excuse the behavior, and denial of hope shows that the person is unwilling to take active steps to make things better.