Tuesday, July 9, 2024

DENIAL: What Does Your Denial Look Like?

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 The DVOMB Core Competencies states that every person with a DV Offense MUST do the Following:

"E. Accepts full responsibility for actions

 1. Disclose Hx of abuse

 2. Stop denial and minimization

 3. Increase in self-disclosure over time

 4. Accept responsibility for impact of abuse on others

 5. Recognize abusive behavior unacceptable"

  What are REQUIREMENTS?

    A Genuine Response versus a Pretend Response

  Denial can be a majorly simple concept.  However, the webs of Denial that our minds construct can be quite complicated.  Today, we are discussing these questions: 

What is Denial: 

AI Suggests that “In psychology, denial is a defense mechanism that causes a person to refuse to acknowledge or recognize objective facts or experiences. It's an unconscious process that can help people cope with difficult situations that might otherwise make them feel afraid, ashamed, depressed, or worried.” (SOURCE.)

Psychology Today and Very Well Mind suggest that: “Denial is a type of defense mechanism that involves ignoring the reality of a situation to avoid anxiety. Defense mechanisms are strategies that people use to cope with distressing feelings. In the case of denial, it can involve not acknowledging reality or denying the consequences of that reality.” (SOURCE.)

Very Well Mind suggests that: “Denial is a type of defense mechanism that involves ignoring the reality of a situation to avoid anxiety. Defense mechanisms are strategies that people use to cope with distressing feelings. In the case of denial, it can involve not acknowledging reality or denying the consequences of that reality.” (SOURCE.)

Oxford Reference suggests that Denial is: “a psychological process in which an individual refuses to accept an aspect of reality despite robust evidence of this. It is seen particularly in dying patients who refuse to accept their impending death and in those who have problems with alcohol or drug dependency.” (SOURCE.)

 

In Social Work, “Denial is a type of defense mechanism that involves ignoring the reality of a situation to avoid anxiety. Defense mechanisms are strategies that people use to cope with distressing feelings. In the case of denial, it can involve not acknowledging reality or denying the consequences of that reality.”

 

Harvard Health Publishing suggests that Denial involves the following:

“What is denial?

In psychological terms, denial is a defense mechanism, a skillful tool the mind can employ when things get tough. "I see it as a protective barrier we have that we might or might not be aware of," Scholl says. "It keeps us safe. It also keeps us from looking at ourselves or addressing something around us and making a change."

 

You can be in denial about something you're not ready to admit or take on, or something that challenges deeply held beliefs.

 

Common triggers for denial can involve

 

abuse (mental, emotional, physical, verbal, sexual, financial, or other types of abuse)

alcohol in excess or other substance use, or substance use disorder

lifestyle or family issues

medical diagnoses

mental health issues

politics

smoking

unhealthy weight gain.

How does denial help us?

Denial can shield us from difficult emotions. Scholl says that might be helpful in the short term, and provide relief to people who don't have the bandwidth or ability to face a problem.

 

For example, maybe someone is unhappy in a relationship, but the thought of being alone is worse than the thought of being together. Or perhaps someone is burned out or overwhelmed, and lacks the energy or emotional capability for accepting what's happening. "Part of the person feels it's easier not to think about the situation, and lets it go because it feels like it's too much to handle right now," Scholl says.

 

How can denial hurt us?

In dangerous or unhealthy situations, denial can hurt us.

 

For example, keeping our eyes shut about the realities of a physical or mental illness can lead to serious health consequences. "We see a lot of teens with depression and substance use disorders, and some parents deny there are problems because they're afraid of what it means for the child. It comes from a place of worry," Scholl says. "But denying problems can hurt children and block them from making meaningful change."

 

Denial can also hurt when it involves addiction or abuse. Those problems affect everyone in a family, and can lead to unhealthy patterns that get passed down from one generation to the next.

 

Spotting behavior patterns that suggest denial

People in denial often exhibit certain behaviors. For example, they might

 

minimize or justify problems, issues, or unhealthy behaviors

avoid thinking about problems

avoid taking responsibility for unhealthy behaviors, or blame them on someone else

refuse to talk about certain issues, and get defensive when the subjects are brought up. 

Moving from denial toward meaningful change

Dealing with denial means first recognizing that it's occurring — which can be a challenge for anyone — and then addressing the underlying issue that's causing it.

 

If you recognize denial in yourself, Scholl advises that you reach out for help. Talk to someone close to you or get an outside opinion from a therapist, a spiritual counselor, your doctor, or a hotline number, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline if you're experiencing intimate partner violence. For addiction problems, make that first call to a substance use disorder hotline or recovery center, or try attending just one meeting of a 12-step program (such as Alcoholics Anonymous). In time, you can learn to face your fears or concerns, and develop a concrete plan to change.

 

Recognizing denial in others: Tread carefully

If you recognize denial in others and you'd like to point it out, tread very carefully. Seek guidance from experts before taking on a situation that could be dangerous to you or to the other person.

 

If the situation is not dangerous, be as compassionate as possible. "Have a warm and empathetic conversation in an environment without distractions," Scholl says. "Express your love and point out what you're seeing. Talk about how it affects you. And then give it time. You can't force anyone to change. All you can do is plant a seed."” (SOURCE.)

 

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