Denial Tips

Minimizing as a form of denial

Minimizing is a form of denying a problem in that the individual will admit to a problem, but discounts its seriousness. Examples:
"I drink, but I don't do drugs."
"I use drugs, but I get up and go to work everyday, so I don't have problem."

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Rationalizing

Rationalizing and Justifying is simply making excuses to avoid taking responsibility for self.
Examples:

"I worked hard all week and deserve to party on Friday."
"They owed me money and wouldn't pay, so I had the right to take his tools in payment."

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Diversion as a form of Denial.

Drug users, abusers, and addicts avoid being cornered about their behavior, their activities, and their feelings. Diversion is when the addict shifts attention from self onto the misbehavior of others. By shifting the focus of attention, the addict is temporarily "safe." Making someone feel guilty is one of the most common diversion tactics.

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A Definition of Denial

People in addiction tell lies. It is necessary to conceal and maintain their habit. Sometimes though, they believe their lies to be the truth, even when everyone else knows differently. This denial allows the addict to do many of the hurtful things they do.

DENIAL--Don't Even kNow I Am Lying.

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Forms of Denial

Denial has several forms. Any one or all of these may be utilized by an individual.

1. Outright Denial--"I have no problems" type of thinking.
2. Minimizing--Admitting a problem, but discounting its seriousness.
3. Hostility--Defending self with anger against those who claim the individual has a problem; becoming angry or making threats
4. Blaming--Blaming other people for circumstances and problems.
5. Rationalizing--making excuses
6. Intellectualizing--analyzing the problem, looking for causes, while avoiding personal responsibility.
7. Diversion--changing the subject or dodging issues.

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Anger, Hostility as a form of Denial

Hostility pushes people away and makes the angry person feel strong and powerful. It is a very effective method of avoiding being asked or having to answer questions. Most angry people do not question themselves or their motives, but are convinced that they are justified in all their actions. This denial technique is often used in conjunction with blaming, diversion, and rationalizing.

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Blaming as a form of denial

Blaming other people for an individual's problems is almost a societal epidemic, and the addict is an expert. No matter the situation or what has happened, it is always someone else's fault. By blaming others, the addict avoids all personal responsibility and feels justified in behaving however s/he chooses.

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How is intellualizing a form of denial?

Intelligent people use their "smarts" to avoid taking responsibility for themselves and the decisions that they make. They spend a lot of time analyzing themselves, other people, and the world around them. They use this "thinking about the problem" as a way of "looking for solutions," while not actually taking any true personal responsibility or steps toward change.

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Denial's role in addiction

People in addiction lie, con, manipulate, and steal. To avoid being arrested, caught, stopped, harassed, lectured, thought poorly of, they have to maintain a front of normalcy. But addiction is far from normal, and is powerful enough to cause the addict to break his own moral code. In order to cope with the guilt, shame, self-blame, the addict must lie, not only to others, but also to himself. This lying is called Denial.

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