Signs That You Are in Denial: The Stages of Denial

Introduction

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, anxiety disorder is the most common mental health issue in the United States. People are more likely to prey on anxiety day by day. Some of them may have the worst life experiences (abuse), some may have biological issues (genes), or some are experiencing toxic relationships that lead to anxiety.

Everyone wants to cope with this adverse anxiety to welcome positive mental health but fails as they follow the wrong paths. Denial is one of them.

Denial can define as a defense mechanism that includes forgetting the reality of life or a specific situation to get rid of anxiety. People deploy defense mechanisms to recover and confront distressing emotions. In terms of denial, people ignore reality or try to deny the results of that actual situation. Let’s, find out more about denial, signs that you are in denial, stages of denial, and many other related aspects. Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic is here to help!

What is denial?

Denial is a defense mechanism introduced by the well-known psychoanalytic psychologist Freud, who defines it as refusing to accept the unpleasant realities of internal and external events (these events may include childhood memories, thoughts, or feelings).

The defense mechanism had introduced for valuable purposes as it lets you take some time to adjust yourself to these changing circumstances. These might be bitter or stressful for you because it’s hard to accept them, adapt, and move on.

Stages of denial

Denial is the first phase of grief before anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These help us accept reality and learn to live with it. However, not every person goes through all of these stages or follows a particular order. But these stages assisted in acknowledging problems and making you advance and equipped to confront life’s reality with loss.

Nevertheless, denial is not a healthy way to cope with anxiety as it prevents you from addressing problems and instead leads you toward suppression and ignoring that memory and thought. It is more likely to stop you from accepting the reality of getting the treatment that you need for yourself.

Signs that you are in denial

If you want to know that you are in denial, you must give yourself a reality check like you might find yourself feeling helpless or hopeless. In some cases, you know that there is something wrong that needs to be addressed, but you feel that nothing will work for you. Or sometimes, other people try to advise or offer help, but you pretend that you agree or give them a shut-up call by saying mind your own business.

Here are a few signs that indicate that you are someone who is using denial as a self-defense mechanism and may need to be recommended professional mental health services. Let’s have a look over them.

• You are refusing to address your problems.
• You are constantly blaming external forces or other people for causing problems.
• You are constantly blaming external forces or other people for causing problems.
• You decide to address the problems in the future. In other words, you are ignoring them.
• You prevent yourself from thinking about reality and problematic situations.
• You persist in the behavior despite negative results.

Examples of some denial situations

Denial is a widespread way for people to deal with anxiety, as some examples follow.

• Like after the death of a close one, a person may refuse to accept the bitter reality of the unexpected death of a loved one and refuse that any death has happened. It is also including the stages of grief.
• Someone may experience mental health problems, but now he might avoid thinking about it and not get treatment because they don’t want to face that criticism. Because he doesn’t have the social support and helps that they require, his condition may be severe over time.
• After breaking up with your girlfriend, you might refuse to think about it and find a way to others for your behavior. Suppose you might say, “I wouldn’t hurt if she hadn’t been there at that time. “By denying your action, you find a way to blame another person who has been hurt.
• After breaking up with your girlfriend, you might refuse to think about it and find a way to others for your behavior. Suppose you might say, “I wouldn’t hurt if she hadn’t been there at that time. “By denying your action, you find a way to blame another person who has been hurt.

Final Verdict

In a nutshell, denial is not always proved a negative step. When dealing with sudden and distressing situations, being in denial can offer your tiny space and allow you to accept the change and live with it unconsciously.

But denial also can be harmful to your mental health like if you deny your medical conditions and refuse to go to the doctor for treatment, the situation can worsen. So, it would help if you thought about why you are fearful about addressing your problems, understand the consequences, try to talk about your problems, and work on your distorted thoughts. Contact us if you need further assistance!