Episode 36 – Denial – How Can We Fix Ourselves If We Don’t Even Realize We’re Broken?
Nuggets from this Episode of the Podcast
- “Denial is when you tell yourself there isn’t a problem, but there is a problem”.
- Denial is a useful defense mechanism when it protects us from overwhelming pain, but this unconscious process becomes destructive when it is hijacked to protect an addiction.
- “Almost everyone” who comes to rehab is still dealing with at least some level of denial.
- It is difficult to recognize self-deception (denial) without the help of others.
- The best way for family and friends to help a loved one to escape denial is to avoid enabling the drug abuse (i.e. protecting the loved one from the negative consequences of addiction).
A conversation between Henk Nagel and Paul Garrigan
Addiction is sometimes described as the “disease that convinces you that you don’t have it”. In this episode of the podcast, our head counsellor Henk discusses the challenge of denial and how we can begin to overcome it.
Please also check out our recent blog post on denial in which we discuss among other things how you can help a loved one who is caught up in denial.
Let’s focus on our latest podcast though: You will find the media player and a list of some of the topics covered in the show in the section below. Enjoy!
Hope Mindful Compassion Show – Episode 36
Topics covered in this week’s show include:
- What is the connection between denial and addiction?
- Can this defense mechanism ever be helpful?
- How can substance abuse trigger self-deception?
- Does denial happen suddenly or is it something that develops over time?
- Is denial the same as a lack of knowledge?
- Are there different types of denial?
- What are the symptoms of this type of self-deception?
- Is defensiveness the same as denial?
- Are clients who come to rehab usually still dealing with self-deception?
- Can rehab help clients overcome denial?
- How can we help clients overcome self-deception in rehab?
- What is the key factor in overcoming denial?
- Is 30 days in rehab enough to escape denial?
- Would it be a realistic to expect clients to leave rehab free of denial?
- Is it possible to wake up to self-deception suddenly or does it take time?
- Can addiction denial return following rehab?
- How can we prevent ourselves from falling back into self-deception after rehab?
- How can family and friends help those of us caught in denial?
You can also listen to the podcast on iTunes
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