Addiction Denial Causes Problems
Addiction Denial Protects A Love and Trust Relationship
Questions? Contact Angie at Carter Counseling
If we go to the doctor because we are not feeling well and the diagnosis is diabetes, we take our medicine in order to feel better. If we spend too much money on “fun” things and can’t pay our bills, we cut back and get on a budget. If we don’t take our medicine, we can get sick. If we don’t pay our bills, we can get behind on our responsibilities. We know these can create a problem. We know what’s causing it and what to do about it.
When it comes to drinking and/or taking drugs, it is not that simple. Addiction denial is a very cunning and baffling phenomenon that distorts and skews reality. Simply put, denial does not allow the person to really see the problem. The person may really believe there is no problem, or if there is evidence they excuse it away by means of rationalizing, justifying, blaming, defocusing, or just minimizing the whole situation.
This, in turn, becomes a problem for family members or loved ones of the addicted person. They can slip into their own addiction denial by minimizing, covering up and enabling the individual. Or they may try to control the addict’s behavior by nagging, scolding, and threatening them. The more they engage in this effort, the more the dependent person seems to rebel and tries to prove everything is fine.
Why is this? It is because the dependent person has developed a relationship with alcohol/drugs. Two components of this relationship are trust and love. They like the way it makes them feel when they use or drink and it works every time, so they begin to trust it. Eventually that feeling of “liking it” can turn into “loving it” and the substance becomes the object of their affection.
When you try to tell the dependent person that their interactions with alcohol/drugs is harmful or causing a problem, they use denial in order to protect that relationship. They will often deny being in denial! The reason for that is because if they could see or understand the reality of the situation, they would have to do something about it.
But if the mind can create a state of addiction denial, the relationship can continue. Much like the person you may know who is involved with someone who is not healthy for them – what happens when you try to warn them about this “bad” person? Well, if the feelings are strong enough they will deny your reasoning and will think that you are just trying to break them up.
If the addiction denial remains intact and the relationship with the substance continues, main life areas can become negatively impacted. Problems at work or school can increase, money troubles, legal problems, conflicts and fights with family members, and sometimes physical and mental damages can occur. The addicted person will have difficulty in “seeing” how these problems are related to their usage.
If family members protect them from the pain of consequences as a result of their addiction, then the denial grows stronger. Many times addicts and alcoholics blame other people or circumstances. Rarely do they blame their woes on the object of their affection — alcohol or drugs.
Understanding Addiction Denial is Critical
What can be done about this problem of dependence and the addiction denial that goes with it? The first thing is to understand that the solution is a process that does not happen overnight. Awareness and education are key instruments to start the journey of recovery. Understanding addiction denial and how it works can aid in working through it toward reality. Learning about the disease concept of alcoholism and addiction can equip a person with the information needed in order to deal with a person who suffers from it.
Acquiring information from the internet, and talking to professionals or other individuals who have found a solution can be very beneficial. Support groups can be a vital part of the recovery process. What I hear most frequently is “I really thought I was the only one going through something like this.” It is the silence, lack of knowledge, and unwillingness to take action that allows the illness of addiction/alcoholism to flourish. Long-term recovery, which means not using or drinking for a significant length of time-or be negatively impacted by someone else’s use, is a very real and a very possible result for family members and addicts.
About the Author
Angie Carter, CRADC, SAP is a certified reciprocal alcohol and drug counselor and DOT certified Substance Abuse Professional. She is in private practice at Carter Counseling & Consulting Services. Angie sees local clients in the office and is also available for telephone coaching and/or consultation. Click here to contact Angie with appointment requests, questions, or feedback.
Thaw the Iceberg Series
Most Recent Posts
- About Don Carter MSW LCSW
- An Alternative to the Drama Triangle
- Step One-Together for Good
- Step Two – Together for Good
- Neuroplasticity and Sensory Processing
- Binaural Beat MP3
- More Enabling Behaviors: The Punishment and Forgiveness Cycle
- Mirror Neurons and Co-Regulation
- Heebs Law of Neuroplasticity & the Search for Identity
- Testimonials for Internet of the Mind
Thawing Childhood Abandonment Issues – Online Course
Request an Appointment With Don or Angie
