Lets Talk About Denial: not a river in Egypt :: essays research papers

defence force, the question for this weeks watchword, is unfortunately not a river in Jordan. turn not a river, it is a characteristic that at times seems to be as resistant to change as the most torrent watercourse. Denial has been depict as many things in many ways by many people and still I find the Websters lexicon definition of denial to be the most meaningful and accuratean affirmation that an allegation is falsedisbelief in the existence or earthly concern of a thingself-denialand the reduction of anxiety by the unconscious exclusion from the mind of intolerable thoughts, feelings, or facts (1977).The readings and following class discussion illuminated just how varied and vast denial can transparent itself, especially with alcoholics and addicts. The discussion concluded that denial may be noticeable in the form of 1) an individual not being able to take to what is in front of him 2) a coping mechanism to deal with facts as presented or 3) the inability to see cons equences of ones behavior. Also establish on the class discussion, things a counselor can look for to descry if a person is in denial are 1) if they consistently fell or avoid scheduled sessions, or while in sessions they continually change the subject 2) if clients appear to reject logic or reason 3) clients demonstrate incongruence, that is their non-verbal expression and actions are inconsistent with what they say and 4) clients demonstrate the conglomerate defense mechanisms associated with alcoholism, addiction, and denial. These defense mechanisms can be in the form of projection, (I dont have a problem you have a problem.) rationalization, (It helps me relax/concentrate/forget or Ill stop as soon as the pressure lets up) justification, (Everyone I know does it) downsizing or repression, (forcing down memories of using behavior and negative consequences as a result of that use and behavior) and one that sometimes gets overlooked, geographic escapes (my life is hard but itll get better if I move to another place.)The text also offered some useful information in understanding the phenomenon of denial. On page 30 of the text Assessment of Addictive Behavior, Tarter, Alterman, & Edwards (1985) Tarter & Edwards (1986) Tarter, Hegedus, Goldstein Shelly, & Alterman (1984) suggest that neuropsychological deficits among alcoholics, particularly deficits in accurately perceiving internal cues of physiological arousal and emotion and in appraising the significance of environmental events, may underlie what has been described as alcoholic denial (cited in Donovan & Marlatt 1998).