Types of Denial

We receive countless calls and emails from friends and loved ones who are worried that addiction is taking over.

One of the first steps to addressing addiction, be it alcohol, drugs, food or gambling, is to have a firm understanding of behavior.

You know their behavior better than anyone. How has their character or behavior changed over time?

This may be about getting to know their new behavior better, knowing who else is playing a supporting role in the addiction or in knowing what can or should be done to minimize or take control of the situation.

We spend a lot of time and energy talking about common signs of addiction, from social behavior to health and physical signs. Today I want to talk about a very specific and very common behavioral sign, Denial.

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The Definition of Denial: de·ni·al noun – (1) : an unconscious defense mechanism used to avoid, reduce or prevent anxiety when feeling threatened (2) : not letting reality in

Top 10 Common Types of Denial

1-Simple Denial

“I don’t have a problem”

2-Defiance

“I have a right to drink”

3-Comparing

“I don’t drink as much as some of my friends”

4-Minimizing

“My drinking isn’t that bad”

5-Rationalizing

“It’s OK because it was my Birthday”

6-Scapegoat

“You would drink too if you had my responsibilities”

7-Justifying

“I’m not hurting anyone but myself”

8-Grandiosity

“I can do this on my own”

9-Joking

“That reminds me of this one time I drank too much”

10-Avoiding

“I’m an adult, I can make my own decisions”