I think the greatest illusion we have is that denial protects us. It’s actually the biggest distortion and lie. In fact, staying asleep is what’s killing us.
Denial is defined by Merriam-Webster as refusal to admit the truth or reality of something. Sigmund Freud, way back in the 19th century postulated that denial is unconsciously choosing to push back on factual truths because to admit them would be too psychologically uncomfortable and require facing the unbearable.
Many people live in a state of denial and don’t even realize it. They also don’t realize how dangerous it can truly be.
We can’t protect ourselves and we can’t protect others in a state of denial.
Almost all of us have had experiences so uncomfortable or traumatizing that we do everything in our power to push the memories or feelings aside. Or maybe there is an everyday reality we live with that feels too impossible to cope with, so we pretend it doesn’t exist, and that dealing with it is not our responsibility.
That is denial.
The state of denial usually feels much more comfortable than confronting difficult feelings or circumstances…
Denial may feel easier, but it actually only intensifies whatever challenging feelings you are dealing with, making them more difficult to move on from.
-Brit