Denial: The Primary Roadblock to Addiction Recovery

Getting a loved one to go to drug and alcohol rehab isn’t always easy. Some people may not be ready to admit that they have a problem, let alone spend 30 to 90 days in a rehab center. Denial is one of the main roadblocks that can keep a person from enrolling in addiction treatment and moving forward with their life.1 So what does this look like daily? How can we help our loved ones overcome their denial and accept the help they need to get better? Addicted and In Denial As a person on the outside, it may be difficult for you to understand how your loved one can deny their addiction and the problems it causes, especially when it is so obvious to everyone else around them. First of all, the thoughts of an addicted individual will not align with those of their loved ones because it is clouded by the substance abuse. Trauma or mood disorders could also be inhibiting their ability to think clearly and practice sound judgment. An addict may also hold certain attitudes and beliefs about his or her substance abuse that seem to be true, but are in fact, just lies. Some attitudes and beliefs your loved one may express are as follows: They just don’t care. Some addicts get to the point where they just don’t care about their lives or the damage they are inflicting upon themselves. They believe they are in complete control. Your loved one may believe that he or she can stop using drugs or alcohol whenever they want and it’s not an issue of control (or a lack thereof). They don’...
Source: Psych Central - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Tags: Addictions Alcoholism Caregivers Codependence Family Substance Abuse Denial Drug Abuse Empowerment recovery Substance Use Source Type: news