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Refusing to Face the Facts -- Denial and
Health
Newswise — Denial is a common response to a
stressful situation. It can be an important
coping and defense mechanism. But it also
can delay the appropriate response to
circumstances that require action and
change. Mayo Clinic
Women’s HealthSource discusses how denial
can help and how it can be a roadblock to
good health.
Denial in its broadest sense means refusing
to acknowledge painful or overwhelming
external circumstances, avoiding the facts
or minimizing the consequences.
Denial -- or even healthy skepticism -- can
help patients withhold judgment until all
the facts are in. It prevents obsession with
minor aches and pains. A cough does not mean
pneumonia until it’s properly diagnosed by a
doctor.
When patients hear bad health news, denying
or suppressing it can offer needed time to
come to grips with challenges ahead.
Gradually adjusting to major changes can
lead to better decisions in the long run.
This gradual adjustment is referred to as an
adaptive response.
But denial that prevents patients from
seeking treatment or leads to misuse of
alcohol or drugs becomes a maladaptive or
harmful response. A woman who finds a lump
in her breast and ignores it misses the
benefit of an early diagnosis and best
chance for a cure. Denying the consequences
of smoking or staying in an abusive
relationship can jeopardize long-term
health.
It all comes down to finding a healthy
balance. When faced with an overwhelming
turn of events, people can benefit from
taking some time to adjust. But that doesn’t
change the facts of the situation. A mental
health professional can help those stuck in
denial find healthy ways of coping that will
sustain overall health and well-being.
