Denial

Denial is a defense mechanism, a psychological process where a person refuses to accept the reality of something, often a painful truth or experience. This can manifest as ignoring facts, downplaying the severity of a situation, or behaving as if a problem doesn't exist. It serves to protect the individual from overwhelming emotions or anxieties, but can also hinder personal growth, problem-solving, and effective coping strategies. The degree of denial can vary, ranging from a fleeting refusal to accept a specific piece of information to a more pervasive state of disconnection from reality.

Denial meaning with examples

• After receiving a terminal diagnosis, she was in denial, refusing to discuss treatment options and continuing to plan for the future as if nothing was wrong. This made it difficult for her family to provide the necessary support. Eventually they had to hire a medical social worker to help talk to her, because it made her family sad.
• The addicted man was in denial about his alcohol use, insisting he could stop anytime and that it wasn't affecting his job or relationships, even though all the evidence proved otherwise. His girlfriend left him after several months.
• He was in complete denial when his company announced mass layoffs, convinced he would be spared despite his poor performance reviews. He only knew of a few cases where people were retained. Now he has to look for a job.
• She lived in denial about her child's behavioral problems, blaming teachers and other children instead of acknowledging the possibility of a deeper issue. This delayed a proper diagnosis by months or years.
• The government remained in denial about the impending economic crisis, downplaying warning signs until the situation reached a critical stage. The banks ended up failing the following year.