The process of, “denial”, can manifest itself in a variety of ways and ranges from calculated-lying to blackouts to euphoric recall to avoidance of reality. As these stages are fairly complex, it is necessary to address them individually in order to get the best understanding.
People suffering from addictions will often lie in order to continue to indulge in their habits, a problem which can be exacerbated by alcohol or drug-induced amnesia or black-outs – in which the addict is unable to recall the events connected to certain episodes and the circumstances which surround them. Therefore, if drug or alcohol use has resulted in an event that has been problematic – the inability to recall the actual nature of the problems can lead to further distortion and manipulation of the truth. The tendency for truth to be distorted can also lead to a denial-stage, known as euphoric-recall, in which the addict is selective about experiences with substances they are addicted to, and generally recalls only the positive ones.
“Denial”, can also result in a detrimental effect on intimate relationships, as the addict will refuse to take on-board criticism or advice on how to curb their habits, by suggesting that those who criticise are being un-fair or inaccurate in their assessment of the situation. A failure to recognise the severity and frequency of bad habits can also be a significant problem, especially when, as with alcohol – it is legitimised and to an extent normalised by mainstream culture. For instance, thousands, if not millions of people, get drunk in the UK on a Friday night, so why shouldn’t the addict?
Finally, stigma is another important factor in, “denial”. As the problems experienced by an addict are regularly stereotyped and associated with improper and on occasions, criminal conduct by the media – people often become hesitant about admitting to their addictions.