The denial phase in the grieving process can be an uncomfortable time, and it’s essential to recognise the signs that you may be stuck in denial. If you’re feeling detached from your emotions and unable to accept what has happened, ask yourself if any of these other signs apply to you. 10 Signs That You’re In The Denial Phase

1) You don’t want to deal with your problem

If you try to avoid your problem, that’s a sign of denial. If you’ve never dealt with it and you don’t know how to start, seek out professional help as soon as possible.

Failing to face up to your problem is just another way of avoiding dealing with it altogether—and that will only make things worse in the long run.

2) Anything that contradicts your denial is ignored

Do friends and family say you’ve changed since you got together with your partner? They don’t understand our love.

Someone tells you that your addiction is going to kill you, and it doesn’t scare you into quitting? It’s not that bad.

Any other warning signs are passed off as being someone else’s problem. Whatever is happening in your life isn’t happening to you.

Instead, whatever’s happening to or around you is always someone else’s fault.

3) The world is black and white

When you’re in denial, things are always either good or bad. They’re never anything in between.

If someone makes a mistake, it means they can’t do their job properly; if someone does something well, it means they’re highly competent.

It also tends to lead people to think in absolute terms—always, never, every time, and everywhere.

4) People who contradict you are wrong

One of our main goals when we deny an issue is to prove others wrong. So if someone confronts us with facts that contradict what we’re saying, it can be hurtful because we feel like they’re picking a fight or attacking us.

It’s often difficult for people in denial to have a calm conversation about their problem because they feel attacked and defenceless.

5) Feeling in Shock

Shock is an all-too-common reaction to a diagnosis of cancer. As you enter denial, you may feel numb and disconnected from reality, as if your world has slipped into a haze. You may have trouble sleeping and feel exhausted.

It’s essential to recognise that shock is a natural stage of healing and to pass through it as quickly as possible. By doing so, you can begin to focus on the next steps, such as exploring treatment options or reaching out to family members and friends for support.

6) You blame yourself for what’s going on

If your spouse is being verbally or physically abusive, you may first want to take on the blame for what\’s going on. This is an early phase of denial and self-blame that helps people who are abusing others to feel better about themselves. Your partner may also shift all blame for their actions onto you and accuse you of making them behave in such a way.

7) There’s always an excuse why you can’t fix it

I struggle to lose weight because I work long hours, don’t have enough money, and often eat too much fast food. I can’t quit smoking because I don’t want to be a quitter, and I can’t get out of debt because my financial advisor got me into it.

There\’s always an excuse why you are in denial of what is happening around you. When things happen that are uncomfortable to face or admit, we go into a phase of denial.

8) Other people can fix your problem, but you can’t

People will say many things to try and get you out of your denial phase, from You need help to What\’s wrong with you?. Avoid these negative thoughts. Don’t believe that it is anybody else’s fault but yours.

Any suggestions other people give are just part of their denial phase. They can’t possibly understand what you’re going through, so it’s best to ignore them. If they suggest any treatment or care for your problem, consider that they might not be well-intentioned.

9) Acknowledging the problem doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you

Accepting that you have a problem and your drinking is causing harm to you and those around you is an essential first step in overcoming it. If you are facing legal troubles, health issues, relationship problems, or difficulties at work or school, it’s time to address them.

Read more: Begging Phase Explained- It’s Not What You Think.

At these points, even if nobody has directly accused you of drinking too much, accepting there’s a problem doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you—it just means that it’s time to move forward toward recovery.

10) Any advice offered by others is rejected

A person in denial doesn’t want to hear that something is wrong. If a therapist, counsellor or friend tries to talk to them about it, they won’t listen. It doesn’t matter what anyone says because they are still in denial. They are aware that nothing is wrong and everything is normal in their current situation, despite evidence to the contrary.