Denial and Acceptance – Episode 253

Did you admit to yourself or others the presence of alcoholism in your life? Why not? What happened when you broke through your denial into acceptance? * What is it? * Do we have to be somehow aware of a problem to be in denial? * Definition from Merriam-Webster: * psychology : a defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality * — in denial: refusing to admit the truth or reality of something unpleasant; a patient in denial about his health problems * Withholding from someone else but more especially from ourselves * How did we experience it in our lives? * In our alcoholic situations. * With aging parents. * With our own health. * What it the relationship between denial and admitting? * We probably have some form of awareness of a problem in order to deny it * We must admit a problem exists to start to move out of denial. * What tools have we found to combat it? * “3 As”: awareness, acceptance, (alternatives,) action. * The Steps themselves. * Self-awareness (Steps 4 and 10) * Listening to my inner voice / gut * Support of a Higher Power (Steps 2, 3, 6, 7, 11) * Honesty and Courage * Compassion * How is our life better when we accept reality on its own terms? * Serenity * Freedom * Accurate perception of myself, becoming the person I want to be * Catch slips earlier * Loss of fear Readings on denial How Alanon Works, Chapter Five, Pages 21 and 22 Hope for Today – pages 123 and 138 (May 2, May 17) “Our sight, once clouded and confused, will clear and we will be able to perceive reality and recognize truth.” From Survival to Recovery page 267, The Promises of Alanon – in Chapter “Joy is our Birthright” Join our conversation Please call us at 734-707-8795 or email [email protected] with your questions or experience, strength and hope. Or just leave a comment right here. Music from the show Anna Graceman: Living in Denial DiamondLyn: Self-Awareness Rap (to the music of Lauryn Hill’s Lost One) Pam Tillis: Cleopatra, Queen of Denial