Denial as a Symptom of Alcohol Use Disorder

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSigns of DenialDevelopmentAs a Defense MechanismProtecting and RescuingSecondary Denial

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Signs of Denial

Development

As a Defense Mechanism

Protecting and Rescuing

Secondary Denial

People withalcohol use disorderalmost always refuse to admit the truth or reality of their condition in a phenomenon known as denial. A person withalcohol use disorderhas impaired insight into their condition, so it’s a common sign that can keep them from seeking treatment.Friends and family members can also become involved in denial.

Signs of Denial in Alcohol Use Disorder

Honesty is often the first thing to go in the course of alcohol use disorder.The lies take several forms of denial behavior.

Development of Denial

The person with alcohol use disorder covers up and denies the drinking because of feelings that there is something different or “wrong” about it. Somewhere inside, they realize that their drinking means more to them than they’re willing to admit.

Alcohol use disorder damages the brain, resulting in worsening denial and compromising insight regarding the illness.

A Defense Mechanism

As thedisease progressesand the drinking begins to cause serious problems, the denial likewise increases. Drinking sprees can create problems at work,relationshiplosses, or even arrest for driving while impaired, but the person denies alcohol’s role.

How Does Denial Affect Addiction?

Family and friends often cover for loved ones, doing the work that they don’t get done, paying the bills that they don’t pay, rescuing them from their scrapes with the law, and generally taking up the responsibilities they have abandoned.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

How to Know if You’re Enabling an Addict

Although drinking has placed the person in a helpless, dependent position, they might continue to believe they’re independent. That’s becausewell-meaning family, friends, co-workers, employers, clergymen, and counselors may have rescued them from their problems.

The roles theseenablersplay to “help” the person can be just as obsessive and harmful as the person’s drinking, which often is a subject of denial for loved ones.

With enablers in place, a person with alcohol use disorder is free to continue in the progression of the disease—until they hit bottom. Then, most people with the disorder finally admit to a problem. But if enablers always cushion the person’s falls, the person will never realize the severity of the problem. Online self-assessments can help you determine if you have been enabling a person with alcohol use disorder.

Signs You’re Enabling a Person With Alcohol Use Disorder and How to Stop

2 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dibartolo MC, Jarosinski JM.Alcohol Use Disorder in Older Adults: Challenges in Assessment and Treatment.Issues Ment Health Nurs.2017;38(1):25-32. doi:10.1080/01612840.2016.1257076Carvalho AF, Heilig M, Perez A, Probst C, Rehm J.Alcohol use disorders.Lancet.2019;394(10200):781-792. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31775-1Additional ReadingTracey J.The mind of the alcoholic.J Am Coll Dent.2007;74(4):18-23.Walvoort SJ, van der Heijden PT, Kessels RP, Egger JI.Measuring Illness Insight in Patients With Alcohol-Related Cognitive Dysfunction Using the Q8 Questionnaire: A Validation Study.Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2016;12:1609-1615. doi:10.2147/NDT.S104442.

2 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Dibartolo MC, Jarosinski JM.Alcohol Use Disorder in Older Adults: Challenges in Assessment and Treatment.Issues Ment Health Nurs.2017;38(1):25-32. doi:10.1080/01612840.2016.1257076Carvalho AF, Heilig M, Perez A, Probst C, Rehm J.Alcohol use disorders.Lancet.2019;394(10200):781-792. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31775-1Additional ReadingTracey J.The mind of the alcoholic.J Am Coll Dent.2007;74(4):18-23.Walvoort SJ, van der Heijden PT, Kessels RP, Egger JI.Measuring Illness Insight in Patients With Alcohol-Related Cognitive Dysfunction Using the Q8 Questionnaire: A Validation Study.Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2016;12:1609-1615. doi:10.2147/NDT.S104442.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Dibartolo MC, Jarosinski JM.Alcohol Use Disorder in Older Adults: Challenges in Assessment and Treatment.Issues Ment Health Nurs.2017;38(1):25-32. doi:10.1080/01612840.2016.1257076Carvalho AF, Heilig M, Perez A, Probst C, Rehm J.Alcohol use disorders.Lancet.2019;394(10200):781-792. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31775-1

Dibartolo MC, Jarosinski JM.Alcohol Use Disorder in Older Adults: Challenges in Assessment and Treatment.Issues Ment Health Nurs.2017;38(1):25-32. doi:10.1080/01612840.2016.1257076

Carvalho AF, Heilig M, Perez A, Probst C, Rehm J.Alcohol use disorders.Lancet.2019;394(10200):781-792. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(19)31775-1

Tracey J.The mind of the alcoholic.J Am Coll Dent.2007;74(4):18-23.Walvoort SJ, van der Heijden PT, Kessels RP, Egger JI.Measuring Illness Insight in Patients With Alcohol-Related Cognitive Dysfunction Using the Q8 Questionnaire: A Validation Study.Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2016;12:1609-1615. doi:10.2147/NDT.S104442.

Tracey J.The mind of the alcoholic.J Am Coll Dent.2007;74(4):18-23.

Walvoort SJ, van der Heijden PT, Kessels RP, Egger JI.Measuring Illness Insight in Patients With Alcohol-Related Cognitive Dysfunction Using the Q8 Questionnaire: A Validation Study.Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment. 2016;12:1609-1615. doi:10.2147/NDT.S104442.

Meet Our Review Board

Share Feedback

Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

Was this page helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

What is your feedback?HelpfulReport an ErrorOtherSubmit

What is your feedback?