What Amy Winehouse Taught Us About Denial and Alcoholism

Protect your children, and don’t hesitate to keep them away from someone who drinks and does not respect your boundaries. Growing up in a home where alcohol use is common, can leave lasting scars. You just happen to love someone who is probably going to need professional treatment to get healthy again. Keep in mind that someone with alcohol dependence usually goes through a few stages before they are ready to make a change.

• During an intervention with a loved one, family members show love and support while setting clear boundaries around substance abuse and consequences related to drinking.
• Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem.
• When discussing their issues, gently ask them about any challenges they may be facing that could possibly be related to their drinking habits.

To maintain a positive view of themselves, people revise their beliefs in the face of new evidence of good news but ignore bad news. Psychological processes such as distraction, forgetfulness, and repression, may serve as a variation of denial. It should be noted that these psychological processes may or may not be conscious processes. Discovering your child is drinking can generate fear, confusion, and anger in parents. It’s important to remain calm when confronting your teen, and only do so when everyone is sober.

Getting professional help for an alcohol addiction

For example, you may blame an ‘unfair boss’ for trouble at work or a ‘nagging wife’ for your marital issues, rather than think about how your drinking is contributing to the problem. While work, relationship, and financial stresses happen to everyone, an overall pattern of deterioration and blaming others may be a sign of trouble. Try to use “I” statements and avoid using alcoholism and denial labels such as alcoholic. Avoid being judgmental, but show support and offer suggestions about ways or places they can get help. These conversations can be tricky and emotional, so you may want to involve a therapist or counselor. If you’ve had thoughts similar to the above, you may want to speak with someone you trust or a therapist to further explore your habits.

While some may have reached a place of awareness, others may still be trying to understand the seriousness of their condition. However, research shows that excessive alcohol consumption can quickly increase inflammation in the pancreas, creating the same effect as acute or chronic pancreatitis caused by other factors. It’s important to let your physician know if your medical history includes any of the risk factors mentioned above or if you experience any of the symptoms that are consistent with pancreatitis. By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.

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HFAs personally experience strong and lasting denial, but their loved ones and social set are not immune to this phenomenon. Other HFAs reported that their family members may be aware of their alcoholism. Specifically, one male HFA observed that his wife knew he was an alcoholic but still believed that he was “not that bad of an alcoholic,” because he was still functioning. Secondary denial often prevents loved ones from addressing this issue with HFAs and therefore preventing them from getting treatment. Struggling with an alcohol addiction isn’t the same as struggling with other substances, such as illicit drugs like heroin, cocaine, or methamphetamine. Being addicted to a substance that is socially acceptable, legal, and easily accessible may often give the users and family and friends the illusion that no problem exists when it actually does.

Individuals blame outside influences instead of recognizing personal accountability for their actions and choices. In such a manner, they can avoid confronting the reality that they have a drinking problem. That is, the future consequences are not weighed in comparison with the present benefits. The benefits of drug use may be clear and immediate, while the costs are typically delayed and uncertain. They tend to prefer drugs because, at the moment of choice, they value drugs more than they value a possible but uncertain future reward (e.g., health, relationships, or opportunities).

Blame Is an Outcome of Denial

Similarly, due to these neurological factors, people with alcoholism may not perceive or understand how deeply their drinking problem affects them and those around them. By dismissing the issue, they avoid acknowledging that their drinking has become problematic and refuse to engage in meaningful conversations about seeking help or making changes. This behavior can be frustrating for loved ones who are genuinely concerned and trying to offer support. Concealing is another sign of alcoholism denial, where individuals try to hide their drinking from others.

• They might downplay the frequency and amount of alcohol they consume or make excuses for their behavior when confronted by loved ones.
• It can be painful and scary watching someone you love struggle with alcohol addiction.
• It’s common to hear them say, “The only reason I drink is because you…”
• A 2007 study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse showed that 37 percent of college students avoided seeking substance abuse treatment for fear of stigma.

Those problems could include depression, an inability to manage stress, an unresolved trauma from your childhood, or any number of mental health issues. Such problems may become more prominent when you’re no longer using alcohol to cover them up. But you will be in a healthier position to finally address them and seek the help you need. Drinking to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms is a sign of alcoholism and a huge red flag.

Here are the different types of alcoholic denial and why people with alcohol addiction may deny their drinking problem. Denial is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a refusal to admit the truth or reality of something.” In psychology, it’s a defense mechanism to avoid confronting a personal problem. It’s extremely common for people with alcohol use disorder (AUD) to resist the reality of their drinking problem. Your health care provider or mental health provider will ask additional questions based on your responses, symptoms and needs. Preparing and anticipating questions will help you make the most of your appointment time.