The denial component of the disease of addiction is primarily regarding the amount of control over the consumption of the substance or behaviour of choice. An example of this is someone who understands that they do not have control over the amount and frequency of consumption, however, believe they have control over the progressive nature of the disease. For example; ” I know I have no control, but I will think of treatment next year ” This shows a lack of understanding of the progressive nature of the disease of addiction and implies that the person believes that they have some control over the rate the disease progresses. Underpinning this attitude is the resistance to abstinence from the drug/behaviour of choice.
When faced with the prospect of abstinence, usually this is followed by a process of bargaining. The bargaining is really about delaying the interruption of the active addiction cycle. I often compare this to the visual of someone skydiving, jumps out of a plane and pushes the envelope of pulling the ripcord that will release the parachute and inevitably safe the skydiver’s life. The bargaining process is like the skydiver saying just another 100 meters and then just another etc. disregarding the warnings and recommendations of seasoned skydivers, who have survived many jumps.
So really the person is bargaining with their life.
SHARING IS CARING
