SUN Houston Investigates Alcoholism Denial

Houston, TX – SUN Behavioral Health in Houston, Texas recently released a new blog investigating alcoholism denial. As a leading provider of addiction and mental health treatment, SUN Houston provides educational tools and resources for those wanting to learn more about substance use disorders.

“Feeling like your opinions are not heard or valued can create frustration and animosity. When dealing with a loved one who is in denial, step back and look at how you interact with them. Are you enabling behaviors in any way? Are you preventing consequences that could be beneficial? For example, say your loved one drives the car while intoxicated and crashes. They are fine, but they call you to pick them up before the police can arrive. By agreeing, you are preventing a negative outcome, and while this may seem beneficial at the time, there is no repercussion to prevent the person from doing this again,” the article reads.

One of the most difficult symptoms of alcohol use disorder is denial. Denial can build over time and comes in different varieties. Some include lying, blaming, rationalizing, comparing, false agreement, defensive, and dismissal. Denial is a key sign of an alcohol use disorder. The person may lie about how many drinks they consumed or hide that they are still drinking. These signs don’t always signal a problem with alcohol, but are an indicator to evaluate the person’s relationship with alcohol.

Trying to help someone living with a high-functioning alcohol use disorder can feel impossible. As with all relationships, communication is key. Make sure when talking to them about how their drinking is having adverse effects, refrain from negative speech. Yelling and calling them an “addict” over and over is not going to accomplish anything. Use a calm tone and be honest and respectful.

“Setting boundaries can give you peace of mind while providing goals for your loved one to work toward. Schedule a time to have a sit-down conversation about what boundaries you would like to implement, and come up with consequences when they are broken. Pick a time when you are both relaxed and won’t be rushed. Remember, they are a person, not a problem. Don’t be afraid to be firm but also compassionate,” the article continues.

Some common signs of denial in an alcohol use disorder include pointing out accomplishments to minimize alcohol’s impact, hiding alcohol, blaming situations or people for why they drink, and attempting to cut back on alcohol use, but not succeeding. These signs are typically coupled with symptoms such as withdrawing from friends and family as well as poor job or school performance. There are four stages of alcoholism, and denial can fluctuate as the person progresses. It is important to get the person into treatment the moment they admit that they are ready.

Mental health can also be affected by alcoholism. Pre-existing conditions can be made worse or different conditions may develop. Many believe that narcissists are more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder. The opposite is true as situations that involve denial mimic narcissistic behaviors, even if the person has never exhibited them before.

SUN Behavioral Health Houston has been solving unmet needs within the community for years. Their program features both alcohol use disorder treatment as well as mental health. They offer telehealth consultations and have a 24/7 crisis care unit for those who need treatment now. Their dedicated team is always standing by to help those living with a substance use disorder or mental health condition.

To learn more about SUN Behavioral Health Houston, call 713-796-2273 or visit their website.