What is the difference between denial and delusion?
Denial is a normal human response to situations that carry too much emotional pain for us to deal with all at once. This automatic response within us becomes a built in buffer to handle the initial emotional pain so that we can function in the present. ” I can’t believe this is happening to me.” This at times is an unconscious reaction to the difficulties of life. For a sex addict denial is different, this form of denial, and the type that can deeply increase our pain is the conscious form. We rationalize and trick ourselves into thinking we really are not violating our values or think “I am only a man,” or “everybody does it.” When conscious denial continues delusion follows. Delusion convinces us and others that everything is fine and screens the addict from blame for the problem. The addict may be convinced himself that everything is fine. If you tell yourself a lie long enough you come to believe it. This is delusion.
