By Shirley Butler –
Denial is
defined as a failure to realize the existence of problems or the implications
of behaviors, actions, or moods. The condition is very prevalent among those
having been diagnosed with diseases or medical problems requiring surgery,
especially among cardiac patients. Type-A personalities, in particular, often
rationalize their destructive behaviors, minimize their heart disease, persuade
themselves that they have recovered quickly and completely from any malady, and
even fail to acknowledge and deal with new problems that arise.
Spouses and
other loved ones often participate in and complicate this denial. Spouses may
also wind up minimizing their own needs and feelings in order to support their
mate, or find themselves in the difficult position of trying to convince a
person in denial that they need to re-evaluate their behavior. Even
cardiologists and other health care professionals can be a party to a patient's
denial. News of serious disease can elicit different reactions from patients of
my condition.
The one
extreme is total denial of the disease, recovering fast but without any changes
in their lifestyle to prevent recurrence.
The other is
acceptance of the disease, taking full control and fighting it.
In between
denial and positive acceptance are anxiety, mistrust, resignation and
withdrawal. It has been shown that working out the negative feelings and
developing and maintaining a positive attitude can have an effect on the disease
course.
Among women
with breast cancer, those with support groups and counseling fared better and
outlived those without support twice as long. Patients who were hospitalized
with less anxiety and depression were also discharged earlier. A positive
attitude helps to plan a healthy lifestyle, with better compliance to
treatment.
Psychological
factors may also influence physical health directly. Many methods for dealing
with denial exist; in general, a patient should be confronted gently, rather
than attacked. Objective sources, such as books, magazine articles, and
physicians, can be employed to help the patient recognize their situation. In
the early stages of a problem, denial can be helpful to the patient in dealing
with the fear and trauma of the situation; eventually, though, it must give way
to a feeling of motivation and responsibility. Chronic, self-destructive denial
may even require counseling as a last resort.