अरे यू इन डेनिअल?

ARE YOU IN DENIAL? (or Swimming in the NILE)
Ahh, that old line, denial is not a river in Egypt! Ever think about what you’re in denial about?
I spent many years denying some major issues. I drank and drugged too much, I used mood altering behaviours (with other people) to escape reality and likely several other things! My family and those close to me were in denial; denial about the life they lived as a direct result of my behaviour and a false belief that how we lived was normal. Our family had many secrets.
My actions not only hurt me, but hurt those I cared the most about, and denying this caused a huge problem for many!
Statistics tell us that at least 10% of the population suffers from addiction. The average household still sits at about 4 people. Funny then, about 1/3 of the population or more are directly impacted by addiction, yet how many admit it and take action to do something about it?
My own family and I are living proof of what happens when a cycle is not broken.
Professionally I work with others. Working with addicted people is the tip of the iceberg in the coaching niche I work in. It is pretty obvious when people have an addiction. It makes it easier for them to escape denial when things get bad enough.
Recently, I have been working with more and more people who are members of the group who have been adversely affected by addiction and abuse. Most of these people are good people leading a decent life and who truly believe themselves to be helpers. To a certain extent they are “victims”. It’s amazing to see how people who have lived with addicted and/or dysfunctional families are attracted to similar people. (Again, I look at my own situation). The tragic thing is that most of these people live in deep denial; after all, they don’t have an obvious problem; just a great deal of unhappiness. They lose themselves in the world they live, particularly those who are prone to put others overtly and consciously ahead of themselves and who want things to look normal and/or perfect.
For this group, overcoming denial is difficult!
I invite you, the reader, to look deeply into my favourite tool; a mirror. Do you see a happy and content person in the mirror OR is there something you are in denial about? You don’t have to be an addict or abuser to be made unhappy.
We all have choices available to us. Overcoming denial and seeking help is a BIG first step to getting the life you deserve. This is followed by taking major action.
Look at your life. Are you in denial or is “De Nile” truly a river in Egypt? (www.hopeserenity.ca)