I'm not sure denial is the right word for me.
I knew for well over a decade that my substance abuse was a problem but I rationalised it various ways -
- if you had a life like mine,
- I work hard so I play hard,
- everyone I know drinks like this...
yadda yadda yadda
The basic thing holding me back was fear.
I wanted to be able to drink as much as I wanted and have absolutely no negative consequences. That part could be classed as denial of reality lol.
I didn't want to change my life or be different...and that fear kept me tapped there until the last possible moment I could have gotten out alive.
Scary stuff.
D