Archive for August, 2011
The Role of Denial in Chronic Pain Management
Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, LMFT, ACRPS, CADC-II
The Roadblock Called Denial
If you don’t know whether or not you have a problem, it can be difficult to find a solution. Many of my clients have the mistaken belief that “I can’t be addicted because I’m in pain and a doctor gave me the medication.” If you do have a problem, and if in fact have been abusing or are addicted to your pain medication, as well as experiencing life-damaging consequences, this can be one of the four levels of denial. The first step in managing denial is recognizing it and understanding what level you’re at.
The Four Levels of Denial