Brain Injuries and Denial

Denial is often a survival technique used when the reality of their situation cannot be accepted; they have not come to terms with what has been lost, and they have not acknowledged their grief. Anna Freud has called this type of denial a defense mechanism.

Another form is when a person can see the limitations but doesn’t understand the impact of it on their daily life – they just don’t get it. This has been referred to as the ‘Anton Syndrome’.

Denial can sabotage any progress towards recovery. In order to work at getting better, it is necessary to make realistic adjustments to their disabilities. When a brain injured survivor is faced with the realization of problems relating to his/her capabilities and deficits, there will more than likely be increased anxiety. This creates a problem and many will deny, like the proverbial ostrich with his head buried in the sand – if you ignore it and pretend it doesn’t exist, perhaps it will go away. By being in denial, attention is drawn away from the problem; there is no need to work towards recovery, and there is no necessity to be accountable.

Their focus then may be placed on the fact that they’re tired, that they have aches and pains or they may blame other people rather than admit that there may be a problem with their brain’s cognitive functioning. Quite often it is the person closest to them where the finger of blame is most often pointed.

My partner is a survivor who is in denial. He is not convinced of his brain injury although he does admit to memory and motivation problems. However, his main focus has become centered on his legs and the pain he feels in his knee.

It is difficult for someone who has suffered a brain injury to be cognitively aware and to learn compensatory strategies. It is easier for them to deny rather than to work towards achieving a new normal; many survivors of brain injuries will remain in denial their entire lives.

“The greatest barrier to someone achieving their potential is their denial of it.” By Simon Travaglia