Understanding Alcoholic Denial: Signs and Symptoms

Denial is a major sign that someone has a problem with alcohol, since they are usually the last to admit that their drinking is out of control. By clinging to this behavior, it keeps an alcoholic from having to face his problem. Here are the signs of alcoholic denial.

Blame

• The alcoholic blames other people, his job or other factors for his drinking.

Refusal

• Some people will refuse help or won't even consider that they have a problem.

Rationlization

• Saying things like, "I never miss work" or "I only drink wine" are ways to rationalize behavior.

Lying

• Alcoholics may lie about how much they drink, what they did while they drank or hide that they are hungover.

Escape

• Problem drinkers will claim they need to leave a job, relationship or location to stop drinking.

Projection

• Phrases like, "You would drink too if you had a mother like mine," project the cause of the drinking onto something else.