This pattern continues over and over again unless the drinker chooses AA or treatment. For some the pressure on the value system of the psyche is such that in order to reconcile the compulsion to drink and the negative behavior caused by it the mind creates a delusional system of thinking. This is a further extension of the type of self-deception described earlier. Sometimes this sort of self-deceptive or delusional thinking can become a self fulfilling prophecy. Denial then is a way the alcoholic can justify drinking over and over again in spite of the self destructive problems caused by it.
Denial is a defense mechanism that allows the neurobiological compulsion to be released.
This same defense mechanisms is seen with other diseases. She had pain in her back related to the cancer and an abnormal chest X-ray that showed that the cancer had spread. We talked about the problem and had a biopsy done. And I've had a cold lately and that is the spot you see on my lungs. Her denial system took every piece of information that was used to confirm her diagnosis and used the same information to say that she had no malignancy.