Silence and running away are the most common, but the use of drugs and excessive sleeping also occur. Closely related to withdrawal are avoidance and deflection. Many alcoholics use avoidance extensively, i.e., they won't talk about the problems at home and they stay away from others to avoid feelings of embarrassment, shame, etc. Deflection is a method of changing a subject that is or might be painful. Humor and anger are the two commonest methods of deflecting people away from difficult subjects.
Alcoholics frequently combine deflection and projection through the use of anger and hostility.
Rationalization Falsification of experience through the construction of logical or socially approved explanations of behavior. A man cheats on his income tax return and tells himself it's all right because everyone does it. When the world of everyday life becomes too painful or difficult too bear, some people turn to the inner world of fantasy. Day dreaming and wishful thinking replace action. Alcoholics often combine rationalizing and fantasy.