Are Some People Actually Better Off Being In Denial?

[MainerMikeBrown]

Cognitive Behavioral Therapists believe in eliminating their clients irrational beliefs and replacing them with more rational thinking, such as those who have irrational beliefs because they're in denial about something.

Although I believe that being in denial is generally a bad thing that needs to be reversed, I have to ask, are some people actually better off being in denial?

I mean if someone is in denial about something because he/she can't handle facing the truth, and if facing the truth could send him or her over the edge emotionally, then is the person actually better off being in denial...or at least until he/she is emotionally ready to face the truth someday?

For example, let's say somebody gets into a car accident because he or she wasn't paying attention to their driving. And that mistake caused another person to get killed during the accident. If the individual at fault can't face the fact that he/she was driving too carelessly because by facing it, it would cause him or her to lose his/her mind because of the guilt, is that person better off being in denial about it?

What do you think?

Discuss.

 

[GoodLife]

I personally think it is never good to be in denial, but in specific scenarios, it may be beneficial to (temporarily) allow someone to be in denial so they can get to a better mental state before they face the truth.

 

[Joshua1]

Although I believe that being in denial is generally a bad thing that needs to be reversed, I have to ask, are some people actually better off being in denial?

I think being in denial works for the moment. It does not work in the long term and can have devastating effects. For example what you mentioned. It helps in the moment but carelessness will cause more accidents and careless driving. We should be alert always. Denial is a form of lying.