---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the…"
description: "\"“DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the existence of unpleasant realities is disavowed; refers to keeping out of conscious awareness any aspects of exte..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/benjamin-sadock-222773_conscious-awareness_denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-ex_208288.jpg"
---

#  DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the existence of…

![“DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the existence of unpleasant realities is disavowed; refers to keeping out of conscious awareness any aspects of external reality that, if acknowledged, would produce anxiety.” quote by Benjamin Sadock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/benjamin-sadock-222773_conscious-awareness_denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-ex_208288.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/benjamin-sadock-222773_conscious-awareness_denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-ex_208288.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/benjamin-sadock-222773_conscious-awareness_denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-ex_208288.jpg)

> ““DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the existence of unpleasant realities is disavowed; refers to keeping out of conscious awareness any aspects of external reality that, if acknowledged, would produce anxiety.””

Benjamin Sadock

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Denial blocks awareness of upsetting realities, causing anxiety if unaddressed.

**In simple terms:** Denial hides painful truths.

Key Takeaway

Face uncomfortable facts.

Themes

defense psychology awareness anxiety repression

Mood

introspective cautious

Type

definition psychological null

When to use this quote

- therapy
- self-reflection
- stressful events

Key Concepts

cognitive dissonance coping mechanisms mental health

Questions to Reflect On

- What truths are you avoiding?
- How does denial affect your decisions?

A Different Perspective

Denial can protect mental stability temporarily.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Conscious awareness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-awareness/) [Defence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defence/) [Defense mechanism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defense-mechanism/) [Denial](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/denial/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Psychiatry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychiatry/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Psychology-quotes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology-quotes/)

## Related quotes

> [“The scientific study of suffering inevitably raises questions of causation, and with these, issues of blame and responsibility. Historically, doctors have highlighted predisposing vulnerability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/the-scientific-study-of-suffering-inevitably-raises-questions-of/)

[Bessel A. van der Kolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bessel-a-van-der-kolk/)

> [I laugh when I see people in pain. Sometimes I think it is a defense mechanism from childhood, where you're in so much pain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-dick/i-laugh-when-i-see-people-in-pain-sometimes-i-think-it-is-a-defense/)

[Andy Dick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-dick/)

> [There's hardly any precedent for a guy like me to have the career that I've had. Because I grew up the way I grew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-singleton/there-s-hardly-any-precedent-for-a-guy-like-me-to-have-the-career/)

[John Singleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-singleton/)

> [“Like a lot of people with mental illness, I spend a lot of time fronting. It’s really important to me to not appear crazy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-smith/like-a-lot-of-people-with-mental-illness-i-spend-a-lot-of-time/)

[S.E. Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-smith/)

> [Everyone is a little bitter. We're born bitter. The personality itself is really just a very complex defense mechanism. A reaction to the first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-maron/everyone-is-a-little-bitter-we-re-born-bitter-the-personality-itself/)

[Marc Maron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-maron/)

> [The nerves of the skin send pain signals to the brain to warn us of the danger from and impending injury. In the case…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-levenkron/the-nerves-of-the-skin-send-pain-signals-to-the-brain-to-warn-us-of/)

[Steven Levenkron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-levenkron/)

> [“Instead of seeing bad in yourself, you perceive it in others. It’s a defense mechanism. One that allows people to go on believing they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/koren-zailckas/instead-of-seeing-bad-in-yourself-you-perceive-it-in-others-it-s-a/)

[Koren Zailckas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/koren-zailckas/)

> [As a kid I was short and only weighed 95 pounds. And though I was active in a lot of Sports and got along…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-conway/as-a-kid-i-was-short-and-only-weighed-95-pounds-and-though-i-was/)

[Tim Conway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-conway/)

> [I don't really know. I think the first test is when you're very little and you fart, and you laugh at it and so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-don-t-really-know-i-think-the-first-test-is-when-you-re-very-little/)

[Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/)

> [When my wife and I met, I couldn't talk to her - and my defense mechanism is sarcasm. I belittle someone with verbal pokes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-vogel/when-my-wife-and-i-met-i-couldn-t-talk-to-her-and-my-defense/)

[Mike Vogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-vogel/)

> [“We live in an era where everyone is terrified of being caught trying. So, the defense mechanism is to pretend you never gave a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lokesh-tuli/we-live-in-an-era-where-everyone-is-terrified-of-being-caught-trying/)

[Lokesh Tuli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lokesh-tuli/)

> [Black people in America have to, for their own protection, develop a defense mechanism, and I just grew terribly tired of it. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randall-robinson/black-people-in-america-have-to-for-their-own-protection-develop-a/)

[Randall Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randall-robinson/)

> [Christianity has a built-in defense system: anything that questions a belief, no matter how logical the argument is, is the work of Satan by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hicks/christianity-has-a-built-in-defense-system-anything-that-questions-a/)

[Bill Hicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hicks/)

> [When you're walking at the airport, you're expected to smile at people because they know you... I find that tough. I'm only trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katrina-kaif/when-you-re-walking-at-the-airport-you-re-expected-to-smile-at-people/)

[Katrina Kaif](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katrina-kaif/)

> [“How can you love someone when you know they will never truly love you back because they can’t ever love you back? Your brain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-moore/how-can-you-love-someone-when-you-know-they-will-never-truly-love-you/)

[Portia Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-moore/)

## More Conscious awareness quotes

> [“Become the difference you want to make," and the heart of your mind will feel what the mind of your heart knows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-ellis/become-the-difference-you-want-to-make-and-the-heart-of-your-mind/)

Stan Ellis

> [The true life is not reducible to words spoken or written, not by anyone, ever. The true life takes place when we're alone, thinking,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/the-true-life-is-not-reducible-to-words-spoken-or-written-not-by/)

[Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/)

> [When all of the selves have been dissolved, you will enter into the super-conscious awareness. Then, you are free. Then, there is no suffering.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/when-all-of-the-selves-have-been-dissolved-you-will-enter-into-the/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“We think our actions express our decisions. But in nearly all of our life, willing decides nothing. We cannot wake up or fall asleep,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gray/we-think-our-actions-express-our-decisions-but-in-nearly-all-of-our/)

[John Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gray/)

> [“THE RETAINED BREATH This form of pranayama strengthens the muscles of the lung and expands the chest. It also increases oxygenation of the blood,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-stauth/the-retained-breath-this-form-of-pranayama-strengthens-the-muscles-of/)

[Cameron Stauth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-stauth/)

> [“Sometimes when I open my Bible to read, a verse leaps off the page and I know God is speaking to me. Sometimes I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-graham-lotz/sometimes-when-i-open-my-bible-to-read-a-verse-leaps-off-the-page-and/)

[Anne Graham Lotz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-graham-lotz/)

> [“The statue of Justice, symbol of the law, as she holds aloft her balance scale, is blindfolded. Justice is blind to race, creed, color…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-j-arrington/the-statue-of-justice-symbol-of-the-law-as-she-holds-aloft-her/)

Leonard J. Arrington

> [“Until now, I've been writing about "now" as if it were literally an instant of time, but of course human faculties are not infinitely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-davies/until-now-i-ve-been-writing-about-now-as-if-it-were-literally-an/)

[Paul Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-davies/)

> [“More proof that Lynn is still meant to continue with the government programme occurred during the winter of 2000, when she was sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-hersha/more-proof-that-lynn-is-still-meant-to-continue-with-the-government/)

[Lynn Hersha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-hersha/)

> [“By processing information from the environment through the senses, the nervous system continually evaluates risk. I have coined the term neuroception to describe how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-w-porges/by-processing-information-from-the-environment-through-the-senses-the/)

[Stephen W. Porges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-w-porges/)

> [Trust your hunches... Hunches are usually based on facts filed away just below the conscious level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-brothers/trust-your-hunches-hunches-are-usually-based-on-facts-filed-away-just/)

[Joyce Brothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-brothers/)

> [“The other mind entity is what we call the impartial observer. This mind of present-moment awareness stands outside the preprogrammed physiological determinants and is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/the-other-mind-entity-is-what-we-call-the-impartial-observer-this/)

[Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/)

> [“There is no other experience more empowering and undying than the experience of uniting unconditionally with the Conscience of God. From the forthcoming book:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rohan-and-mohan-perera-world-of-ro-and-mo/there-is-no-other-experience-more-empowering-and-undying-than-the/)

Rohan and Mohan Perera (World of Ro and Mo

> [“Through depression and many other dark low emotions, our Light dims and our immune system declines along with it. White blood cells are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-ripstein/through-depression-and-many-other-dark-low-emotions-our-light-dims/)

[Jacqueline Ripstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-ripstein/)

> [“Integrity is the sound follow through of your heart, and an important part in the process of manifesting what it is that you aspire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-barnes/integrity-is-the-sound-follow-through-of-your-heart-and-an-important/)

[Will Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-barnes/)

[Browse all 118 Conscious awareness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conscious-awareness/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the existence of unpleasant realities is disavowed; refers to keeping out of conscious awareness any aspects of external reality that, if acknowledged, would produce anxiety.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Benjamin Sadock"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-sadock/denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-existence-of-unpleasant/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Conscious awareness"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-sadock/denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-existence-of-unpleasant/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/benjamin-sadock-222773_conscious-awareness_denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-ex_208288.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/benjamin-sadock-222773_conscious-awareness_denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-ex_208288.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e3c/benjamin-sadock-222773_conscious-awareness_denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-ex_208288.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the existence of unpleasant realities is disavowed; refers to keeping out…” — Benjamin Sadock",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Benjamin Sadock",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-sadock/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“DENIAL Defense mechanism in which the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-sadock/denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-existence-of-unpleasant/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-sadock/denial-defense-mechanism-in-which-the-existence-of-unpleasant/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
