Defence Mechanisms in Substance Abuse

Questions and Answers

Unconscious processes that help individuals cope with stressful or anxiety-provoking situations

Refusal to acknowledge the existence or severity of a substance abuse problem

To promote self-awareness and accountability

They hinder recovery by preventing individuals from seeking help Signup and view all the answers

Attributing one's own substance abuse to someone else Signup and view all the answers

Focusing on the abstract or intellectual aspects of substance abuse Signup and view all the answers

Individuals are less likely to acknowledge their addiction Signup and view all the answers

It shifts responsibility to external circumstances or others Signup and view all the answers

Providing logical explanations to justify substance abuse Signup and view all the answers

They hinder treatment outcomes Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Defence mechanisms: unconscious processes that help individuals cope with stressful or anxiety-provoking situations, including substance abuse
In substance abuse, defence mechanisms can hinder recovery by preventing individuals from acknowledging their addiction or taking responsibility for their actions

Denial: refusal to acknowledge the existence or severity of a substance abuse problem
Rationalization: providing logical explanations to justify substance abuse, e.g., "I only drink to relax"
Projection: attributing one's own substance abuse to someone else, e.g., "You're the one who's always drinking"
Minimization: downplaying the severity of substance abuse or its consequences
Blame: shifting responsibility for substance abuse to external circumstances or others
Intellectualization: focusing on the abstract or intellectual aspects of substance abuse, e.g., "I'm just experimenting with different substances"

Identify and challenge defence mechanisms to promote self-awareness and accountability
Encourage individuals to take responsibility for their actions and acknowledge their addiction
Foster a more honest and open approach to recovery
Improve treatment outcomes and reduce relapse rates

Defence mechanisms are unconscious processes that help individuals cope with stressful or anxiety-provoking situations, including substance abuse
Defence mechanisms hinder recovery by preventing individuals from acknowledging their addiction or taking responsibility for their actions

Denial: refusing to acknowledge the existence or severity of a substance abuse problem
Rationalization: providing logical explanations to justify substance abuse, such as "I only drink to relax"
Projection: attributing one's own substance abuse to someone else, such as "You're the one who's always drinking"
Minimization: downplaying the severity of substance abuse or its consequences
Blame: shifting responsibility for substance abuse to external circumstances or others
Intellectualization: focusing on the abstract or intellectual aspects of substance abuse, such as "I'm just experimenting with different substances"

Identify and challenge defence mechanisms to promote self-awareness and accountability
Encourage individuals to take responsibility for their actions and acknowledge their addiction
Foster a more honest and open approach to recovery
Improve treatment outcomes and reduce relapse rates