Addiction denial is usually considered in psychodynamic terms, as an unconscious ego defense mechanism. It is held that to fully acknowledge addiction-related problems would be so threatening to the individual’s ego that he or she must misconstrue, reinterpret, or even forget the facts of the case. The central feature of this interpretation is that the denial is based on emotional rejection of the truth, rather than a simple failure of insight. Alcohol-related disorders severely impair functioning and health. But the prospects for successful long-term problem resolution are good for people who seek help from appropriate sources.<\/p>\n