We Cannot Force a Person Out of Denial

Sometimes in recovery we may directly or indirectly hit on an area where another recovering person, or even a friend, is in denial about slipping back into old addictive patterns of behavior.

This person may react angrily or push us away through silence because we have hit on a wounded part of them that they are not yet ready to acknowledge, much less face. And they have fallen back into an old pattern of emotionally-medicating it away that they don't want challenged. if we experience anger or resentment from them, it's important for us to not take it personally.

When the air is charged with unhealed emotions, it's best for us to back off, allow that person to return to a place of peace and to give them space and time to clearly process what we said to them. 

This is how that person is often able to break through their denial. It's very typical for a person to emotionally react negatively to what we say when we have hit on an area where they are trapped in denial. 

But after calming down and regaining clarity of mind, they will sometimes see that what we were saying was actually true, not a judgment against them or a rebuke/rejection of them. Clarity, or a return to healthy thinking, will often times help them to see that we were trying to help them, not to judge or hurt them.

We cannot force a person out of denial, though. And sometimes we get into trouble by trying to do so or rescue them from their denial. That's why it's important to back off and give them space if they react negatively to the reality check we were trying to help them achieve. We cannot save anyone from their denial.