CEVAP:

Denial is defined as ignoring the threatening, anxiety provoking thoughts, feelings, motives, or sometimes even events and realities. Denial is a common reaction in the presence of a psychological shock, such as the death of a loved one or an important diagnosis such as cancer or schizophrenia. The person might not believe and simply ignore the reality for 1-2 minutes to 1-2 days. Remember that the overuse of defense mechanisms might contribute to abnormal behavior or psychological disorders. In this case, the person might deny the reality for weeks or months. Therefore, s/he might not experience normal process of grief. In the presence of an important diagnosis, if the person overuses denial, s/he might not take necessary actions for treatment.