THE FUSE

Sigmund Freud described denial as one of the ego's defenses against intolerable psychological pain. His daughter, Anna Freud, expanded this idea, suggesting that denial can sometimes be a necessary and adaptive part of healthy development rather than simply a pathological symptom. We often think of denial as something to overcome, but from a psychological perspective, it can also serve as a temporary shelter until we are emotionally prepared to face a more difficult reality.