Course 3: PL 102 - Denial & Distractions (Discussion 3)

@GlenM

Denial is the conscious refusal to perceive that painful facts exist. In denying latent feelings of homosexuality or hostility, or mental defects in one's child, an individual can escape intolerable thoughts, feelings, or events.

For promoting efficiency it is very important that the operation takes place to the depth and is not just surface based. Instead of trying to actually do something we end up trying to figure out and then develop excuses when these are of no help.

1. Internet 2. Media 3. Food

Internet because Excessive Internet use may create a heightened level of psychological arousal, resulting in little sleep, failure to eat for long periods, and limited physical activity, possibly leading to the user experiencing physical and mental health problems such as depression, OCD, low family relationships and anxiety.

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words? ÃÂ

Denial is an emotional response to something that you believe will hurt you in some way. Sometimes it can be a way of coping with something stressful until you are feeling ready or more stable to address it however it can be very damaging too. It can stop you from realising you need help or need to make changes and halts the healing process.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

Our brain is clever and has developed mental shortcuts to help us in our daily lives but these can become harmful if left unchecked and lead to prejudices and stereotypes.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

Mobile Phones - We can be contacted any time or day now and the notifications can be non stop. The phone has become a source of entertainment and there is a strong sense of fomo associated with it.

Emotions - I think that our emotions are very compelling and it can be hard not to react to them or be swayed by them.

The weather - This might just be me but when it's a lovely sunny day outside I want to go out. It also affects my mood greatly.

@GlenM

Denial is the act of refusing a statement or an event could be construed as ‘true’ or ‘real’, or has happened, is currently happening, or will happen in the future.

Things that operate beyond your awareness, or within the realm of the unconscious, can be learned behaviors. And also, behaviors that were adaptive at some point in time. These behaviors can, at a later point in time, become maladaptive.

The top 3 distraction systems, in my belief, are social media (or rather, new information), accomplishments and family/friends.

The most powerful is social media (new information, specifically) because it is so easy to come across and every website and app is engineered specifically to hold your attention for as long as possible by bombarding you with new information constantly. This information overload has made it difficult to know what is true and what is not, what ideas should be believed, because it isn’t regulated by a central authority like with television or radio (which has its own issues and compromises). If everything could be untrue and scrutinized and you’re never given a break from all the new information, it is easy to get lost trying to find the truth in all of this. And since our identities are, in part, comprised of our opinions and values, it is very harmful for our identities to always be in a state of flux and confusion—we need stability and a coherent identity in order for our self-esteem to function, in order to make choices that match previous choices and build upon them (to grow, essentially).

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words? ÃÂ

Denial for me is denying the issue at hand, ignoring and not being cooperative with the insight for what is right in front of me. Making myself believe something that is not the truth,

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious? I learned that when i was little i filled a bag full of the don'ts that people didn't liked, and now its all stuffed down into my unconsciousness. When i do certain things i do them naturally. And they become part of me the bad parts.

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words?

Denial pushes the parts of ourselves that society might now like into the shadow.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

I wasn't aware why we are so prone to denial. The background that we do that because we don't want to be left by our parents, makes a lot of sense and I think it's important to know.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

I don't think that I can say that generally. For me, the most powerful distraction system is the striving for accomplishment. Whatever I do - school, therapy, volunteering on 7 Cups - it doesn't take long for me to get lost in ambition. I think there are multiple reasons for this. One is my own belief system that tends to say that my worth is defined by what I accomplish rather than who I am. The other is the social pressure that is put on all of us. The strongest wins, we learn that early on, so it's logical that we try to be the strongest to survive.
Two other powerful systems for a lot of people are wealth and social media, I think. Wealth seems important in a capitalistic world, and social media is simply everywhere. A lack of one of those can lead to a social exclusion which is dangerous to us humans, so we try to avoid it as much as possible.

@GlenM

Seem to have missed replying to this one somehow, but put my answer in the form.... anyone any ideas if I have to resubmit after posting here? Sorry to mess things up.

How would you define denial in your own words? Refusing to believe, ignoring, a statement, an event that has happened or something else.

Importance about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious? There are things that we make assumptions of, through past experiences, separated out by our mind, done without thinking. It can be easy or hard to change these. They can have little or great effect on us.

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words? ÃÂ

Denial is a process that requires attention and is like a traffic barrier. Denial is really necessary at times. I said traffic barrier because it has to open and close- “close” here means “you need to deny at times”, or people may take advantage on the same situation later- For Ex- Someone asks for loan and you do not have money on your own. However, as you feel shy to deny their request, you get it from a third person (triangulation in a way). And then your now bound to pay back to that person even if this first person give you or no. So yes learn to close the barrier on the correct time for security purpose.

“Opening of barrier” means no denial. Anyone asks for help or support and you think you are ready or you can even try out in understanding things- be open. Never deny

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

As saying goes- “believe what you see” and trust me there is even complicated things beyond your eyes. That’s the unconscious process. Be open minded. Learn to understand that 51% of things happen automatically as in a process that works on our subconscious.

A good Ex. is – “I drive office to home same route for the past 3 years. It’s almost a 25min drive with almost 2-3 signals, speed breakers, 1 flyover on the way. At times I make calls and do both driving and talking over the phone process together. It really surprises me once I reach home parking. How did I reach here?? Did I pass all those signals and other areas while reaching?? Not able to recall. This is the game of unconscious mind. As it knows already your schedule and so safely your reaching there. In a way it’s supernatural.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

Each and every one has its importance and I completely agree. However, the 3 I would specify will be:

a. Food

b. Online Plaforms- Pornography in specific

c. Wealth

The most powerful here means- most addicted or dangerous I would say would be point b. Online Platforms- Pornography. Not going to it in detail. However, this can be an addiction and addictions are always unhealthy. This not destroys your life but it completely deteriorate your mental wellbeing as time pass by. Once you start you have a feeling that this will stop soon, however this is not something that can be stopped after a time of continuous watching.

Anything beyond limit is a poison.

1. Denial is usually denying that you have a problem

2. When we learn something new, our mind is more conscious to focus on the thing that we are learning. But when when we repeat a habit, our mind is more unconscious.

3. Visual, manual, and cognitive

Maybe the cognitive one because the cognitive one is the most related to your mind

1. How would you define denial in your own words? denial is not wanting to accept something especially if it is a tragic thing.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious? you cant control everything

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why? I think phones are the most distraction thing ever because you are disconnected from everyone and it doesnt do much good unless used in a good way.

@GlenM

1. How would you define denial in your own words?

Something that you know is real but you choose not to believe it.

2. What is the most important thing you learned about things that operate outside of awareness or the unconscious?

That it's a learned behavior.

3. What do you believe are the top 3 distraction systems? Which one of these is the most powerful and why?

People

Gaming.

Social Media

For me it depends on the situation and mindset I'm in. I can't put my finger on it, but the one that can distract me negatively would be people.