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- Minimizing -

Overview

"Minimizing" is one of the mechanisms of denial. By minimizing the negative consequences of alcohol or drug use, the chemically dependent person is able to justify their continued use. In their minds, they are able to reduce the severity of their problems associated with chemical dependency. It helps chemically dependent people to feel better about themselves.

Some examples are:

All my D.U.I. offenses are five years apart.
All my D.U.I. offenses were barely over the legal limit.
I'm only in the beginning stages of liver disease.
I may verbally abuse my spouse but I don't hit her/him.
I may miss a lot of workdays but I still get more work done than other employees.
I may have trouble paying my bills on time but I have the money in the bank.

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