Denial

[Ealing2022]

Jess you have received some helpful advice so I am only going to comment on one aspect that I don’t think has been highlighted and that is denial. Your husband must give up smoking, but it is possible that his reluctance to do so is driven by his need to deny anything is wrong. If he gives up what he believes to be a normal life he is acknowledging the gravity of his problem and that can be a frightening thing to do. He may need support to accept he really is living a different life now, the ‘new normal’ as my wife describes it. It is a difficult thing to talk about, but from what you have said denial and fear may be behind his reluctance to change.

I hope he makes progress

[Heyjude31]

So difficult to acknowledge sometimes, as a fellow heartie I think you are spot on 🙏

[Hidden]

Very true words, having passed through the denial phase myself I understand that its one of the most difficult of the stages to admit to and to deal with.

But it is also the most important stage to help every other stage to slot back into place, this can take a few goes to get right. I work on four stages others work on seven or even more:-

Shock

Anger

Denial

Acceptation

Like the four horses of the apocalypse, each has to be understood and defeated.

Take care