Hypersensitivity and the Psychology of Denial

We know and feel something is wrong with our planet. This is not about a new awareness but rather an all too obvious and increasingly familiar series of reminders through record-breaking heat, rain, wind, drought, and all the other idiosyncratic features of Mother Nature. If this were a sick friend or family member, we would be there for them in a flash. However, Mother Earth, our current and hopefully future home, inspires no such urgency. Why is this the case? What keeps humankind from acting with due haste to this cataclysmic potential? What is this “psychology of denial” all about?

Denial

“Denial is the door she slams in her own face, trapping her in this lonely comfort zone. It keeps her from facing what hurts.” – Judith Sills

Is humankind in denial to avoid the reality of the costs of climate change? Because there will be huge costs. There will be economic, political, social, and lasting human costs to taking action. But what is the alternative? Denial also has a cost, which appears, at least in this case, much larger.

The psychology of denial is ever-present. Not just where the planet is at risk but in everyday life. Denial is, at its core, a refusal. Denial is a refusal to believe someone or something, a refusal to take action, or a refusal to comply, even with the truth. What are the payoffs of denial?

Payoffs of Denial

The most common theory is that denial is about maintaining one’s sense of emotional security. Something about what is being faced threatens the denier’s sense of emotional security. This means that something triggers their anxiety or something painfully intolerable, their thoughts or feelings. Denial becomes the refuge to keep these thoughts and feelings sequestered.

When we hide our true feelings, we may fool others, but we are still aware we are being inauthentic. Many of our maladaptive behaviours come from this denial of authenticity. No wonder we say one’s feelings are bottled up. The cork has become the catalyst for one’s denial.

“Denial is the way people handle what they cannot handle.” – Shannon L. Alder

Hypersensitivity

Being hypersensitive leads to feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Trauma and stress are known to manifest one’s sensitivity. We know that social stimuli can create HSP, a highly sensitive person (Scott, 2022). Through denial, some people protect their hypersensitivity to whatever feels threatening. The planet being at risk is just too threatening to even fathom, especially for some. Maybe it threatens their livelihood, their politics, or their sense of control.

Whatever the threat may be, denial purveys a mechanism (Kleemann & O’ Riordan, 2020) that comes to the rescue. One’s sense of security has been breached. Why would I accept such an unappetizing suggestion? Maybe acceptance could arise with the realization that we need a hypersensitivity, not for ourselves, but for the very essence of our existence, Mother Earth. The Earth is now hypersensitive and needs rescuing!

“The Earth does not belong to us: we belong to the Earth.”- Chief Seattle

Denying Denial

How do we begin to deny our denial? We are emotionally sensitive beings and seek to protect ourselves at all costs. However, denying the Earth’s sensitivity does come full circle and threatens us. Putting our personal sensitivity to the side has a huge payoff, not only for ourselves but for the future generations that are about to take our place.

Authenticity

Being authentic requires some basic truths about our real-self. Our values do not give in to external pressure. Our values prevail under all types of duress. There is no room for a duress button when our authentic selves are put to the test. This means we can deny our “denial psychology,” which will strengthen us because we are not displacing action with emotional insecurity and over-sensitivity. Personal sensitivity will not displace the reality of our sensitive planet. Authenticity is needed to address our climate change needs and our daily attempts at being fully true to ourselves.