My counsellor revealed something extraordinary to me today – he told me I was in danger. I sat in the chair and said nothing. We were in the middle of discussing something else when he dropped the bomb. It’s amazing how denial can do that, can put your life at risk. It was related a family issue that had somewhat peaked weeks ago but was left unsettled, like a poisonous gas and everyone decided to wear masks instead of trying to rid it. I had my own on and was unwilling to take it off; to deal with the heart of the problem.

The clock ticked away on the tabletop next to me, marking each second of my withdrawn disposition; I wasn’t sure if I should respond. He looked across at me expectantly and I could only express my guilt around the problem that I hadn’t talked about in the last while.

He discussed at some length how it was a problem I needed to address at home, because if I didn’t, the situation could only get worse. Problems don’t go away on their own. And he’s right. I hate it when he is.

I left in quite the introspective mood when I left, reflecting his words over in my mind like a Rubik’s cube. I realised in that moment how easily we trick ourselves into denial of many things, even in situations where we really are in potential danger. Perhaps this is something seen widely in people in the Middle East, where wars have been raging for the better part of the last decade, and denial is probably part of mental preservation in hostile areas.

Healing and maturation only comes when we face up to what it is we are running away from. It sound so simple but a problem will persist until we solve it. The sickness of denial happens when it gets to a point of it affecting our lives, but we continue in the delusion of disassociation. We essentially run away. And as a result, we need a reality check.

I was thankful in a way that he had brought it up. It seemed to be another test for me, one that I have to ultimately overcome regardless if I want to or not.

I love how life never stops teaching us.