Here's an interesting quote from Dr. Z about Denial.

"The primitive tribe, in the woods and hunting, gathering nuts or tubers, cannot constantly think about an impending attack by a carnivore, else would be debilitated and unable to function. Thus, they deny that such an attack could occur at any moment, bustle about the day, gathering and hunting and cooking, and function. When the attack by a carnivore occurs, it is a shock, some die but not all, and the tribe regroups. The outcome is hardly different, except that with denial, they functioned, and if frozen in fear, would die of hunger instead. Thus, denial should not be seen as a weakness so much as a survival mechanism inherent in the human, engaged when matters become overwhelming." - Dr. Z