Final answer:
Denial of reality, often a natural first reaction to difficult situations as explained by Kübler-Ross, can be detrimental when it leads to the continuation of high-risk behaviors like drug addiction or dangerous activities for an adrenaline rush.
Step-by-step explanation:
Although denial of reality may feel life-affirming, it can actually be life-threatening if it causes you to engage in risk-taking behaviors. This form of denial can lead to harmful actions such as persisting in drug addiction, ignoring the dangers of activities that give an adrenaline rush, or engaging in reaction formation, which is when a person expresses the opposite of their anxiety-inducing thoughts or feelings. The Kübler-Ross model also explains that denial is often the first reaction to difficult truths, such as being diagnosed with a terminal illness. However, if one remains in the denial stage, it can prevent acceptance and potentially life-prolonging or enhancing decisions from being made.