Suppression is a defense mechanism we use when we want to forget something unpleasant. We consciously choose to suppress the truth, and create a story we like.
Repression is another mechanism. It's different in the sense that we are unconsciously choosing to forget. The unpleasant experience is shoved down so deep, we can't remember it.
Though coping mechanisms protect us when we're too fragile to deal with certain things, there comes a time when it's also hinders our ability to move forward. It's important to examine our lives, past and present, in the most honest way we can. Though denial feels like a protective blanket we can pull over us, hiding under the covers is not a good choice for the future.
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