the.com/denial
The mind's bouncer, refusing reality entry despite its valid ticket.
means Refusing to accept a fact, feeling, or truth that's obvious or painful to everyone else.
from From Latin denegare, to refuse or say no fully, via Old French denoier — a no with extra conviction.
Freud's favoriteHe named it a core ego defense mechanism.
Grief's gatewayFirst stage in the famous five-stage model.
Not a riverThe Egypt pun is older than your parents.