Drug addiction and the following recovery process are understandably touchy subjects for different individuals. Not only is sobriety a difficult personal challenge, but sharing it with family and friends can be stressful. Perhaps you have overly judgmental family members or co-workers that may become wary of you.
Climbing the mountain of rehabilitation however can also be an incredibly happy and satisfying time, and for good reason. It is an accomplishment that should not be undermined and even celebrated to some degree.
But just how much should you be willing to disclose, to who, and what are the positive and negative aspects? When researching and understanding this, you should apply them based on your personal experiences and situation.
Keeping a Secret to Everyone
Understandably, post-addicts may feel nervous or scared to disclose their addiction or even recovery progress. And contrary to the belief of some, there are benefits to maintaining secrecy.
Addiction is often remembered as a dangerous and exhausting part of life, as well as a great source of stress. Remembering and calling attention to these events can create additional stress for yourself or even friends and family. Furthermore, revealing your progress on sobriety can add unnecessary pressure. In these cases, secrecy may be beneficial for life stability and less stress.
The anticipation and excitement can make secret-keeping more challenging; however, you should also hold your readiness into question. Are you ready to handle the potential pressure and premature celebrations? For some, patience can be irritating but also rewarding in the end.
Disclosing Your Recovery
On the other side of the spectrum, preserving secrecy may be more harmful than beneficial. Some feel further stress by keeping secrets, or feel they are betraying their friends and family in the process. This extra anxiety can potentially make upholding sobriety more difficult.
In addition, by holding your sobriety status close, you may push others away in a crucial time of need. By isolating yourself and your recovery status, you may ultimately hurt your sobriety. At the very least, you should highly consider keeping close contact with your therapist or rehab center in harder times.
When you choose to disclose your recovery, you can open many possible and positive outlets to further encourage it. People who choose to disclose this information are—more likely than not—more comfortable about their sobriety. They feel confident in their current position and feel empowered to continue a life of sobriety. In some cases, disclosing this can encourage support from your closest loved ones.
In sharing each milestone, you can build not only your self-confidence but also the confidence of others around you. You may even begin to be a source of encouragement for others battling addiction. In doing so, you may not only just be a strong motivation to others, but to yourself.
Applying it to Yourself
As with many aspects of life, every addiction is and should be handled as a case by case basis. No addict is the same, and neither is one addiction the same in severity and struggle. Some may be comfortable in disclosing their status, while others fear it. Those who are comfortable might be too comfortable, and those who fear revealing it may worry too much.
In your own case, you should be willing to handle your addiction and sobriety at your own pace. Whether you prefer your recovery to be private or open should ultimately be your decision based on your conditions. Nevertheless, no matter which you choose, pursuing your sobriety is always possible.
If you or a loved one is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, contact a local Treatment & Rehab alternative in Tennessee. You might be interested in Discovery Place’s own treatment center alternatives, such as our 30 Day Residential Addiction Alternative Recovery Program or our Long Term Alternative Recovery Program in Burns, Tennessee. Call us for a free consultation at 1-800-725-0922.
