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Keeping Addiction and Recovery a Secret

Couple fighting over keeping addiction and recovery a secret

When you have an addiction, you might be tempted to keep it a secret. It is important to admit that you have a problem and take steps to get it resolved as soon as possible. What is compelling you to keep your addiction or even your recovery a secret? How harmful can it be to keep secrets? If you or a loved one want to know more about the dangers of keeping addiction and recovery a secret, contact Vertava Health at 844.470.0410. Our addiction treatment centers understand stigma and addiction. We are here to help you through recovery.

The “Advantages” Of Keeping Secrets in Recovery

Just for the sake of argument, let’s go over a few potential benefits of keeping your addiction or your recovery secret:

  • Loved ones won’t suffer with you
  • Bosses won’t know and won’t fire you
  • Friends won’t judge you or look down on you
  • Drug and alcohol use can continue unabated

Each of these so-called positives likely helps people with addictions justify keeping silent about their problem. Each “advantage” is problematic. For example, your loved ones won’t be protected from suffering. Instead, they’ll suffer from watching you hurt yourself. They will likely not have context for why your behaviors have changed. This is true of your friends. Any friend that looks down on or judges you for having an addiction is not your friend. Keeping addiction a secret from your boss is a significant mistake because they cannot fire you for seeking rehabilitation care. Continuing to use is not a healthy or safe option.

The Dangers of Keeping Addiction and Recovery a Secret

People who keep secrets are often suffering from a huge psychological burden. This can be any kind of secret, but this is especially true of addiction. Living a secretive life makes a person feel like they are living a lie. As a result, they’re likely to lose a lot of their self-respect and motivation. They may even begin feeling excessively guilty about their secret. They will wear themselves out trying to keep their addiction a secret. In desperation, many of them may turn to serious criminal acts to keep the secret. Even worse, it keeps them from getting the rehabilitation care that they need in order to recover. Sharing this secret is going to be a hard task for anybody, but checking into rehab and getting treated can help you beat your addiction and regain the healthy life that you deserve. It can also remove the emotional and psychological burden of keeping a secret. Here are some tips on how to be honest about your issues

  1. Hold a meeting with people who you think should know about your addiction
  2. Break the silence by admitting you have an addiction and need help
  3. Discuss how addiction has impacted your life and the lives of everyone there
  4. Ask for suggestions regarding your treatment, including treatment type and location
  5. Choose a treatment that you think will work for you

Breaking through your silence will bring you a sense of personal satisfaction and alleviate your psychological burden. You’ll be shocked at how good you feel and how positive your emotions will be about recovery.

Who Should Know About An Addiction?

When it comes time to discuss your addiction and your recovery, you need to be open with as many people as you feel comfortable. No, not everyone needs to know about your life problems, but most of them should. For example, you should tell your:

  • Spouse or partner
  • Closest friends
  • Work boss
  • Adult children and parents
  • Coworkers who rely on you

Letting your loved ones in on your recovery will only encourage its success.

Open Up at Vertava Health

If you’re afraid of breaking the secrets barrier or need someone to talk to, please contact Vertava Health at 844.470.0410 today. We can offer you the caring, non-judgmental ear you need to open up to about your addiction while helping you get the recovery treatment you need to beat addiction for good.