It is important to remember that recovery is nothing to be ashamed of. However, many people feel a sense of shame associated with their recovery because of things that may have happened during their active addiction. It is time to drop the shame and guilt associated with recovery and answer the question, “Can I be open about my recovery?” The answer is absolutely! However, there are times when it makes sense to be more discreet and calculated when discussing personal matters, such as sobriety and recovery.
Can I Be Open About My Recovery?
So, “Can I be open about my recovery?” Ultimately, you can be as open or closed about your own recovery as you want to be. It is your personal journey. However, if you are hiding your recovery out of guilt and shame, then it may be time to take a deeper look at your recovery plan.
The reality is that guilt and shame often go hand and hand with addiction. According to the peer-reviewed journal Frontiers in Psychiatry, “Toxic shame and chronic guilt are major reasons for all addictive behaviors. A study found a positive association between shame and guilt activation in alcohol dependence. The author claimed that people with substance use disorder (SUD) reported a higher level of guilt than those who didn’t use drugs.” Now, it thus stands to reason that this guilt and shame also follow us into recovery. It is something that must be addressed.
Once this guilt and shame are addressed, many people feel much more comfortable discussing their recovery openly. It is also important to remember that being open about your recovery can help other people see the positive benefits of getting sober. This is often referred to as helping people via “attraction rather than promotion.”
Recovery Is Nothing to Be Ashamed Of
Now, it is critical to remember that recovery is not something that just happens. Simply putting down the drink or the drug is rarely enough to help someone recover in the long term. It takes a lot of hard work and effort. This hard work and effort are something to be proud of, not hidden away.
It is also important to understand that recovery takes time, and it does not always happen on the first try. Many people experience relapses (or chronic relapsing). Many people don’t realize just how common relapses can be. According to the peer-reviewed thesis, Addiction Relapse Prevention, by Doctors Guenzel and McChargue, “One primary concern in addiction treatment is the high rate of relapses within a short period after even the most intensive treatment. Many studies have shown relapse rates of approximately 50% within the first 12 weeks after completion of intensive inpatient programs that often last 4 to 12 weeks or more and can cost tens of thousands of dollars.”
So, when recovery is working and relapses are in the rearview, it is important to celebrate your achievements. This is also why celebrating milestones in recovery, like sober anniversaries, is so important. It reminds you of all of the hard work that you have put into bettering yourself and the lives of those around you.
Sharing Your Recovery With Others
However, it is also important to remember that not every situation is improved by your disclosure of personal information (and this does not have to do just with recovery). For example, it may be wise to hold off on disclosing your recovery at work or with clients, at least until you feel wholly comfortable doing so.
However, there are also places where disclosing your recovery is not only recommended, but it can be life-saving. This may be at a meeting of recovery or within a recovery community. Disclosing your recovery and working with others is actually a great way to reduce the chances of a relapse.
Working with others is so important that it is even discussed in the primary text of 12-Step recovery (commonly referred to as the “Big Book”). The text states, “Practical experience shows that nothing will so much ensure immunity from drinking [and using] as intensive work with other [people in recovery]. It works when other activities fail… You can help when no one else can.” As you can see, sharing your recovery story is not just a way of loving yourself, but of loving others as well.
A Focus on Long-Term Success at Lantana Recovery
Here at Lantana Recovery, we focus on long-term success over short-term “fixes.” This is why all of our recovery plans are individualized and comprehensive, with a focus on the future. We will help you find your place of comfort in your recovery.
If you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired in active addiction, then the time to recover is now. You can do this! We can help.
Many people fear that they will face retribution and criticism if they are open about their recovery. This is rarely true. However, it is also important to be smart about who you share your recovery journey with. It is important to find the right people who know how to navigate being open in recovery. If you feel like you or a loved one is struggling with issues of addiction, mental illness, or both, we can help get you on the positive path toward long-term recovery right away. You don’t have to go through this process alone. For more information about being open in your recovery, please reach out to Lantana Recovery today at (866) 997-2870.
