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There are many obstacles that someone has to overcome in their journey through recovery from an addiction or mental health disorder. Physical symptoms can be the direct effects of drugs or alcohol on one’s brain and body, malnourishment, or the myriad of physical issues detox causes such as nausea or vomiting. These symptoms all present significant hurdles in recovery that are both profoundly uncomfortable and challenging to overcome. However, there are also emotional hurdles as someone confronts the truth behind a destructive relationship with drugs or alcohol or acknowledges mental illness challenges. Keeping these things to oneself may cause feelings of shame or the need to protect friends and loved ones from the pain they feel themselves. These feelings can cause several additional stresses in one’s recovery journey. Acknowledging and letting go of these secrets that someone holds close is essential in creating a healthy and effective recovery plan.
The Importance of Telling Anyone
Telling a close family member about their addiction, a professional during an intake appointment, or talking to others on an anonymous online forum are all ways to let go of secrets. Coming clean with secrets is crucial to maintaining mental health. Keeping secrets can be incredibly stressful. Not only does it force denial, but it can also create an atmosphere where someone is frequently on edge due to the notion that they always have to appear “normal” to keep the façade going. Keeping these secrets can also mean that someone may begin hiding alcohol around the house, turning one’s own home into a constant source of stress. Feeling inclined to keep track of hiding spots and movements of all of the other house members to help ensure that it is never found can worsen those feelings. Due to this, someone can continue engaging with harmful coping mechanisms to cope with the imposed stress. Keeping secrets can exacerbate someone’s need to seek comfort in addictive substances or behaviors. Depression can be similar, as someone feels more and more isolated, which continues to play into their depressive episodes as a whole.
Finding a Way to Let Go
There can be several ways that each person begins to acknowledge these secrets and different ways of expressing them. Letting go of secrets means that someone must address whatever pains they may be harboring to another person. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that someone has to sit down with another and talk about it. Starting to acknowledge and let go of these secrets can begin with more manageable actions. Examples of such activities include writing a letter to oneself that may consist of words like “addiction,” a term that may have been avoided in their vocabulary. It can also involve screaming into the wind or talking to themselves in a mirror as they begin to see and acknowledge the complicated issues they face every day. These acts are the first step in detaching one’s identity and seeing themselves as separate from their addiction.
Establishing Trust and Support
Coming forth with these issues to a family member, loved one, or even a close friend can make a huge difference in recovery. Left unaddressed, those suffering from addiction, as well as their friends and loved ones, may begin to experience a degree of resentment. However, it isn’t expected to know how to overcome addiction alone. Acknowledging that someone is suffering and willing to reach out can directly challenge these ideas of resentment. Establishing a sense of trust between themselves and those close can instead cause someone to begin their recovery journey. Support systems can be much more than people to confide in, and they will be a part of every step in someone’s journey to recovery. These people can help those suffering from an addiction or mental health disorder find the right facility. They can also help someone begin to modify their home environment into being more conducive to the changes that someone wishes to make in their lives. A support system can be the people who can be called in the middle of the night, or during difficult days where stresses may be high. Recovery doesn’t need to begin with someone knowing how to overcome addiction or co-occurring mental health disorders. Healing starts with letting go of a secret, therefore showing readiness to take on a new and different future.
Beginning to let go of your secrets can be a stressful, challenging process. However, telling the truth is a crucial step in starting the process of recovery. The comfortable atmosphere provided at START UP RECOVERY, coupled with a focus on community and fellowship, can help provide you with an enjoyable space to acknowledge your recovery vulnerabilities. We work with our clients to address each of their personal situations. Customizing your strengths and needs will help your time with us to feel unique to your person. Professionals, peers, and mentors can work alongside you to find an approach that works best for you and your recovery goals. Our supportive atmosphere ensures that each person has a platform to express themselves while also feeling like an integral part of the community. Building a support system is a vital aspect of everyday recovery and can begin at our living center. For more information on the various ways in which your stay at START UP RECOVERY can be beneficial, or to speak to a caring, trained staff member about your unique situation, call us today at (310) 773-3809.