When you struggle with alcohol or drug addiction, you might go to great lengths to hide your problem. This can include drinking or doing drugs on the sly or lying to loved ones about taking these substances. While it’s understandable that you don’t want to worry your loved ones, it’s important to realize that being secretive about your addiction is preventing you from getting the help you need from a 12-step recovery program or another form of addiction recovery.

Why Do People Keep Secrets?

Those who struggle with addiction often keep this a secret for different reasons. Hiding this kind of problem allows them to continue drinking or taking drugs without anyone interfering or trying to stop them. Others are worried that admitting they have a problem will cause their loved ones to reject them or put friends and family members under a lot of stress. Some might not believe they truly have an addiction, although they’re aware enough to realize that loved ones might frown on their behavior. This causes them to drink or do drugs in secret and hide any evidence that they have a problem.

Do These Secrets Cause Harm?

Alcoholics Anonymous has a saying that “you’re only as sick as your secrets,” which calls attention to the importance of being honest about addiction. When it comes to drug or alcohol addiction, keeping secrets can be harmful. When you hide your problem from loved ones or even from yourself through self-deception, you’re making it harder for you to move toward sober living. In order to get help, you’ll need to admit you have a problem and be willing to turn to friends and family members for support. When you keep secrets about your addiction, your loved ones can’t provide you with the social support you need. You’ll also be much less likely to seek treatment through an addiction recovery program.

How Can I Stop Keeping Secrets?

The best way to stop being secretive about your addiction is to make a commitment to being honest. When you’re honest with yourself and with loved ones about your struggles, your chances of achieving sober living become much higher. You and your loved ones can work together to get you into a 12-step recovery program or another type of addiction recovery program, so you can get the help you need to lead a happy, healthy life.

Staying clean and sober is a choice. It is a decision made every hour of every day and can be supported by the environment, habits, and people one invites into one’s life. Implement these 15 tips to stay motivated on your path to addiction recovery and beyond.

1. When in the initial months of addiction recovery, your objective is to make it to the end of the day without using an addictive substance.
2. There is no “I can handle just one drink.” Practice abstaining from all alcohol or drugs.
3. Take care of your physical body with exercise and healthy eating.
4. Create new relationships with positive, supportive people who want the best for you. Eliminate bad influences from your life.
5. Reconnect with those that have become distant due to substance abuse.
6. Be accountable and responsible for your actions.
7. Join a support group and take advice and give support to others in the 12-step recovery process.
8. Practice forgiveness. Resentfulness and grudges are hard crosses to bear. Forgiveness is part of the 12-step recovery process and allows love back in and makes those who practice it feel unburdened.
9. Stop the self-pity act. Create actionable steps to get you towards your goals. Self-pity creates a sense that one is not responsible for actions today because of mitigating circumstances. Stay in control and go forward.
10. Use tools to manage stress. Meditation, walking, and journaling can all help reduce the feeling of stress on the body and create more self-awareness. Turn to hobbies such as crafting or playing an instrument to take a break.
11. Create a schedule and regular events to stay busy. Enjoy the company of friends and family. Accomplish goals. Take on extra projects. This is important in the first few months of sober living.
12. Develop a network of people that you can talk with and turn to when you need an ear or need some motivation to stay sober.
13. Meet other people. Take on a social hobby, such as a cooking or dancing class. Learn new skills and engage productively with others.
14. Write down 5 things that you are grateful for daily. A gratitude journal is a way to be aware of the gifts around us and appreciate our journey.
    

    Sober living is easier when you remember what you’re grateful for. Write down what you’re thankful for each day in a journal.

15. Use extra time to update job skills or go back to school. Enable yourself to gain confidence, and possibly a promotion, with attention to your education.