Confronting addiction is one of the first steps for anyone struggling with substance abuse. Know that there is always help along the road to recovery.
While you may hesitate to confide in someone about your addiction, support and encouragement from others can help increase your chances of sobriety during recovery. If you’ve decided to talk to someone about your addiction, here are some helpful tips to get the most out of sharing your feelings.
How to Talk About Addiction
When you confide in someone about your addiction, selecting the right person is one of the most important choices you’ll make. Choose a trustworthy friend, counselor, co-worker or family member. Your confidant’s level of understanding about your addiction will have a significant impact on your journey to recovery.
If you’d like to talk with someone about addiction, choose someone:
- Whose opinions seem sensible.
- Who has the time to prioritize discussions with you.
- Who has gone through something similar and resolved it.
- Whom you feel safe around.
- Who can offer emotional validation and empathy.
- Likely to be as loyal and discreet as you need them to be.
Get the Most Out of Sharing Your Feelings
After you’ve found someone you trust and want to confide in them about your addiction, keep these tips in mind to get the most out of your discussion:
- Honesty is key: Being honest about your addiction helps build trust. When someone knows what you are struggling with, they will be better equipped to help you during recovery.
- Choose an appropriate time and location for the conversation: Agreeing on a place where you can talk about addiction interruption-free is essential. You will also want to set aside a sufficient amount of time. Avoid talking about your addiction on a day where you have other obligations or plans.
- Determine what you want and how much you want to share beforehand: Before confiding in someone about your addiction, write down what you want to say and put yourself in their shoes. Think about what concerns or questions they may have.
Take the Next Steps Toward Recovery After Confiding in Someone About Addiction
After confiding in someone you trust about your addiction, seeking help is a great way to keep moving forward. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), attending support groups before and after treatment for alcohol and drug addiction can help a person maintain sobriety. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) similarly asserts that group recovery settings provide accountability and positive peer support.
Support groups include programs such as SMART Recovery and Alcoholics Anonymous, as well as online church and community networks. These organizations offer support for those struggling with addiction.
Get Help at MedMark Treatment Centers
MedMark is an outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT) center for opioid use disorder with locations across the United States.
If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction and needs help, find the closest treatment center near you and contact us online today.
