As Jamie Lee Curtis would put it, “Recovery is an acceptance that your life is in shambles, and you have to change.” Also, in one of her addiction quotes, Bucky Sinister, a self-help author, once said, “Your best days are ahead of you. The movie starts when the guy gets sober and puts his life back together; it doesn’t end there.”
Choosing to get help with addiction is the best favor you can do yourself. But again, we understand it’s never a walk in the park. Taking the first step can be traumatizing and frightening. Just to let you know, you aren’t alone.
If you’re the least scared and have no idea how to go about telling your family what you’re going through, we got your back. In today’s post, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step guide to letting the cat out of the bag and how to tell your family about your addiction.
So, let’s get to it!
1. Find the Right Time to Tell Your Family
Even the best of the best ideas never see the light of day when the timing is wrong. In the same way, if this is to go well, you got to find the most suitable time to let your family in on your little secret. Besides, your choice of location should also be appropriate for what you’re about to reveal.
Most preferably, you should consider a quiet location with little to no distractions. As for the timing, make sure the person—mom, dad, or brother—you’re targeting is at home. Alternatively, you can arrange for a meet-up over lunch or dinner and speak it out. Overcoming drug addiction Requires the right strategy, and it all starts with finding the right time.
2. Be Honest and Open Up
So, after getting their attention, what next? You got to be honest with yourself, lower your guts and open up. Make your family know how the addiction is affecting your life. It’ll also be helpful to give them an account of how it started. Remember, being honest is the rule here.
Having hard conversions can be a nightmare. Opening up to say the first word can be an uphill task. We get it! To start you off, you can try out these safe opening lines. “I need your help with a problem I have. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
Another alternative you can try out is: “I need to have a serious conversation with you about something I’m struggling with. This is hard for me to talk about, so I hope you’ll be supportive.” It’s the first step that’s hard. Once it’s out of the way, you’re good to go.
If you’re experiencing physical changes because of the addiction, this would be the time to talk about it. And to top it up, talk about your mental health and how you believe the addiction contributes to it.
Again, feel free to talk about any attempts to come out of the addiction: your struggles and your fear of getting into a relapse. If you experience withdrawal symptoms every time you try to quit, make this clear and let them understand the entire situation.
Opening up is a bold step to conquering your fears and winning the trust and sympathy of your family members. When they’re in a position to understand what you’re going through, giving a helping hand becomes easy. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
More importantly, if you aren’t comfortable with the idea of your addiction spreading out, ask them to keep it a secret. At the end of it all, it’s about you and coming out of the bondage of addiction. Anything that can affect your peace of mind would make the efforts not worth it.
While it’s okay to be optimistic, it does no harm to anticipate negative reactions. Here’s what we mean: when you tell your family, some members will immediately accept you as you are and show you the support you need.
On the contrary, some may be judgmental, feel disappointed in you, and may need more time to process the information. Whatever the case, you need to anticipate and prepare yourself for both negative and positive reactions.
The truth is, when you’re ready for anything, the shock doesn’t hit as hard. As you maneuver your way to quitting an addiction, you must have an open mind. Like it or not, the family members you look up to can give you the cold shoulder when you least expect it.
3. Confide in a Close Friend or Family Member
It’s okay to be afraid. Only that you shouldn’t let fear stop you. Confiding in a close friend or family member before facing your parent or whoever is responsible can help a long way. So, you can identify this one person and let them know what’s going on.
More importantly, ask them to accompany you when you are spilling the beans out. Their presence alone is enough to boost your confidence and make you feel you are never alone.
4. Let them Know How You want to be helped
Lastly, if you’ve come this far, you’re only a few steps away from victory. Accepting your problem and looking for an avenue to deal with it is bold and admirable. After revealing what’s bothering you, the next thing is to let them know you need help with the addiction.
What options are available, you ask?
Final thoughts: Covenant Hills Treatment can help with Addiction Treatment
There are many solutions out there to try, and a Christian Addiction Treatment Centerpasses for one. If you’re wondering where to find one, that’s where Covent Hills Treatment center comes in handy.
We’re committed to helping people like you with addiction challenges. We got your back, and we’ll never judge you. To us, you’re part of a big family and we’ll never rest until you’re back on track. Feel free to contact us now for assistance. We’re currently located in Orange County, CA, and looking forward to hearing from you.
Compiled from the following Sources
“How to Tell Your Family That You’re Struggling With Addiction — Eleanor Health,” Eleanor Health, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.eleanorhealth.com/blog/how-to-tell-your-family-that-you re-struggling-with-addiction. [Accessed: 28- Apr- 2021].
“I Miss My Drink, I Feel Blue — Tips for Coping | American Addiction Centers,” American Addiction Centers, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/blog/tips-for-coping. [Accessed: 28- Apr- 2021].
“Jamie Lee Curtis — IMDb”, IMDb, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000130/. [Accessed: 28- Apr- 2021].
- Sinister and B. Hole, “Bucky Sinister,” Soft Skull Press, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://softskull.com/authors/bucky-sinister/. [Accessed: 28- Apr- 2021].
“Overcoming Drug Addiction — HelpGuide.org”, HelpGuide.org, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/overcoming-drug-addiction.htm. [Accessed: 28- Apr- 2021].
“This is how to have hard conversations”, Medium, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-have-hard-conversations-aa36c31e2f1b. [Accessed: 28- Apr- 2021].
- Herald, “It’s Okay to Be Scared — Emotionally Resilient Living,” Emotionally Resilient Living, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.emotionallyresilientliving.com/its-okay-to-be-scared. [Accessed: 28- Apr- 2021].
