When you are in the process of finding a substance abuse or co-occurring disorder treatment program, you can go through many emotions as you move through your options. Besides the anxieties you may have regarding what such a great leap may look like for you, you may worry about what this change would look like for your career. While people may lose their jobs and livelihood to active addiction or mental illnesses, some have maintained their careers despite their suffering. They may have been forced to live a “double life” without help, creating feelings of shame and guilt. Due to those old feelings, people may feel uncomfortable with stepping into a new life of recovery because of the guilt and shame they experienced due to living one life differently from the other.
You may think to yourself, “I don’t want to have a secret life anymore,” but may not feel okay with letting your professional world know this part of your life due to the stigmas attached to substance use and mental health disorders. Despite these stigmas and your fear of how we may be perceived, know that you deserve to have peace and joy. You do not have to be a slave to your addictions or co-occurring disorders anymore. You can recover, and what other people know is up to you.
Life after treatment may be challenging to get used to again because you may be dealing with feelings of self-doubt or uncertainty. Still, you can be reminded that you are no longer under the influence of drugs or alcohol and no longer have to live your life in service to the needs that only cause you harm. You are free to make choices for yourself, choices that can enrich your life as well as your recovery. If support groups are a route you have chosen post-treatment, you can look at local meetings in your area to find what may suit you best. Most groups, such as 12-Step meetings or SMART Recovery, have an online directory where you can find out the time, location, and type of meeting. Some meetings are open to the public, and others are closed, meaning attendance is limited to members or individuals who identify as alcoholics and addicts.
Finding a closed meeting may be a helpful route for us to take. It could potentially lessen the chance of an outsider who may not understand the purpose of meetings or the pain involved with active addiction or mental health ailments wandering into the room. When meetings are closed, it also lessens the chance of someone we know from a professional setting or otherwise walking in. In turn, the chances of your recovery journey being shared with others are reduced significantly.
Community is a significant factor when it comes to the success of your recovery. You need healthy people to connect with. While support groups such as 12-Step meetings may not work for you, you can still get online and look for forums that may have what you are looking for. Whether through a phone call, video call, or writing, you can use the internet to reach out and bond with others. The great part about all virtual platforms is that you can remain anonymous unless you choose to let yourself be known. You can use only your first name or initials. You can turn off your screens on video calls. You can have emojis as your profile pictures. Remaining anonymous online may be the first step into creating a safe community for yourself before you reveal who you are by name or face and can help keep your sobriety your own.
It may feel weird at first, almost like you’re keeping a secret from friends, family, and co-workers, but the reality is that your recovery is solely your own. You do not, nor should you ever feel pressured to speak about it in spaces that make you feel unsafely vulnerable. You have been through a lot to get to the point that you are today, and those experiences do not need to be a topic of conversation. It is okay to answer with vague responses to people when they ask personal questions like “Where have you been?” While these people most likely mean no harm, you are still allowed to protect yourself by only giving out information as you see fit. You may feel obligated to give polite yet brief answers to showcase your professionalism. You can do your best to honor this while also remembering that you do not have to oblige anyone’s request for more information than what you have already given.
Beginning a new way of life comes with its ups and downs. Sometimes it is hard to know where you can get support, especially when you feel that it may be in your best interest to hide certain truths about your life that others may not understand. Regardless of your career path, you are entitled to receiving support from others. NorthStar Transitions has specific recovery programs tailored to those who are professionals and active-duty military where the need for confidentiality is at the forefront. Our Professionals Treatment Program understands career demands by helping our clients meet their professional goals and their recovery goals. If you are a professional or active military in the Boulder, CO area and struggle with the stigmas attached to drug and alcohol use or co-occurring disorders such as PTSD, anxiety, etc., call us for more information at (330) 558-6400. Let your healing begin with NorthStar Transitions.
