Did you tell your family about your addiction

[gizzy32]

just curious about how many of you told your family about your addiction and how they reacted. when i came clean to my family and told them how bad it was they were in complete denial and i think to this day they are too. i mean they know, but i guess it's hard for a non addict to comprehend. i know it bothers my mother the most that i used coke, they have never used drugs and my mom does not drink so it was tough for sure. i do believe telling my family and friends the truth really helped me get out of denial and it helped me to finally be honest. sometimes it still gets thrown back in my face, but after what i put those i cared about through i understand. for me it was a good decision to tell them and wondering what happened when and if u came clean to your family.

[bandnmom]

Well said brknbck! Congrats on 7 months. I am right with you.

i myself told no one at first. it was something i chose to keep to myself until i felt strong enough that i was not going to fail at it..yet again. Still after the fact very few people know. That is one reason i am so greatful for this forum.

[broknbck]

Yes, i told my kids first. my brothers, my parents, friends. everyone that was close to me .  i described the withdrawl when i run out of pills and that i am trying to come up with some solutions here. everyone was so helpful and supportive and completely understood when i could not make it to social events sometimes. and they were even going through their cupboards looking for forgotten perscriptions to tide me over while i was setting up my taper plan.

hey, we did not set out to get addicted to drugs. it happened and now we need help. what is there to be embarrased or ashamed about. we are trying to make it right.there are not many that will condemn you for that right? and if they do, then who needs them? at the same time we are warning people close to us to not get caught up in it also. who knows, we may have saved someone a lot of grief by opening up our mouths and sharing.

BTW my taper was successful and i am 7 months free now.

[worried878]

If I had a husband i would have hoped i could have told him....i have both my parents and do not feel that they had anything to do with this as they are great...i did tell my mom...and she loves me and it hurt her...i would tell my husband if i had one but if i had to choose over again i would not have told my mom...nor did i tell my kids as they are both grown and married...i do not agree that it always serves a purpose to tell everyone in ur entire family about all of this if i did not have to....i dont see the purpose it would serve ...people who really love u hurt when u hurt ...i just dont see where i needed to hurt anyone else..and i wish i had not told my mom...but all is well

[bobby139]

I finally told my husband and one of my sons noticed himself and he is the one in the begining that helped me even before my husband knew...but thats all no friends or family know.
hugs
bobby

[FriaryGrad]

Admitting you have a problem and that you're seriously working on it should bring support and respect.  Those who don't offer you that aren't really people you need to be around while you're working to stay clean and sober. Staying clean requires hard work, and like all legitimate hard work, it should be supported by your loved ones. Addiction is a disease that some of us can "catch" a lot easier than others - it has absolutely nothing to do with CHARACTER or willpower. This might sound weird, but your mom might be someone who could catch the addiction disease easily -- she just doesn't know because she isn't exposing herself to the catalyst that triggers the disease.  If any of us knew we'd be addicts, and couldn't stop a recreational use, we'd probably have made better decisions.  

I told my family and by boss before going to rehab [I think they would have wondered where I was, otherwise :>) ]. They all assured me that what was important was that I recover.  When I got back to work, my boss told me that only the two people in my department who had been holding down the fort while I was out knew where I'd been (I'm a department head).  That was an absolutely hilarious thought. I told him if two people knew then they all knew, but that I didn't mind.  When I walked back into my office, after having suddenly disappeared for 60 days, I got lots of hugs and "we're so glad you're back" comments, but ironically no one asked me where I had been -- some how work had gotten around. :>)   Same for my family.  Although I only told my parents and sister, when I saw my other relatives, they'd (gravely) ask "how ARE you?" in a way that meant: "Are you still in recovery?" That was four years ago, "one day at a time," , and although I don't wear my recovery or AA involvement on my sleeve, I don't consider it to be a secret or anything to be ashamed of.  

[wanttobeclean]

Hubby yes...sibs no.  My parents are both gone.  Telling my hubby was the best decision I think I have ever made, aside from marrying him.  Granted, I've only told him and been clean for 4 days, but still, it feels so right.