Addiction, also known as substance use disorder (SUD), is listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a chronic brain disorder. The Mayo Clinic explains that addiction is a “disease that affects a person’s brain and behavior and leads to an inability to control the use of a legal or illegal drug or medication.” If left untreated, addiction can cause severe short and long-term physiological effects. There is a plethora of different kinds of substance abuse and/ or addiction treatment programs available. Every person is unique and will have distinct needs when it comes to his or her recovery process. There are a variety of reasons why someone may choose to avoid discussing their experience going through addiction treatment with their friends. Below are the top 10 reasons why your friends may never talk about addiction treatment:
- Addiction, while clinically recognized as a mental disorder, still carries a social stigma.
- They may be worried that by talking about addiction treatment you will hear something that makes you no longer want to be their friend.
- Addiction treatment requires an individual to be vulnerable and the process can be incredibly personal.
- Addiction is an innately selfish disease, and after undergoing treatment your friend may feel that a great way to begin to repair your friendship would be to step out of the spotlight.
- They may have a fear of being judged.
- They may be concerned that in discussing the addiction treatment process with you, it will interfere with the dynamic of the friendship.
- They may have a desire to move forward and cultivate a new and healthier friendship by not dwelling on or drudging up the challenges that were faced during treatment.
- There may be certain things brought up during treatment that your friend simply wishes to remain private.
- Untreated addiction overshadows everything in one’s life, including friendships. A newly sober friend may want to avoid talking about his or her addiction treatment to make space for and focus on other areas of the friendship.
- Your friend may be getting used to his or her newly sober life and may want to sit with the addiction treatment experience for a while before considering talking about it with others.
It is important to bear in mind that even if your friend chooses to keep their addiction treatment experiences to themselves, it does not have any implication on the importance of your relationship or of their appreciation for your friendship. Some people may simply feel more comfortable discussing their recovery process with their friends than others.
For Information and Support
If you are concerned for yourself or a loved one regarding substance abuse and/ or addiction, we recommend reaching out for help as soon as possible. If left untreated, substance abuse can result in long lasting and potentially life-threatening consequences. Keep in mind: you are not alone! There is an entire network of professionals that are available to help and support you and your loved one throughout the recovery process. The earlier you seek support, the sooner your loved one can return to a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.
Please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding our specific program at Haven House Addiction Treatment and/ or general substance abuse and/ or addiction treatment related information. Our highly trained staff is readily available to discuss how we might best be able to help you and your loved one. We can be reached by phone at 424-258-6792. You are also welcomed to contact anytime us via email at admissions@hhtxc.com.
