Day 108. “Once exposed, a secret loses all its power.”
This is a great quote. I find it to be very true. 3 guys at church, including a pastor, as well as my oldest son know my addiction and recovery story. While I do feel a bit of fear that if I relapse they will be disappointed, it's much better than having this stay a secret. It feels freeing to tell people.
Of course it matters 'who' you tell. Not all are worthy of the truth, either. It may prove to be for many, as it was for me, actually damaging to an extent if you tell a person who's either not able nor equipped to handle 'your truth'. The cascading waves of shame, accusation, mistrust (earned or not), and underlying anger can retard one's growth and recovery, and also end a marriage or relationship.
You'll find that to tell or not to tell can be an ongoing debate on this forum, and it'll depend on who you ask, but there's also an opposite side that says,
My struggle is uniquely male, I should only tell an accountability partner. Or, my struggle is uniquely mine and extremely private, I recognize that my wife is not equipped to handle this struggle, and it's kind of unfair for me to (unmanly) relieve my sense of guilt by foisting this on her, and now she's unduly burdened with it. I got myself into it, I alone can get myself out.
I'm not saying this to discourage nor dissuade you from your own story and awesome efforts at encouraging others, but to caution against any kind of 'one-size-fits-all' approach which may not be applicable in everyone's story.
Be blessed.
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