The Importance of Honesty in Recovery and How To Maintain It During Your Journey

You did it. You made the choice to kick the habit once and for all. You entered rehab and went through detox. But what’s next? 

How do you glue your life back together? How do you rebuild the relationships that your addiction ended?

You be honest. You tell the truth. You apologize. You face the reality of what active addiction did to your life. 

Then you begin to heal. You work through your treatment program, and you rebuild.

Learn why finally being honest with yourself and those around you is essential to your recovery.

Keep reading to find out six reasons it’s important to be honest when walking through recovery and five important strategies to help you succeed.

Table of Contents

• 6 Reasons Why Honesty Is Important in Recovery
• 5 Strategies To Walk the Recovery Journey With Honesty
• Learn How To Prioritize Honesty in Recovery With the Experienced and Compassionate Team at Clear Steps Recovery

Recovery is hard --- especially in the beginning. But anything that’s worth doing is difficult at the start. The best way to begin your treatment plan and lifelong recovery journey is to be honest with yourself and others about all of it. One of the most crucial things you’ll learn in your journey after addiction is the importance of honesty.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, we can help. Clear Steps Recovery provides clients with evidence-based treatment programs that promote honesty, trust, and self-acceptance.

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#1: Growth in Self-Awareness and Acceptance

Being honest about the role you and your addiction have played in your life makes it easier to accept that it happened. When you can take a step back and reflect on those times, you’ll likely be able to get a better understanding of your triggers, responses, and behaviors that led you to substance abuse to begin with.

Recognizing and understanding your weaknesses and challenges will help you and your support team develop the coping skills and realistic goals you’ll need to stay on your recovery treatment path.

#2: Protection From Relapse

You probably didn’t start lying to yourself on purpose. It was likely just easier to ignore the pain when you didn’t acknowledge it. But lying can be a slippery slope leading to relapse. Dishonesty doesn’t protect you. In fact, it can lead you back into active addiction by reminding you of your past behaviors and renewing shame and guilt. 

Talking about cravings and struggles with others can allow you and your support system to help you through them with less likelihood of relapsing. 

#3: Experience of Freedom

Honesty isn’t simply about telling the truth. It’s about experiencing true freedom for the first time in a very long time. 

When you can tell the truth about your life, addiction, and challenges to others, it can help them help you. But when you tell yourself those truths, it can help you help yourself. Being honest about the challenges you may face in recovery can give you the courage, motivation, and willpower you’ll need to tackle those challenges head-on.

#4: Construction of Healthy Relationships and Authentic Connections

Honesty is hard, even for those not in a‌ctive addiction or recovery. And nothing can destroy relationships faster than lies and evasiveness. If you’ve lived in addition for any length of time, you’ve likely damaged important relationships. But the key factor in repairing them and building new ones is honesty. 

When you start your treatment journey, you’ll likely encounter many new people, many of whom you’ll connect with. To begin building relationships with them, you’ll need honesty about who you are and what you’ve been through. This will allow them to be honest and open with you in return.

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#5: Building Trust

To build trust with others, you need to rebuild trust with yourself first, which is where honesty comes in. Trust is the foundation of honesty. By being honest about your addiction, struggles, and commitment to your recovery, you can rebuild trust with your support system and yourself.

#6: Empowerment and Ownership

Regaining control of your life begins with being honest. It allows you to set achievable goals and become an active participant in your own life and emotional healing process. It can empower you to become more resilient and create a sense of self-efficacy that you likely didn’t have in the past.

Knowing that you need to be honest with yourself and others is only the first step to honesty in recovery. You’ll need some ideas on how to be honest while on the journey.

#1: Recognize Your Emotions and Feelings

When you start your recovery treatment journey, recognizing and naming your emotions and feelings is a crucial first step. Whatever you’re feeling — shame, guilt, self-doubt — face it head-on.

It might be scary, but one of the best ways to do this is to talk them out. Journaling is a great way to work through them yourself. Counseling is essential too, as it will help you recognize lies and misguided beliefs you may have. 

When you can do this day after day, you’re more likely to remain honest with yourself and about your recovery journey.

#2: Maintain a Commitment to Your Treatment Program and Counseling

When walking out a treatment plan, remaining in counseling and in your treatment program is crucial to your success. Making a commitment to yourself as well as to the program and your counselor is a necessity for your sobriety. If you leave your program too soon, you are at a higher risk of relapse

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#3: Be Honest With the People Around You

Make sure you are open and honest with the people closest to you. Your spouse, family, friends, and therapists should know what and where you’ve been. Open up to them about your treatment plan and about how it's progressing.

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#4: Be Honest About Your Struggles and Mistakes

Be open about what you’re facing. Tell people about your struggles and the things you find the most challenging. If people around you don’t know you're struggling, then they can’t help you. 

If you relapse or think you might, you must reach out to someone for help. The best way to deal with a relapse is to come back stronger from it with more information about yourself and your triggers. If shame and guilt try to keep you bound after a relapse, reach out to your support system, therapists, or your treatment plan as soon as you can.

#5: Be Accountable

Recovery is hard. It’s even harder if you try to do it on your own. But when you bring others on your recovery journey with you, you’re more likely to be successful and stay sober. However, you also need to admit when you’ve made a mistake and take ownership of any consequences.

Being accountable for your actions and decisions will not only help you, but will also help build trust with those around you.

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Honesty is the key to a successful long-term recovery and regaining control of your life. 

Our staff understands the importance of encouraging honest and open communication with our clients. But we also acknowledge that successful recovery is a continual self-discovery process. That’s why Clear Steps Recovery offers several types of counseling services to support long-term care.

If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, Clear Steps Recovery is here to help you gain sobriety and maintain it with a comprehensive list of programs.

Call us today and start your journey to sobriety and freedom in Massachusetts. 

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The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.