Stigma is a textbook fear that only holds you back. People are judging you now – when you’re high thinking you’re acting normal or too hungover to show up. It’s common in addiction to think that “no one knows.” But, it’s rarely true. The people in our lives have suspicion and worry about what’s going on with us long before we want to admit it.
The good news is that addiction doesn’t have to define you. In fact, recovery redefines who you are and helps you get to where you want to be. There are millions of successful and amazing people living in recovery. But, it’s their personality or career that you know of, not their addiction.
You’re judging yourself so much more harshly than anyone else (and that’s part of the problem).