Lying is an Adaptive Behavior

A person in active addiction focuses mostly on obtaining drugs or alcohol, keeping a supply going, and then thinking about where to get more once it runs out. This may also include thinking about how to function in daily life by going to work, school or socializing with family and friends but without fail, addicted persons will lie and hide behavior to prevent the addiction from being uncovered.

Lying

In the news there have been stories of people who make up schemes to have people send money for cancer treatments never received only to find out it was used for drugs. A person with an addiction will lie to parents, friends, partners, co-workers, and others becomes as addictive as the drugs or alcohol which consume the person’s life. While not everyone will fake cancer to receive money for an addiction, there are other ways lying can contribute to a more difficult recovery.

Barriers

Rather than setting oneself up for success, lying actually has the opposite effect. Loved ones eventually catch onto the lies being told and either stay away from the person doing the lying or catch the individual and seek an explanation. In truth, lying is a form of self-sabotage against the individual themselves which wreaks more havoc on the process of recovery. Some of the lies might include saying:

• Things aren’t really that bad. What the person means to say is there is a belief the addiction is done for the sake of family, friends, work, etc. A person may be embarrassed and seek to minimize the impact of addiction on loved ones or perhaps are afraid of acknowledging secrets long held from everyone.
  
• I know what I need to do. Relapses can happen before success is achieved with addiction. Honesty is important as a recovery tool because, without it, it is difficult to acknowledge the damage done by oneself to self or others.
  
• Watch me do this! Individuals seek attention for outrageous behavior which includes self-sabotage. The goal is generally to be seen and heard but the behavior suggests otherwise and usually pushes people away who are appalled at the actions and put distance between themselves and the person with addiction.

Honesty Above All

In recovery, the first step is to acknowledge a problem exists, the second is to disclose what has happened. Secrecy only keeps the person in a cycle of addiction and isolation which can serve as fuel for relapse and threaten recovery efforts. Therapy can help a person open up and feel heard. Being honest is also a good practice with self or others who want to help provide care and support through the cycle of addiction to recovery.

Hired Power has resources and support available. We are here to help take away the anxiety and worry of getting started on the path to recovery.

Contact us today at 800.910.9299 for more information.