If kicking drug or alcohol addiction is a New Year’s resolution for 2016 (or, at least, a past resolution you plan on continuing in 2016), then you may be wondering how you might strengthen your recovery. Here’s an idea: as part of your resolution to become sober, you might consider sharing your story with others. In case you’re deciding whether or not to be public about your recovery, here are five reasons that sharing your addiction recovery story with others might be a good idea.

Let others hold you accountable.

As you talk with others in person about your recovery addiction, and as you share your story online, you are instantly making your goals in recovery public. This means that those who know about your goals can follow up with you on them, and you’ll feel more motivated to keep your goals since more people know about them.

Celebrate your milestones.

It’s important to celebrate the milestones you come across in recovery, and one great way to do this is to talk about your milestones online. It’s an easy way to document your progress, and you’ll have others cheering along with you.

Instantly build your support system.

Don’t be surprised if by sharing your story you come into contact with those who have (or who have had) some of the same trials as you. Making your story more public could help you build a stronger support system that includes these people.

Help remove the stigma surrounding addiction.

Addiction is more common than most realize, and when you share your story with friends, family, and others, you are helping to remove the shame that many subconsciously associate with addiction. People will see addiction through your eyes, and you’ll help open up the dialogue surrounding addiction. You might even encourage those who are currently battling addiction to open up and talk about their addictions with others. Those who were once quiet about addiction might even join in on the discussion you’ve initiated as well.

Your story could help others.

As you make your story more public, you have the potential to help and inspire others who are going through their own recoveries from addiction. Your story might firsthand reach those with similar trials as you, by means of one-on-one communication or social media. Or, others who have loved ones with addiction might see your story and become better prepared to help those loved ones with their addictions. Often these people whom you help won’t even tell you that you have, so it’s generally safe to assume that sharing your recovery experience with others will help more people than you’ll ever realize.

Of course, the decision as to whether or not you will make your story public is entirely up to you. Recovery from addiction is a highly personal process, and therefore you should feel no fault in deciding to remain more private about your recovery.