Coming clean at work

Hi everyone.

I am new to this forum and am struggling. I identify with a lot of the emotions others describe, and recently they seem to have peaked. While I don't know that my lies are an "addiction" per se, they are certainly a pattern. It is not something I do everyday or even every week but it has been a pattern over my life. Perhaps addiction is still something I am coming to terms with.

I recently began the process of "coming clean", however the area where I have not is at work. I am incredibly stressed about this, as people who are coworkers may not be as sympathetic or have the same willingness to forgive as loved ones. They are certainly less obligated to do so. The lie is something completely irrelevant to my work and I am so worried that my credibility will be questioned and how to recreate trust.

Does anyone have any advice about this? My main concern is that it may be professional suicide to come clean at work. The feelings of guilt/being "caught" are eating me up, but I don't want to regret coming clean because of the professional repercussions. I have tried visualizing "best possible outcomes" for coming clean to help build my courage, but even still I am really struggling. I would appreciate input if anyone is willing to help.

Thanks.

I would think if the people at work are not close friends and the lie you mention has nothing to do with work or gaining some sort of advantage at work then you don't need to come clean with them.

Let me be clear, If the lie doesn't effect them in any way and it's only 1 lie as you said I wouldn't worry about it. Just be honest with yourself when looking at it to make sure it doesn't.
If it does then that's a whole different story.