Finding Your Path to Addiction
Recovery: How to Get Help When You Are a Professional
Addiction, like any disease, can affect
anyone. It affects people across class, status, and means. As time passes, we
understand the nature of addiction better and better. However, that doesn’t
mean there is no stigma, particularly in a professional environment. You may be
unsure if you need help and scared of the consequences it may have. Courtesy of
Healing Just for You, here is what you need to
know about when and how to get the help you may need.
Identify
a Problem
First, know that addiction is more than drugs
or alcohol. It can include any number of substances or behaviors. Addiction
often is beyond a person’s control. Whatever the behavior is, it
becomes impossible to stop engaging in or even thinking about it. One may have
a genetic predisposition to it. To establish if you have an addiction, you need
to be honest with yourself. Has anyone approached
you with concerns about your behavior? Has the behavior caused trouble in many
aspects of your life, from romantic to family, or even work? In fact, studies
suggest that workplace stress can be a trigger for addiction. Often, we engage
in social drinking with co-workers to unwind and improve work relationships.
However, this is a slippery slope that may lead to addiction if engaged too
frequently.
Address
Your Concerns
One thing that prevents many from seeking help
and rehabilitation is the fear of losing their job. This is frightening to
numerous individuals, as one relies upon work for livelihood, and it can take
years to build a reputation. However, know that you have protection if you enter rehab. While you can
be fired for using illegal substances on the job, you cannot be fired for
entering rehab. In a way, it offers protection to those who choose to seek
help.
Addiction is defined by the ADA as a
disability, and seeking rehabilitation gives one disability rights. The FMLA allows for up to 12 weeks per year of unpaid time off
of work for those who qualify -- and those who suffer addiction do qualify.
It’s also reassuring to note that your employer cannot disclose any information
about where you are on legal grounds, and you are not obligated to share any
extraneous information about the nature of your addiction with them.
Different
Treatments
There are a variety of options for every
lifestyle when seeking treatment for addiction. For instance, there are two main treatment options for those pursuing
recovery. Outpatient and inpatient treatments are quite different. In-patient
(or residential) treatment allows you to remain on the property while seeking
therapy. Many centers allow you to work during your stay, which can help allay
fears about losing one’s job or not being able to keep up with a fast-paced
environment when you return. Outpatient programs involve a person going in at
specific times during the week for treatment while staying in the comfort of
your own home. Different people require different levels of assistance, and
having an open discussion with a therapist can be helpful in determining what
you need.
Healthy
Habits
After treatment, it’s imperative to focus on
creating new healthy habits. Your body may need to be replenished after addiction, as you may have
been ignoring your nutritional requirements. Depending on your addiction, you
may have to speak to a dietician to determine what is best for you. However,
shifting your focus to fresh fruits and vegetables, along with healthy
proteins, is good for most. Healthy foods can even go a long way to improving
mood, as can proper fitness. Monitor yourself to make sure
you’re not replacing your addiction with working out, but a balanced exercise
regimen is beneficial, especially after recovery. Practicing yoga, for example,
is an excellent way to stay healthy. Many people also find relief by attending reiki sessions, since this powerful treatment
for energy healing can lower stress, reduce pain and even contribute to more
vitality.
Taking
Care of Your Business
If you’re starting a business during your path
to recovery, it’s important that you find ways to lessen the stress involved
with this process. Although you’ll need to handle many tasks yourself, there
are ways to alleviate some of the associated stress. For starters, if you have
a partner, talk to them about what you need and how they can help until you’re
back on your feet. If it’s formalities that need taking care of, like if you’re
preparing to register your business LLC, you can use formation services
to quickly complete the necessary paperwork. This way, you can focus on other
tasks of getting your business off the ground, as well as continuing your
journey to recovery.
The path to sobriety and recovery may seem intimidating, but it’s important to start. If you have the aforementioned symptoms, you may very well suffer from addiction. Talk to a therapist and decide what kind of treatment is right for you before this disease affects your life and career. It’s a hard change to make, and it takes courage. However, every day you do not address your problem is a risk. Today is the perfect day to start looking toward the future.
Image Courtesy of Pexels.com
No comments:
Post a Comment