Staying Sober While Climbing the Corporate Ladder
It’s hard enough for a woman (or a man) to kick an alcohol addiction, even in the best of times. But when you’re juggling a family, a home, and a career, it can be positively grueling. One thing is for certain, if you finally find yourself admitting that you have a drinking or drug problem, you’ve taken the first step towards the road to recovery. The second step is to get yourself the treatment you deserve to kick the habit and to stay away from it forever.
One effective method for recovering from an alcohol and drug addiction is a holistic treatment that doesn’t rely on a clinical atmosphere and chemicals. Says the professionals at The Ho Tai Way, a women’s addiction treatment program in Costa Mesa, California, comprehensive addiction treatment can be very effective and sustainable when it takes place in a residential atmosphere, complete with trauma-infused care, evidenced-based therapy, psychiatry, holistic therapy, individual counseling, group support, and more.
But how can you stick with your newfound sobriety when your program is completed, and you find yourself back at work, facing the enormous if not overwhelming pressures of everyday life? According to a recent report by Indeed, approximately 20 million U.S. adults struggle with some form of substance abuse on a daily basis. More than 100,000 people have died from drug overdoses over the past year, while alcohol related-death account for about another 100,000 per year.
Another research study revealed that 22 million U.S. adults have resolved their substance abuse problem by utilizing a variety of treatments and programs. 30 Percent are said to have engaged in some form of “formal treatment” or another, or so said Indeed. What’s for certain is this: alcohol and drug addictions play a major role in the lives of Americans, both women and men. It also can affect their production in the workforce.
Those who recover and stay sober will find that climbing the corporate ladder will be that much easier. This is especially true for women who also bear the responsibility of being a parent.
The Benefits of Substance Abuse Recovery
Those who are already going through recovery are aware that having a steady income is a key factor in alcohol or drug rehab and maintaining your sobriety. It’s said that people who maintain employment status enjoy a higher rate of abstinence and better quality of life. They also are less likely to relapse, violate parole, or engage in serious criminal activity like carjacking.
Some of the key benefits of climbing the corporate ladder (or simply maintaining a good job) while recovering are the following:
Much Needed Structure
Anyone who has struggled and wrestled with a severe addiction understands how destructive it can be not only to your life, but also to the lives of your loved ones. But by having gainful employment, you will be providing the consistency and stability your brain and body requires as a solid foundation when it comes to reconstructing your life.
Said a detox and dual diagnosis treatment professional recently, if you can prioritize structure once you get off the craziness of the alcohol and drug abuse rollercoaster, you will find yourself on the right path to recovery and sobriety.
Much Needed Purpose
Said Indeed, maintaining a good job gives you validation and a true sense of purpose. For those in early recovery you might find that options are limited due to the gaffs and mistakes you made while you were still drinking or using or both.
Should that be the case, you will likely feel discouraged. But this is a temporary emotion. The more time you stick with the job and the more time you remain sober, you will regain the trust of your fellow employees and employers.The climb up the corporate ladder will once again resume.
Much Needed Financial Security
The dangerous part about being in recovery is that it entails facing the damage you might have caused from your past substance abuse-fueled behavior. This translates into massive debt, food insecurity, and housing issues. But by getting a good job or establishing a new career, you will get back on your financial feet. This will greatly improve your resiliency and your sense of self-worth. More importantly, it will encourage you to remain sober.
Time to Get Real
In the short run, once you finish your treatment program and find yourself living a new life of sobriety, the world will seem like a new and even intimidating place. Going back to the workforce, even gradually, will expose you to the things in everyday life that can cause great stress. Even the rush hour traffic is enough to drive a person to drink, for instance. But now that you’ve learned how to manage such triggers, you can deal with them in healthier, more positive ways.
In the long run, making a return to the workforce will afford you stability, and it will keep your brain active and focused on the now. That alone should be enough to keep you from falling off the wagon forever.