Yes, even executives need addiction treatment
Addiction is a disease that knows no boundaries. It affects both the rich and the poor, female and male, and young and old. And while many think that addiction is a disorder that limits itself to people lower on the corporate ladder rung, high-level professionals and corporate executives are also afflicted. Bogged down with the stress that comes from demanding schedules and intense demands, it isn’t any wonder.
If you’re a busy executive who is using a substance to help cope with the pressures of your job or other things going on in your life, there are some critical questions you should ask yourself.
1. Are you arriving late to work, leaving early, or missing work altogether more frequently than normal?
2. Are you more sensitive to criticism?
3. Are you struggling with concentration or lack of detail issues?
4. Are you more aggressive or belligerent?
5. Are you taking less care of your appearance?
6. Are you avoiding coworkers?
7. Have you started lying?
8. Is your job performance below standards?
9. Do you avoid the subject if people bring it up?
10. Are you less efficient?
11. Do you use when you’re alone?
If you’ve answered yes to any of these questions, your addiction has started to impact on your work, and you’re going to need to address the problem. It’s important to focus on being fully self aware so that you can be honest with yourself, as this will be the only way to get your life and career back on course.
Here are some statements that suggest you’re not being honest with yourself.
1. I’m doing it just for fun or as a way to escape.
2. I’m not hurting anyone else.
3. I can stop when I want to.
4. Other people are doing it, and I’m not as bad as them.
5. No harm will come of it.
According to Psychology Today, people who are suffering with addiction practice self-deception because they feel the need to see themselves in a certain positive light. They also suggest that in order to start healing, substance abuse users will need to understand what is motivating them to hold “certain beliefs and views” about themselves. This will provide crucial knowledge to take the first step.
Once you’ve done a forthright assessment about your condition, and have determined that your problem does need management, it’s important to get the proper help. And proper help for any addiction will include a comprehensive rehabilitation program. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, effective treatment will include customizable recovery plans, behavioral therapy, medication management and monitoring.
As a busy executive, you may be thinking, “Yes, I need the treatment, but I can’t afford to lose my job.” One of the biggest barriers that prevents executives from seeking treatment is the misplaced belief that they’ll have to give up their job and their lifestyle to get well. Or, they imagine that rehabilitation will mean surrounding themselves with people who have worse addiction issues or people who are not relatable to them.
Addiction programs and treatment centers, just like addiction, come in all different types. Executive or luxury treatment programs provide a more exclusive, peaceful environment where executives are permitted to manage their work while going through the recovery process. Patients in these facilities receive both high-quality substance abuse and behavior addiction treatment, while at the same time being granted computer and phone privileges to handle business matters.
In addition to the latitude for managing a work schedule, these types of treatment programs also provide a social network of other busy executives who are experiencing the same personal health crisis. According to American Addiction Centers, these programs offer other important features, like:
Catered meals
Private rooms with comfortable furnishings.
Exercise and recreational facilities.
Private conference rooms with phone and computer access
Seclusion
Discretion
Getting help for your addiction doesn’t mean losing your job. In fact, in all likelihood it means you’ll be able to keep your job. Put aside issues that are preventing you from seeking help and start the journey to wellness.
