Addiction Recovery

How To Adjust At Work While Going To Rehab

September 5, 2022

Learn more ways you can adjust at work while attending rehab.

Alcohol and drug addiction have profound and adverse effects on your ability to live a normal, healthy, and productive life. Its massive consequences impact your very being. Your physical and mental health are compromised; your safety, your security, and even your ability to have healthy relationships are on the line.

Certain things that make you more susceptible to developing an addiction are genetic or environmental factors. But your career choice might contribute to your chances of acquiring negative habits. Unsurprisingly, holding specific career roles has certain stress levels that make it more possible for you to become addicted to alcohol and drugs.

Sadly, these people are judged for seeking professional help in certain institutions. In fear of facing stigma and professional setbacks, some opt not to go to rehab. It is, however, essential to note that when professionals develop an addiction, they require specialized treatment wherein they are allowed to balance their career and recovery.

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Why Is Work So Important During Recovery?

Recovering from any form of addiction is necessary and meaningful work that is focused on rebuilding your life. As part of rehab, finding your purpose, repairing relationships, and rebuilding your self-esteem are important components of recovery.

Some of the reasons how to adjust at work while going to rehab:

  • Restore self-sufficiency. Take care of yourself for you to be able to take care of others. With self-sufficiency comes increased self-esteem, when you know you can successfully support yourself as a sober person is so important.
  • Return to normalcy. In your current job, getting back to familiar habits and continuously proving to yourself and others that you can fulfill your responsibilities again could mean restoring stability and security to you and your family.
  • Improve financial stability. Cycles of addiction usually have a damaging impact on your savings, and even meeting the basic needs of food and housing can be challenging. Working while sober offers the chance to manage your budget and prioritize your finances with a clear mind.
  • Use time wisely. If want to build new life habits to support your healing, dwelling on the past and being isolated will not help. Consider productive or volunteer work to make a difference in the world and how you feel about it with you in it.
  • Inoculation to reality. While in rehab, addicts discovered how to deal with their triggers and stressors. Once you leave the facility, the challenge of returning to your responsibilities comes in, this means you expose yourself to the very situation you had to overcome in rehab in real life. Overcome this to fully participate in reality.
  • Fulfill responsibilities. To establish trust, you have to do good with your commitments and promises to yourself, your family, loved ones, and your community. Consistently do what you said you would, and will become more of the person that other people can depend on.
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5 Ways How To Adjust At Work While Going To Rehab

After a long-term inpatient addiction recovery program, getting back to normal will be challenging. Your definition of normal may be different now since you have committed to a sober lifestyle. It might mean you will be looking for new friends, leisure activities, hobbies, and maybe a new job. 

Whether you had the luxury of seeking treatment while on leave or if you are looking for work during your transition back to your everyday life, you will need to have the skill that will allow you to maintain your harmony with yourself and prevent any chances of you being overwhelmed in early sobriety, causing yourself to relapse. 

Finding work-life balance is essential to everyone, especially for people in recovery. It would help if you conserved your energy to remain sober. Here are some tips that might help you find that balance you'll need before returning to work.

1. Don't Aim to Become an Over-Achiever Immediately

There might be a point where you feel the need to prove yourself by exerting more effort at work by actually taking in more work. While this is admirable, you must avoid being too eager with work while juggling early sobriety. 

2. Show Up Early

Get up earlier in the morning and arrive to work with time to spare for a stress-free start to your day. This allows for relaxing yet productive vibes while at the same time letting your workmates know that you care about your job.

3. Check-in with Your Recovery Needs

It is important to check in with your sponsor or counselor regularly to keep yourself accountable and help you talk about managing your stress. You will be a more productive member of society if you put yourself first. 

4. Practice Good Time Management

Try to research time management techniques and read books on productivity to pick up some tips for making the most of your time. Fostering these skills will help you become an efficient worker while being able to participate in activities for your recovery. Time management also includes time off for you to recharge and push forward the next day.

5. Take Care of Yourself, Inside and Out

Create healthy habits that will help you feel your best, if not every day, at least most days. Find time to exercise, eat well, get enough rest, etc. Not only will you be productive at work, but it will help in preventing any possible relapse. Self-care also means taking care of other things in your life, like your spiritual needs. Practice meditation, yoga, or some form of church or religious service to help you manage stress.

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If you know someone who struggles with addiction, now is the time to seek help. At Another Chance, we specialize in long-term care that produces accurate results, especially for those who have experienced a relapse. Here you will find a team of qualified and compassionate professionals ready to help each client through a customized treatment program that addresses all aspects of addiction, including identifying co-occurring disorders.

We know that the journey towards recovery doesn't end with the conclusion of an inpatient program. Therefore, we provide extensive aftercare programs to support our clients' transition into lasting sobriety. We also know that addiction affects the whole family, so loved ones are encouraged to participate in the recovery process and take advantage of all our support resources. For more information, call us today at  971-306-4245.