Guide to Overcoming Addiction Triggers When You’re in a Leadership Position

For many who don’t fully understand the true nature of the problem, drug addiction is associated with complete and utter ruin. It conjures up images of homeless individuals with track marks all up their arms who struggle mightily to survive through each day while continuing to compulsively use the same drug substances that led to their condition. Actually, drug addiction has as many different faces as the individuals who suffer from it, and a vast majority of addicts are functioning addicts who have jobs or even hold executive positions. For these individuals, there is a constant war of sorts between the desire to address and overcome their addiction problems and the desire to hold onto their job. Unfortunately, an individual’s job can be a powerful addiction trigger—driving the individual to have constant cravings and anxiety.

Ways to Stay Sober From Drugs

Our jobs tend to cause us at least some amount of stress, which affects both our minds and bodies. Fortunately, with healthy living habits, this stress can be effectively countered before it causes extensive problems, even in individuals who do hold challenging leadership positions. However, when an individual in a challenging and stressful leadership position is already struggling to recover from drug addiction, which is a compulsive use of drug substances despite the damaging effects these drugs cause them, the stress caused by their job can make it hard to resist the temptation to relapse. Fortunately, there are some keys to staying sober:

• Eat healthy food regularly. When an individual eats nutritious food in enough quantity, their body tends to feel better and run better, and this can help to counter the stress that can trigger a relapse.
• Exercise regularly. Bodies are not meant to sit around all the time, and yet many of our jobs today require a sedentary position. Regular exercise can help a body that is recovering from addiction remain comfortable so that drugs are not even considered an option.
• Drink plenty of water. Water helps to flush toxins and chemicals out of your body and is therefore absolutely essential to a healthy body.
• Avoid drinking caffeine or consuming excess sugar. Caffeine is actually a drug substance, producing physiological changes in the body, and can trigger other drug cravings as a result. Sugar depletes the body of important nutrients and can also trigger cravings.
• Find ways to relax. Whether you enjoy long walks, warm baths or even just a good book and a cup of tea, finding ways to relax is important as it allows one to disconnect naturally, and without depending on drugs.
• Avoid constant isolation. Even if you have plenty of co-workers it’s easy to feel isolated at work if you focus exclusively on production. Take the time to connect with your coworkers, forming friendly relationships that help bring you out of isolation.
• Understand workplace culture. In some cases, businesses feel it is appropriate to host parties or gatherings that include alcohol. It may be difficult to avoid these parties or gatherings, especially if you hold a leadership position, but if you understand this culture you can help to shift it, if possible, or at least avoid being pulled into it. This may include stating that you are on a cleanse or acting as a designated driver, whatever you feel comfortable with.

There may be some situations in which it is wiser for one to move to a different job, rather than deal with the addiction triggers one faces at their current job. If you feel this is the case, bear in mind that your sobriety and health should always be placed above your job. It may take time and hard work, but you can rise to a leadership position in a new job that does not threaten your health.

For more information about addiction recovery and things to do to stay sober, contact Narconon Ojai today.