Sobriety Improving the Quality of Work Life for Recovering Executives
One could conclude that since there are individuals who occasionally enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or take an aspirin for a toothache without suffering any long-term dependence or compulsion issues, not everyone who uses drugs or alcohol becomes addicted to these substances. It is truly up to the individual himself to determine whether their drug or alcohol use is actually a problem that adversely affects their quality of life.
That said, some executives who feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities and challenges of their demanding careers can grow to depend upon drugs or alcohol in order to cope, which can degrade the quality of their work life. For those executives who do suffer from drug or alcohol dependence or addiction issues, establishing and living a sober life can significantly improve their quality of work life.
Life After Sobriety
Some individuals consider that sobriety simply means that one is abstaining from drug or alcohol use. However, some individuals are able to abstain from drug or alcohol use for short periods of time without truly recovering from their drug or alcohol dependence or addiction problems. In actual fact, true sobriety is a bit more complex than simple abstinence—and it is far more beneficial to the individual.
Addressing drug or alcohol abuse or addiction problems means that one needs to address and resolve all of the causes and effects of one’s drug use. This means that an executive will need to consider what drove them into drug or alcohol use in the first place, take responsibility for their decision to participate in drug or alcohol use, and establish the life skills necessary to prevent a return to drug or alcohol use as a coping mechanism in the future.
They may discover that they cannot easily cope with stress or anxiety, and yet their career is delivering immense quantities of both these things. They will need to discover whether they can find healthier ways to cope with stress or anxiety, or perhaps may even need to consider a different career. They need to learn for themselves that drugs or alcohol are not a workable solution to their problems or difficulties. When they do this they will come to desire sobriety simply because it allows them to live their life without the numbing of any sensations—good or bad. The reward for this hard work is a higher quality of work life.
Sobriety and Quality of Work Life
When an individual has fully detoxed from drugs and alcohol after being dependent upon or addicted to these substances, they will inevitably discover that they feel differently. Since drugs and alcohol suppress the normal sensations an individual experiences, they can grow to feel that the only “sensation” available to them is cravings for these substances. The experience of new, normal sensations can, therefore, be quite wonderful for the sober individual.
Moreover, where drug or alcohol use dominated their life and was the foundation for many (if not all) of their activities, the individual will suddenly discover that they have a lot of “extra” time to enjoy those things they once enjoyed and then abandoned for drug or alcohol use—such as recreational and social activities.
Where an executive has been dependent on or addicted to drugs or alcohol, it is safe to assume that the quality of their work life was poor. They may simply have been “making it through” their daily work activities, certainly without truly enjoying them. With their newfound sobriety, they can find that work is exciting and the challenges they encounter, instead of being overwhelming, provide opportunities for them to problem-solve and be creative. In other words, the executive can rediscover what made them passionate about their career in the first place, and enjoy the many rewards that being successful in their career provides them.
A sober lifestyle may take some work to establish and maintain, but it is absolutely well worth it. For more information about executive addiction rehab, contact Narconon Ojai today.
