Job stress is a common affliction affecting millions of Americans, one which has the power to become deadly if left ignored. According to a recent study, workplace stress is responsible for an estimated 120,000 deaths in the US each year. For those with a substance use disorder, these risks can be even more startling—managing stress in recovery or returning to work after addiction treatment can feel overwhelming, hopeless, or worse, trigger a relapse.
Workplace stress can arise from a plethora of sources, such as increased workloads, rigid deadlines, disagreements with coworkers, or a lack of control over daily tasks. Most workplaces come with a special blend of stressors and responsibilities, but if your stress is having an impact on your ability to maintain your sobriety and mental health, it’s important to find realistic coping mechanisms to combat the pressure rather than turning to drugs or alcohol.
Discover how to manage job stress without resorting to substances. Here are 6 helpful strategies to improve your workplace well-being.
The Importance of Managing Stress in Recovery
Unchecked stress, anxiety, or burnout can create turbulent circumstances that are difficult to navigate for anyone. Excess levels of stress can also lead to a number of physical and mental health problems, ranging from heart disease and chronic inflammation to depression and anxiety. When stress becomes unmanageable, having the right tools is necessary to help you cope. By adapting to stress through healthy coping mechanisms, individuals in recovery can boost their overall well-being, forge healthier relationships, reduce their risk of relapse, and bolster their commitment to their sobriety goals.
→ Check out this blog post for 6 tips on managing stress in addiction recovery.
How to Manage Job Stress in Recovery: # Tips for a Healthier Working Life
1. Identify the Source
Sometimes stress just feels like, well, stress. Overcoming workplace tension starts with getting to the true root of what’s causing it. Is a particular task or deadline causing you stress? Does your immediate environment introduce triggers that tempt you to return to using substances? Knowing the problem enables you to find the right solution. Treat your stress as a messenger and explore what this complicated emotion is trying to tell you.
2. Be Mindful of What Triggers Your Stress
Identifying your stress is only half the battle. Work triggers that cause stress may be unavoidable, but being mindful of their existence and power can help you shift how you respond to them. Only commit your energy to what is truly within your control. Stressful tasks or responsibilities may have the option to be delegated. Taking breaks separate from your colleagues has the potential to minimize situations that cause social anxiety. If you’re carrying your work home at the end of the day, develop strategies that help you find a better work/life balance. You can also employ calming modalities like listening to music during lunch or using breathwork techniques between meetings to help you cope with the stress of your job.
3. Find Your Support System
Having a strong support system can help you cope with workplace stress more effectively. This may look like your colleagues, friends, family members, or a professional counselor. Make time to connect with people who can provide you with emotional support and positive encouragement. Talking with people you trust about your stress can help you gain perspective and find solutions to your conflicts.
4. Seek Support From Your Employer
If you feel comfortable, consider talking to your employer about your addiction recovery journey and any accommodations or support you may need to manage job stress. If you aren’t comfortable disclosing your experience with addiction, ask your employer or a human resources representative if the company offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that provides confidential counseling services or stress management resources to employees.
5. Set Personal Boundaries
Most people struggle to set and respect firm boundaries, especially in a career setting. If you’re returning to work after taking time off to complete addiction treatment, you may feel especially compelled to go above and beyond to exceed expectations and demonstrate your value to your employer after your absence. However, it is crucial that you respect your time, limits, and needs before anything else. Remember, you cannot pour from an empty cup—it may be uncomfortable to say “no” or ask for the support you need, but it lessens the risk of burnout or compromising your hard-earned sobriety.
6. Consider Your Alternatives
If you notice your job is causing you significant stress or disrupting your ability to commit to your sobriety, it may be time to consider changing careers. No job or workplace is worth risking your recovery or leading you down a path to an unfulfilled life. Talk with a career counselor or a mental health counselor about your concerns and work together to build a transition plan to a stress-free job that brings purposeful meaning to your life.
Sobriety and Mental Health: How The Walker Center Can Help
At The Walker Center, we recognize the great importance of protecting your sobriety and mental health. We specialize in evidence-based addiction treatment and mental health services in Twin Falls and Gooding, Idaho.
Are you ready to transform your substance-free relationship with stress?
Get in touch with us today to talk about your options.
