Taking back your life after addiction is powerful. You fought and worked hard on yourself to better understand your mental health issues and triggers. You took the time to receive the support you needed to get sober, healthy, and happy. However, recovery is a long-term process. You do not just leave treatment and never face triggers or temptation again. One major area that many people in recovery need to think about is their employment after treatment. Some of us will especially notice how stressful our jobs are after becoming sober. How you handled daily stress will probably look different now that you are leading a sober lifestyle. Taking back your life from addiction is a process. Learning how to handle situations comes with support from a mental health professional and time. Here are a few things to think about if you find your workplace stressful.
Track Your Stressors
Try to keep track of your stressors. Journaling is a wonderful way to track stressors, watch for patterns, or monitor your moods. It is essential to fully understand your stressors to learn to better manage and take care of your mental health. You worked so incredibly hard to get sober; take the necessary steps and precautions you need to help yourself stay healthy and on the right track towards the goals you have set. If you are feeling stressed at work, keep track of the moments you feel the most anxious. What were you doing? Was anyone involved? You may start to notice patterns. When we see our patterns, we can either work to change the situations or how we respond in those situations.
Speak With Workplace Superiors
You have an entire team rooting for you. Your superiors at work probably don’t want you to feel stressed and anxious. There is a good chance they want you to succeed and enjoy your job. They want to support you. Learning to speak up can be very hard for some people. Being able to do so, however, is a powerful skill to have. Talk with your superiors at work about how you are feeling, what causes you stress, and possible ways to eliminate that stress. You will feel so much better by simply talking about what bothers you.
Establish Healthy Responses
Every single job will come with some sort of stress at one point or another. It is unrealistic to think you will never experience stress after going through treatment. However, how you respond to that stress is what will affect your sobriety and mental health. Establishing healthy responses to stress is an important skill to have. Everyone is different and will require different responses. Maybe you will determine that you need to take a walk on your lunch break during highly stressful days. Take time to experiment on what your mind and body respond best to. Maybe you will enjoy yoga or meditation after a long workday. Others may find joy in reading, games, or simply relaxing watching their favorite television shows after work.
Take Time to Recharge and Relax
Relaxation is a wonderful way to combat workplace stress. If you do not learn how to recharge, you will become overwhelmed and burnt out. These feelings can be dangerous as you manage your mental health and sobriety. Take the time to try new activities. Your relaxation is going to look different than it did before when you were in active addiction. Try to remember that you are rediscovering who you really are. Addiction consumed and changed you. Now you have the power to become exactly who you were always meant to be. You might be surprised at what activities appeal to you now.
Connect With Your Support Circle
Support during recovery is essential. Everyone needs support. If you are experiencing stress at work and are beginning to feel overwhelmed, reach out to your support network. Whether you talk to friends, family, or a mental health professional, it can be a great relief to talk through feelings. Learning when to reach out for support is a big part of recovery. So often, we think that if we need support or help, it means we are struggling or not able to handle our situations. In reality, just because you reach out for support or connection does not mean you are failing. Others can help you see solutions that you may not see and remind you of your strength and capabilities.
Managing your workplace stress is a large part of a long-term recovery plan. Learning to work through stress is essential to maintaining your sobriety and overall well-being. When we feel anxious and overwhelmed, it can be easy to fall back into old coping mechanisms and unhealthy choices. Try to be open and honest with your workplace superiors about how you feel. You may also find it comforting to talk with those you love about what you are experiencing. Work on finding stress-relieving activities where you can recharge for the next day. Here at The Guest House, we know that everyone has unique goals and needs different levels of support. We are professionals with extensive experience helping people down the path of recovery. We are here to help and support you regardless of where you are in the recovery process. Call The Guest House today to learn more about our treatment options and how we can support you at (855) 483-7800.