How Addressing an Alcohol Problem Now Can Boost Your Professional Success Later

How Addressing an Alcohol Problem Now Can Boost Your Professional Success Later If youre looking to get ahead in your career, going to rehab for an alcohol herausforderung is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Time spent in inpatient rehab for any mental health problem especially for a substance addiction, which can carry a heavier negative stigma than other mental health conditions is not exactly a big resume-builder.What many people dont know, however, is that addressing an alcohol problem now can have apretty significant professional payoff in the future.A Harvard study followed several hundred men over the course of 55 years, monitoring their drinking habits. The researchers found that problem drinkers who successfully achieved abstinence from alcohol and were able to sustain their recovery experienced the following positive long-term outcomesBetter physical and psychological healthGreater enjoyment in their marital and family live sOccupational successIt may go without saying that these three very important positive outcomes are mutually reinforcing. Better physical and psychological health, or a higher level of happiness in a relationship with a significant other, naturallyhas an impact on job performance and professional satisfaction.How Long-Term Alcohol Rehab Improves Quality of Life and Employment ProspectsSuch findings regarding the link between successful long-term recovery from alcohol andjob success align closely with my own more anecdotal observations as a clinician working with alcoholics in early recovery. Those first days and weeks of abstinence can be fraught with anxiety, depression, and other uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms. As time progresses and clients stick with an individualized plan of medical and clinical care, they report higher levels of self-acceptance, greater connectedness to others, and reductions in withdrawal-related symptoms of distress.Moreover, in the first three months aft er rehab, many clients report they are successfully employed in a job or enrolled full-time as a student and have a better overall quality of life.Whats the explanation for these mutually reinforcing, job-related outcomes of rehab? fruchtwein inpatient rehab and intensive outpatient alcohol treatment programs spend a lot of time helping clients develop life skills, including self-care, tools for effective stress management, and healthy interpersonal communication.In addition to these critical life skills, a high-quality rehab program will encourage clients to develop many of the character attributes that employers look for when considering job applicants, includingPunctuality and dependabilityHonesty and trustworthinessResponsibility for ones duties and mistakesSelf-disciplineGood personal hygieneMutual respect and a positive team-player attitudeAdditionally, most high-quality rehab programs devote time to helping clients prepare for their post-rehab vocational lives. That way, clie nts can smoothly transition back into their jobs or find other jobs that better suit their commitment to recovery. This rehabilitative process can involve career counseling, helping clients practice for job interviews, resume preparation, and developing better organizational and time management skills.The Professional Costs of Not Addressing an Alcohol ProblemOn the flip side of these benefits of getting treatment are the exorbitant professional and occupational costs of not proactively addressing an alcohol problem. The longer problem drinking goes untreated, the more severe the problem and its consequences.The impact of alcoholism in the workplace, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, can includeTardiness or sleeping on the jobAbsenteeismPoor decision-makingPost-drinking effects (such as a hangover) that affect job performanceWorkplace theftPoor moraleRelationship problems with colleagues or supervisorsSuch alcohol-related issues will do nothing to help your career, eventually causing even the highest-functioning alcoholic to take a professional nosedive.If you feel you may struggle with adrinking problem, it is possible that alcohol rehab will be an invaluable investment in your personal and professional futures. Rehab can protect your job from the negative consequences of your drinking and better equip you with the tools and life skills youll need to take your career to the next level. It is even possible that in rehab youll find a renewed sense of purpose for what you do or discover a whole new vocation that is more rewarding than you could have ever imagined.Anna Ciulla is the vice president of clinical and medical services at Beach House Center for Recovery.