Professional detox is essential for a truly transformative recovery effort and is instrumental in introducing effective recovery techniques, grounding strategies, and lifestyle changes. Yet, the idea of taking time off from work or other responsibilities can be an immediate hurdle for many looking to pursue a healthy future.
Making time for detox can be difficult, but there are always resources and options available to help those looking to begin their journey to sobriety. Having a plan in place can help those in need of detox balance their professional obligations, personal responsibilities, and goals for recovery to create a healthy approach to a sober future.
The Risks of Inaction
It can be difficult for individuals to balance their needs for recovery with ongoing responsibilities. Long work hours, finances, and their professional status may all feel at odds with their need for recovery. Although, a person’s personal and professional life are intimately linked with their use of drugs and alcohol. When individuals choose to avoid professional treatment to maintain professional status, this can allow addictive substances to continue negatively affecting their careers.
Addiction can compromise workplace performance, attendance, and goals. A person struggling with addiction is never choosing between their career and their sobriety, but rather pursuing their sobriety for the benefit of their personal and professional lives alike. Making use of all available resources can ensure that each individual is able to get the treatment necessary for their unique situation.
Know Your Options
Beginning a recovery journey challenges an individual to face their own vulnerabilities, needs, and the effects of addiction on their physical and mental health. Although, there is always a way for individuals to pursue healthier lifestyles while managing their professional careers. By finding the option that best fits them, individuals ensure that they have the time and resources to pursue a necessary detox program while maintaining professional employment.
Using Vacation Time
Vacation time is something that many earn through their dedicated hard work. It can feel difficult to use, either out of fear their time off request may not be approved or due to the work culture permeating the United States that celebrates overworking. It is important for individuals to remember that vacation time is something that is actively earned, and it is each worker’s right to have access to this time off for their health.
When individuals check their vacation hours, this ensures that they will have enough time to engage in an effective detox program without feeling they have to unexpectedly cut their program short in order to return to work. Ensuring that adequate vacation time is available will also make sure that individuals still have a job when the detox program has concluded. Doing so will help with balancing their professional life with ongoing outpatient treatment.
The Advantages of FMLA
The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) is an important resource for those battling the effects of addiction in their lives. Under federal law, addiction is classified as a medical disease, and thus those struggling with addiction are legally protected while pursuing treatment and recovery.
Individuals can talk with a human resources department or trusted manager to guarantee that they have the time to pursue recovery while keeping the reason for absence private. Talking to a trusted manager also helps to navigate the proper paperwork and maintain a transparent approach to their sobriety, while at the same time protecting their employment.
Bringing Work to Detox
For some, it may be possible to continue working while in a recovery program. This can be instrumental for individuals when maintaining their workplace identity and responsibilities while still prioritizing their recovery and sobriety. Being able to work remotely can empower each individual to not only tend to their professional responsibilities, but also embrace effective techniques to balance workplace stresses with their personal healing. Developing effective grounding strategies and coping mechanisms for workplace stresses is a core part of the recovery process. By discussing this option with dedicated detox facilities, individuals can effectively balance these two important parts of their lives.
By bringing workplace laptops and establishing a remote work environment, individuals can balance their professional and personal needs. This option is often handled on an individual basis, depending on each unique situation. Various programs and plans can be developed, such as having dedicated times where individuals can tend to work emails and dedicated blackout times dedicated solely to treatment.
Addiction affects every aspect of a person’s life, including their professional ambitions. Taking action to address the use of drugs and alcohol is paramount for each person’s personal health and professional life alike. Nobody should ever have to choose between their job and their sobriety. Talking to dedicated detox facilities can help each individual find the program and approach that is right for them.
Your professional life and personal journey with drugs and alcohol are intimately intertwined, and we at Pacific Sands Recovery Center understand the difficult balance between these responsibilities and your pursuit of a healthy, sober life. Our caring, trained professionals are ready to develop a program that is right for you, helping you balance your time and workplace stresses with your recovery efforts. We are dedicated to educating and developing personalized strategies to promote a healthy, sober lifestyle while navigating the professional sphere. Taking your first step into detox can be intimidating, but our curated atmosphere, supportive peers and professionals, and individualized approach to each unique situation allows us to create a plan that is right for you, all while acting as a resource for your unique situations. For more information on how we can personalize your time with us, call us today at (949) 426-7962.
