Stress and Possible Triggers of Starting a New Job
While most people with substance abuse continue to hold a job, addiction is a progressive disease and there will be a point where it affects the person’s job so severely that they end up getting fired. Often, it is not until addiction has severe negative impacts, such as losing employment that the person gets the help and treatment they need. Recovering from substance abuse is highly difficult with many challenges along the way, including finding a job. Whether you lost your job before going to rehab or have decided to take your life into a new direction, knowing how to start a new job and stay healthy after rehab is of the utmost importance.
Completing drug and alcohol rehab is a huge accomplishment but reintegrating back into society can be challenging. Some individuals find that returning to their old job is not productive to their sobriety which may be due to stress, influences, or triggers in the workplace. Finding a new job is stressful on its own as well. Diving back into the job market can feel intimidating for those in recovery and they may assume that the following barriers may stand in their way of getting employed:
- Having a gap in employment history due to drug and alcohol rehab attendance
- Having to reveal past substance abuse
- Potential discrimination from employers
Starting a new job can be stressful for anyone, even if they are not coming right out of rehab. Although it can be exciting to be starting a new job and fresh life without drugs and alcohol, it is normal to also be apprehensive and overwhelmed when beginning a new job. Stress and triggers related to starting a new job and staying healthy include:
- Remembering countless names, job titles, and duties
- Familiarizing yourself with your new environment and getting to know your way around
- Adjusting to a new routine including working hours and commute
- Understanding your new boss and how to communicate with them
- Learning new job tasks, duties, and expectations
- Managing stress without the use of drugs and alcohol
- Maybe having to disclose you are in recovery. For example, you may not be ready to go to after work happy hours with co-workers or attend office parties, which you might feel you need to tell them why you can’t go.
- There might be some social anxiety associated with being around a whole new group of people
- While you learn and practice new duties, you may have repeated mistakes which can be hard on self-esteem
Early recovery can be tough while you begin to implement coping strategies and learn what works best for you. Jobs are stressful in general, and now you are learning how to deal with that stress without drugs and alcohol like you did before. Although there may be a lot a stress, there are also a lot of advantages of having a job in recovery such as:
- Adding routine and structure
- Keeps you accountable and responsible
- Builds self-esteem and self-worth
- Provides independent living
- Reduces financial stress
Whether you are coming right out of rehab, have years of recovery under your belt, or have never had any issues with substance abuse, it is important to take care of yourself and your mental health when starting a new job. Stress related to a new job is common and it is important to implement healthy coping strategies and not turn to drugs or alcohol as a way to manage. Here is how to start a new job and stay healthy.
6 Tips on How to Start a New Job and Stay Healthy
- Attend Group Therapy, 12 Step Meetings, or Counseling. Continuing to attend individual or group therapy sessions can provide ongoing motivation and accountability. It is important to continually keep up with mental health treatment to reduce the risk of relapse triggers. Aftercare programs are also excellent ways to keep up with working on your sobriety and can provide plenty of support when starting a new job and staying healthy. It is also important to lean on support networks from 12 step groups.
- Consider a Sober Living Home. Sober living homes can also provide more accountability and support than living on your own. You will be surrounded by others who are going through the same journey as you who can understand daily struggles as well as house managers who can help you navigate issues related with work and your sobriety. Sober living homes can provide a step between rehab and living on your own to allow you more time to adapt to the real world.
- Do Not Overfill Your Schedule. Burnout is a common problem for individuals who are just out of rehab and going back to work. Spending 8 hours at work, going to individual and group therapy sessions several hours a week, keeping a clean house, maintaining exercise routine, eating healthy, and seeing friends can be a lot on your schedule. Learn to say no and prioritize parts of your life while pacing yourself and building a schedule.
- Maintain Healthy Eating and Exercise Habits. Maintaining exercise and healthy eating habits is incredibly important for those in recovery. Make sure you put these routines into your schedule, which may mean doing your grocery shopping on the weekends and meal prepping so you have food ready for lunch and when you get home. It can be helpful to remember that even a 20-minute walk is better than nothing on the days you might feel unmotivated or too busy to exercise.
- Invest in Stress Management. Deadlines, co-workers, and workload in general can be stressful. Make sure you implement ways to relieve stress in a healthy manner which can be meditation, sports, mindfulness, creative arts, dancing, or anything else you do that’s fun.
- Use Workplace Employee Assistance Programs. Also known as EAPs, these programs are available through your work or your union to help you navigate mental health and substance abuse issues. They can offer you resources and advice on how to manage workplace stress. EAPs are confidential so you do not have to worry about what you disclose getting back to your employer.
Click here for job protection & behavioral health, call Union First today at (855) 215-2023.
Get Sober and Healthy with Help from Union First
Union First is an employee assistance program available to union workers, public service employees, and their families. We offer various services that will support workers getting adequate mental health and substance abuse treatment. Our placement services will evaluate your case to find you the right treatment in your area whether that may be a counselor, inpatient rehab, 12 step meetings, or more. We also help protect your job while you seek help for mental health or substance use disorders. Often, workers may be hesitant to get help for these disorders out of fear of losing their job from their employer finding out. Our experts know how to use labor laws to ensure your job, salary, benefits, or promotions are not affected because of your disorder or seeking out treatment. Members can also access our private network of over 40 telehealth counselors and get an appointment within 24 to 48 hours of calling us. The ability to quickly talk to a mental health provider who takes your insurance is often critical in times of crisis.
We are available to help you throughout your recovery journey. Whether that may be finding a rehab program or needing further resources as you begin to navigate your new world after rehab. It is our job to teach you how to start a new job and stay healthy in your recovery. We are available 24/7 to take your call and help you in any way we can.