Did you know that executives and entrepreneurs work on average a 72-hour work week? In a business world full of go-getters, it is no secret that there is immense pressure to succeed in a highly volatile and competitive economy. How to handle the competitive stressors in the office is where the norms become a bit murky. How do executives handle long hours, stress and the need to drive themselves to the top of their industries? Business is a 24-hour cycle. The likelihood that substance abuse is involved in much higher for executives, upper-level managers and entrepreneurs than any others in a corporate setting. Here are a few critical reasons why Aspire Health Network thinks the “C” group needs more rehabilitation today than ever before.
Chronic Stressors
Chronic and long-term stress is always a risk factor for addiction and relapse vulnerabilities. From multimillion-dollar deals to making all of the financial decisions that determine a business’s success, the need to avoid failure comes with great pressure. With hundreds or even thousands of employees who depend on executive financial planning, it takes many sacrifices to deal with the daily responsibilities. There is no magic button but, for some executives, they believe that there are pills, alcohol or other addictive substances that determine their ability to cope. You also have to manage upper-level management that takes constant vigilance. Sitting in the role of the CEO, chief financial officer or executive branch within a corporate structure is no easy task, which is why it is critical to determine the relationship between stressors and addictions while seeking solutions through treatment.
No Time to Balance Work and Family Responsibilities
Another fact that Harvard Business Review found is that executives average about three and a half hours a day to eat, do chores, exercise and spend time with their family. How do they balance home life with their work schedules? If you needed more time with family and friends, would you think about self-medicating to get it? Many executives do, which is why rehabilitation now is vital. The need to be with family soon becomes the need to self-medicate and, before long, opiates, alcohol or barbiturates become your life.
Leaders Need to Serve as Examples, and focus on Rehabilitation if required
Do you have a team around you to help you hide your addiction? If so, you are like many of the high-profile executives who have already sought out treatment for their addictions. Leaders need to be vocal about the benefits of sobriety. It sets a precedence that treatment is necessary, so employees who know about it will take the same approach about their own struggles. No matter how many employee benefits you offer, no one will ask for help if a leader refuses to do so, which is a culture that must change. The fear of losing their positions or having others judge them makes them hide their addictions and struggle because of workplace practices.
Executive rehabilitation is of vital importance. The road to success is filled with many stressors, which is why there is a higher probability that a person will rely on risky behaviors to balance it.