Executive Burnout Recovery

How Do You Recovery From Executive Burnout?

Employee burnout is now more common than ever before. Executive burnout recovery can assist someone through a mental health and/or substance use challenge.

The demands of daily life can quickly become overwhelming. This is especially true for someone who holds a top-tier professional position, as stress can be relentless. The pressures of the job can be so intense that it can lead to burnout, which in turn may lead to substance use.

There is help available if you or someone you care about is dealing with significant job stress. Read on to learn about how burnout can impact mental health, the signs of distress, and how to get help.

What is Executive Burnout?

Workplace pressures continue to escalate as companies attempt to increase profits using fewer workers. Nowhere is this stress felt more than on the executive level. Today’s managers are tasked with not only meeting company goals but wearing many other hats as well.

This creates a work environment that is highly stressful, with frayed nerves, testy employees, and projects left uncompleted. For the executive in charge, it can set up a very difficult workplace culture in which to operate. When this high-stress level is chronic, it will take a toll on mental health and cause executive burnout. Too often, these negative mood states lead to increased substance use as a way to relieve or numb the symptoms.

8 Signs of Mental Distress

There are some telltale signs that an executive is beginning to burn out. These might include:

1. Excessive absences at work. As mental health worsens, the executive may begin to avoid the workplace. They avoid going to work to avoid the mounting work stress. It may also be due to hangovers if he or she is using a substance to self-medicate.
2. Sleep disturbance. A classic warning sign of burnout is having problems sleeping. Sleep issues might include insomnia, excessive sleeping, or even nightmares caused by the stress.
3. Severe mood swings. When someone is under a great deal of stress they become emotionally unstable. This shows up as mood swings, shifting from low mood to manic mood in an unpredictable manner.
4. Social withdrawal. Someone going through burnout will be less interested in joining friends and colleagues at social events. They may not be feeling social at all or may be depressed and not want to be around people.
5. Loss of interest. A telltale sign of burnout-related depression is a loss of interest in the activities he or she once enjoyed. This may include hobbies and pastimes, and even sex.
6. Intense fatigue. Stress can steal your energy, leaving you feeling depleted and listless. The fatigue may also be a symptom of depression, as it relates to the burnout.
7. Neglecting appearance. If the person stops taking care of their personal hygiene or appearance, that is a sign of being in crisis.
8. Substance abuse. Professionals that struggle with chronic workplace stress may turn to alcohol or drugs or help them cope. The substance becomes a crutch, a way to numb the symptoms of a mental health disorder.

Dangers of Self-Medicating with Drugs or Alcohol

Executive burnout can lead to a mental health challenge, a substance use disorder… or both. When a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder are both present it is called a dual diagnosis.

Someone who has been under strain may begin misusing a substance as a means of self-medicating stress, anxiety, or even depression. While this can be helpful in the short-term in subduing the symptoms, with continued substance use there is the risk of addiction.

As the person develops a drinking habit or drug problem, they may begin to notice that it takes more of the substance to achieve the initial relief. This is the warning sign that a substance use disorder is in play. Over time, as they consume ever-higher doses, dependence or addiction may result.

Now the person who has been dealing with burnout at work is now saddled with a substance use disorder. This only adds one more layer to the mental health struggle and places the person’s health at greater risk.

Executive Burnout Recovery Options

When the time comes to face the mental health struggle caused by job burnout, there are some treatment options to look at. First, you must decide which disorder is most pressing, in terms of causing impairment. Is it a mental health disorder? Is it a substance use disorder? Or are both disorders involved? Being evaluated by a mental health or addiction expert can help you to learn your recovery needs.

The severity of the mental health struggle, or whether a co-occurring substance problem exists, helps determine the level of care. The level of care breaks down to one of two options: either outpatient treatment or inpatient treatment. A more severe mental health or substance issue requires a higher level of care, which is the inpatient option.

Treatment for Executive Burnout

To achieve relief from burnout and any co-occurring substance issues, you will benefit from a program that offers these elements:

• Psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach. It helps you examine the dysfunctional thought and behavior patterns that led to the burnout.
• Medication. In some cases, antidepressants or sedatives may be helpful for managing the symptoms of burnout or mental health disorder.
• Addiction treatment. When burnout has resulted in a substance use disorder, you will benefit from a dual diagnosis addiction recovery program.
• Holistic therapy. Learning how to regulate stress is crucial for overcoming burnout. These methods include deep breathing, yoga, meditation, massage, and other relaxation techniques.

Executive burnout recovery can help you restore mental wellness and your quality of life.

Capo by the Sea Provides Addiction, Mental Health, and Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Capo by the Sea is a premier dual diagnosis treatment center that caters to busy executives in need of support. Capo can assist in both mental health and/or addiction recovery. Call us today at (888) 529-2114.