How Workplace Stress Can Lead To Addiction

You're reading How Workplace Stress Can Lead To Addiction, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you're enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles. Many people assume that those struggling with addiction are unemployed and homeless. This could not be farther from the truth. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 9.5% of full-time workers ages 18 to 64 were dependent on or abused illicit drugs or alcohol in the past year. The workplace can be a source of great stress, anxiety, and depression. Self-medicating can lead to the “functional addict.” Workplace Stress And The Dangers Of Self-Medicating Stress is a known contributor to alcoholism and drug addiction. Stress and adrenaline can lead to “burnout,” or mental and physical exhaustion. Some employees in stressful workplace environments turn to drugs and/or alcohol to cope with work-related stressors. What starts as a few drinks after work can turn into an alcohol dependency. The same is true for drug habits. Without the worker realizing it, workplace stress can ultimately contribute to addiction through the practice of self-medicating. Self-medicating can stem from a desire to relax and forget about work, but it can also serve to enhance alertness and boost performance. Certain illicit drugs such as cocaine can increase mental alertness, but are highly addictive. Even taking over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers fo...
Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: depression featured health and fitness Addiction Recovery Alcohol Addiction Treatment alcoholism Functional Addict High-Functioning Alcoholism Self-Medicating stress management Workplace Stress Source Type: blogs