The Addiction Coach Client Review

There’s often the misconception that once you reach the top, everything becomes easy or cushy. Worries are no more, the burden of responsibility is left to delegation, and free time is your bread and butter. However, while there are admittedly benefits to being in higher positions in a workplace, it does not equate to less hardship in life. A few studies conducted by the Haworth Press suggest approximately 10% of top executives are drug or alcohol-impaired. In other words, addiction can affect anyone. This naturally leaves the question of “How?” How could one with this much influence or wealth be affected by something like this?

Let’s take Henry as an example. Henry has worked for a prominent company for fifteen years and has finally made it to the top. However, climbing that corporate ladder takes some very prominent personality traits. You need charisma, a forward-thinking mindset, the desire to take risks, and maybe conviction in keeping a tight-run ship. If you hadn’t noticed, however, while these traits are often sought-after and valuable to many organizations, there’s potential for self-destruction in all of them.  Each and every “positive trait” listed has a negative connotation that is often attributed to pushing executives in particular to addiction.

For example, while Henry may have charisma, that comes with an inescapable feeling of “imposter syndrome”, when one feels as though they haven’t earned their spot or reward even if they have. Extroversion, optimism, and being upbeat are often regarded as leaderly traits and used to project that energy, but it can lead to a disconnect between those interactions and one’s more uncomfortable emotions. It’s often referred to as having a “persona” that’s separate from themselves, which leads to internal confusion and self-doubt.

That forward-thinking mindset may help Henry in idealizing new projects, but it leaves no time to focus on problems in the present unless they threaten the future. It can be seen as running away from these issues, finding quick and easy solutions to one’s woes rather than directly confronting them because that would hamper progress. Henry couldn’t afford to take time off of work because that would mean no promotion, or if he had the position, it would mean less income and he had too many people relying on him! It’s a fast-paced lifestyle, but this often comes to the detriment of the mental health of executives.

Risk-taking is often associated with drug use as well, chasing a thrill or a high from objectively dangerous activity. Not only is there the factor of that danger, but the desire to reach that peak they once experienced. Addiction feeds off of that risk-taking behavior and leads to poor decision-making.

Finally, there’s the aspect of perfectionism. From the outside, perfectionism seems easily avoidable. We’re always taught that you can’t be perfect, so simply don’t yearn to be that. Henry knew this all too well. He wasn’t trying to be perfect; he was trying to be better. Better at this and better at that, and if he accomplished this goal, he would move on to another. However, he eventually noticed that he never really got to a point where he felt satisfied. Sure, he made it to an executive position, but there was more to prove, more to do. This, while often described as simply wanting to better oneself, is textbook perfectionism. Not finding comfort or solace in one’s status if they’re not actively harming themselves, or others, or just generally doing well is not healthy. To put off uncomfortable emotions, to cope with the feelings of unworthiness, or accelerate their ability to reach a goal, they may turn to drugs or alcohol.

So, from Henry’s position, life is a bit of a rollercoaster. Sure, he got the job, but he’s been a lot more stressed lately. With a higher position comes more eyes looking at him, more responsibility, and that feeling of insufficiency, so he turns to drug use. He doesn’t see it as an issue. He keeps it off company time, he hides it from his friends and family, and luckily enough his performance is praised by coworkers and superiors. However, with time the addiction consumes him, as it does with many others.

Now – what are his options? He could try to stop cold turkey, but that could potentially be catastrophic. The withdrawal symptoms could cause sudden flunking in job performance and social skills, lack of motivation, or change in mindset. He could try rehab, but that could be just as bad of an idea. Being away from work for that long, the stigma that comes with it if any other employee were to hear, being shoved into a group like a sheep and tossed from thing to thing without a modicum of individual focus – it sounds demeaning. Plus the statistics – there was a scary chance that he could relapse afterward. That would be even worse for him.

However, Henry had also heard from a friend in the business about the possibility of a “sober coach” to come and help. He heard about the company “Sober on Demand” and how they possibly had some of the best sober coaches, the best recovery coaches, and sober companions that money could buy. So, Henry does some research. First, he types “Sober coach Los Angeles” into Google to do some searching on some local names, but he can’t get the name “Sober on Demand” out of his mind. He looks into the company – run by Cali Estes, “The Addictions Coach” and it’s filled with rave reviews. He learns about the use of a sober coach and sober companion and specifically, how flexible they can be with his situation. They’re discreet, effective, and flexible. He could make appointments online, get mobile care, and generally have all his needs met in an individual-focused treatment plan. It’s a dream come true.

Months later, Henry is back on his feet. He’s utilized online sober coaching, sober companions on his work trips, and life coaching to get a road map in order. He’s not completely better, but he’s getting there and it’s with the help of just thinking a bit outside of the box, and the Sober on Demand team.