Victory Recovery Partners, a network of seven addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, provides outpatient services to those suffering from substance use disorders and addictions. As patients navigate through their recovery journeys and make progress, they will face decisions about what comes next. Often for many, this includes re-entering the workplace. While it may sound overwhelming trying to start a new job, especially after being unemployed for an extended period of time, there are steps you can take to help make this a smooth and comfortable process.
As stated above, seeking a new job and becoming employed may sound overwhelming – and to a degree it certainly can be. However, it is also exciting, as a new chapter of your life begins. Being that you’ve made significant progress towards recovery, you should feel confident that anything is possible – even finding and holding down a job. There are some important steps to take when seeking employment. Firstly, you will want to consider what type of job best matches your skills and personality. This is key – while many job seekers often spend time and effort focusing on what skills and knowledge they have, they frequently overlook the fact that your personality plays a big role as to what type of job is best for you. If you’re someone who likes to help others, such as those in recovery, becoming a CRPA (certified recovery peer advocate) may be a great choice. However, if you are shy and introverted, you may prefer a job with less person-to-person communication, where you can focus on your skills. Luckily, there are many options available for all types of personalities.
Another important aspect to consider is that you will want to keep stress and anxiety to a minimum – especially at a time when you are re-entering the workplace after being out of it for an extended period of time. Anxiety and stress can result in a relapse, and while relapses do happen, we would certainly try to avoid them at all costs.
It is worth noting that many employers have also adapted to becoming more understanding and welcoming towards candidates who have previously suffered from addiction, substance use disorder, and other mental health conditions. For example, DV8 Kitchen, which is a restaurant in Kentucky, was specifically founded to provide employment opportunities to those in recovery. The founder wanted to provide a workplace that helps those who are making the right changes in their lives (seeking help for their addictions) but may be having a hard time finding employment elsewhere.
Another inspiring example is Sip of Hope in Illinois, which is a coffee shop that takes 100% of the proceeds and uses it to provide support for suicide prevention and education about mental health. Being that there are so many opportunities for those in recovery to re-enter the workplace, our patients should feel more motivated and encouraged to enter this next phase of their life.
Our hope is that once a patient finds a job they are passionate about, they will develop increased levels of confidence, which in turn will improve their overall mood. This is important, because mental health and substance use are linked. If a patient’s mental health is strong, and they are feeling happy, positive, and productive, they will over time feel less of a desire to relapse and start using again.
Victory Recovery Partners, a network of seven addiction/recovery centers on Long Island, New York, provides total care under one roof. Consisting of behavioral health, psychiatric, wellness, and medication-assisted treatment services, our programs are designed to treat the patient as a whole. Our motto is “no one left behind”, and we embrace this motto each and every day. By accepting all insurances, our patients know that they will be able to receive the care that they need to make a full, long-lasting recovery. For more information on Victory Recovery Partners, please visit our website.
