Stress, Alcohol Abuse, and the Busy Executive

November 14, 2008 —

During this especially challenging business climate, many executives are feeling more than the usual amount of pressure. Whether it is due to layoffs, a falling stock price, budgetary constraints, or personal financial setbacks in a volatile marketplace, executives today are under more stress than ever. Often an unfortunate byproduct of this is an anxiety, depressive, or substance use disorder requiring prompt, expert, effective treatment of the sort that The Retreat provides. Our multi-modal model emphasizing thorough diagnostic assessment, a combination of individual and group therapies, and openness to alternative approaches makes us well-suited to dealing with these issues.

How does one know if they have a problem with alcohol? In certain heavy-drinking subgroups that can be a difficult question for people to ask themselves. One simple way to determine if you might have a problem with alcohol is to ask yourself these simple questions:
Have you ever felt like you had to cut down the amount you drink, or have you been asked by your spouse to cut down?
Have you ever been annoyed at anyone, especially a spouse, complaining about your drinking or behaviors that you did while you were drinking, or work or family obligations that you missed due to drinking?
Have you ever felt guilty about anything you did while drinking, or did not due because of drinking that you should have?
Do you ever drink in the morning? Even on vacation or days off?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, there is a good chance that you have a problem with alcohol. If you answered in the affirmative to 2 or more of these questions there is a certainty that you have a problem with alcohol that would benefit from further evaluation of the type available at The Retreat.

At The Retreat we have 24 hour nursing care and comfortable facilities that enable us to detoxify those that need it on our unit. Residents are seen individually and in groups by staff with specialized training in substance use disorders in addition to the regular Retreat programming schedule. Several 12-step meetings per day are offered on campus for appropriate residents. The latest pharmacologic interventions such as naltrexone, acamprosate, and antabuse are offered when appropriate, and co-occurring psychiatric disorders are treated aggressively. We combine our treatment of the alcohol-related problems with individualized treatment for underlying problems with anxiety, depression, marital or family difficulties, and other issues. Most importantly, we treat every individual with the unique attention that is necessary to get to the heart of his or her problems and build on his or her strengths.

Tom Franklin, M.D.