There’s a lot of work that goes into formal treatment, but it doesn’t stop there. As a professional, you have to stay on top of your mental health, especially so that you can continue towards your path to recovery. Treatment is not a “quick fix” or a “solution” to a problem, but rather a pit stop on the way through daily steps to recovery. Your personal and professional life can flourish so long as you continue to utilize the tools you’ve developed in treatment – if you’re returning to work soon, it’s certainly important that you create an action plan for yourself. By identifying your resources, how you plan to handle challenging situations, what medication you need to take and when, and continuing to interact with others who support your recovery, you are setting yourself up for success.
Ease back into your role and give yourself patience as you figure out a balance between your work responsibilities and managing your mental health. Other ways you can prepare yourself are to:
- Speak with your leadership team on any new updates you need to be made aware of, any responsibilities that were handled while you were gone, and anything else you need to know to feel confident in your return
- Talk about your concerns with your healthcare team and/or psychotherapist, as expressing these concerns will make them easier to address and manage when you go back to work
- Manage your physical health by getting plenty of good sleep and exercising when you can, even if it’s by taking a quick walk in the morning or on your lunch break
- Create a game plan if you experience distressing symptoms of mental illness while at work; this could include people whom you can call, coping mechanisms you can employ, and other beneficial activities that will help you work through any crisis you’re experiencing
As a business professional, it’s always wise to work towards creating a safe and inclusive workplace environment for those with mental illness. If you’ve already established this in your workplace, it will be even easier for you to return because you’ll be able to promote respect and support for what you’re going through (and what other employees may be going through, too!). Continue working towards your recovery. Never give up.
Learning to be is part of the process of trauma recovery. Stop the cycle of merry-go-round treatment and find the solution you’re looking for in trauma treatment. Through effective residential treatment, Khiron House helps you find the path you need toward health and wellness in recovery. For information, call us today. UK: 020 3811 2575 (24 hours). USA: (866) 801 6184 (24 hours).