Source of stress: Alcohol Use
Dr. “M” noticed that his drinking was becoming a problem. He contacted me because of an incident in which he drank prior to returning to his clinic after a morning off. Although he was only there to complete administrative paperwork, he expressed feelings of anxiety and shame because some of his staff may have realized that he’d been drinking…
One coping strategy practitioners report engaging in is alcohol use. For my clients, there is often a subtle increase as their stress intensifies. They usually add a drink in the evening and begin drinking earlier on weekends. Unfortunately, their alcohol use then becomes an added source of anxiety.
This can create a cycle in which they feel shame for their drinking and paradoxically, drink more to cope with the shame and anxiety.
Fortunately, the practitioners who have come to me for help have not experienced a significant negative event such as a DUI arrest or repercussions on the job. Thankfully, they had enough insight to recognize the potential negative consequences of their current trajectory.
Preemptive action gets them back on a healthy track.