The Downside to Working from Home: The Effects of Working from Home on Mental Health and Substance Use
The Downside to Working from Home: The Effects of Working from Home on Mental Health and Substance Use
For a lot of people, the idea of working from home sounds freeing. You don’t have to waste time sitting in traffic, there’s no commute, you don’t have to deal with people in the office you don’t like…it all seems like positives. In reality, working from home has some negatives as well—the chief among them being how it can affect mental health.
How Work from Home Effects Mental Health
A surprising survey in the UK shows that 80% of Brits feel working from home has had a negative impact on their mental health. This percentage is both shocking and substantial. With this information comes an important question—why?
By working from home, many have found that they no longer feel like they can walk away from their work and take a break. Instead, they feel like they need to always be on call. This is in contrast to a regular workday, where—once you leave the office—the day is done. This feeling of always needing to be available has led to an increase in stress and anxiety.
Another factor to consider is—even if you don’t love all of your co-workers—it’s important to connect with others in person. Working from home creates a heightened sense of isolation for some, which can increase levels of anxiety and depression.
Work from Home and Substance Abuse
With the stress, loneliness, and anxiety that comes from working from home, it’s no surprise that levels of substance abuse have risen. Without anyone watching, many workers have also become laxer with their drinking and substance use during work hours. According to a recent survey, one in five people admitted to using alcohol or other drugs while working remotely in the last year, and more than a quarter said being able to drink and use during the workday was a benefit of working from home.
Without anywhere to go and anyone watching, substance abuse can be increasingly problematic.
Getting Help
If you’ve found that you are drinking or abusing a substance while working from home and you are having trouble stopping the behavior, reach out to Front Door Health. We’ll discuss the issues you are currently facing with you and determine the best course of action.
Front Door Health offers in-home treatment, which means you’ll be able to continue to work remotely while receiving treatment. Our specialists will provide you with the support you need, all without you needing to put your life on hold.
We look forward to speaking with you and providing you with the care you need and deserve.
info@frontdoorhealthcenter.com
