Whether it’s in their personal or professional life, everyone is bound to go through a difficult period at some point in their life. These dysfunctional circumstances can often throw people off their balance, overwhelm them and cause them to adopt certain atypical and potentially dangerous behaviours. While this period usually tends to last for a mere few days or weeks, for some people it can last for months and years, or even escalate so rapidly that it can affect every aspect of their life in a negative way. If you are struggling with some form of dysfunctional behaviour and it is starting to affect your career, here are some ways you can stay on track:
Think about taking some time off
Whether it’s an end of a long-term relationship, death of a loved one or finding out that you suffer from a serious illness, stressful events, anxiety and depression are some of the most common causes of dysfunctional behaviour. No matter what the cause may be, apart from your personal life, this behaviour tends to cause problems at work as well, making you nervous, agitated, unpleasant to your colleagues and preventing you from accomplishing your daily tasks and assignments as you usually do. If that is the case, you might want to consider taking some time off, because when a job causes additional stress and prevents you from finding a way to heal, taking a break is one of the best things you can do for both your physical and your mental health. However, if you are a very social person that needs human interaction in order to feel better, then staying at work, where you will be surrounded by people who could provide help and support, might be the best option.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Dysfunctional behaviour caused by stress and anxiety can be quite detrimental to your overall wellbeing, often leading to the abuse of drugs or alcohol, eating disorders or even risky sexual behaviour. If you find yourself engaging in such activity, without having much control or being able to stop, then it might be time to find help. Even though your friends and family members are great for offering emotional support, their efforts might not be enough in such cases. For example, if you have developed an alcohol addiction, you should seek the help of both your doctor, who will help you deal with the physical symptoms of recovery, and a therapist or psychologist, who can address the negative thoughts and feelings that have caused this dangerous behaviour and help you get out of this rut. Once your body and your mind are in the right place again, you’ll find it much easier to focus and devote yourself to your career path.
Give yourself time to heal
When you are dealing with dysfunctional behavior and deeply rooted emotional issues, you simply can’t expect the problem to disappear overnight. Healing is a process, and it requires a lot of time, patience and effort. It’s vital not to rush or push yourself too hard, and not to let other people pressure you into doing something you’re not ready for, either. So, try to avoid tight deadlines and big projects, and let someone else take the lead if you aren’t capable of doing it yet. Pushing yourself too hard and doing things you aren’t comfortable with will only slow down the process of recovery, and it might even push you right back into that dysfunctional behaviour you are trying to keep under control. Even though your work and your career might be of great importance to you, it is vital to remember that you only have one body and one life, and that you need to take care of yourself first in order to advance in your career later.
When it comes to these dysfunctional behaviours, seeking help and being patient is crucial, as well as remaining as positive as possible. When you let go of everything that’s holding you back, you will become a stronger person who is able to deal with any challenge life throws at them. Instead of looking at this period as your downfall, look at the positive side of the whole experience and learn how to build on it.