Overcoming Problem Drinking as a Healthcare Worker: A Sioux Falls Story

By Face It TOGETHER

As healthcare workers continue to face staff shortages, overwhelming work conditions and other hardships related to COVID-19, having healthy coping skills is more important than ever. 

Face It TOGETHER, an addiction wellness nonprofit, is available to help those who are using alcohol and other drugs to cope with stress, including loved ones of those struggling with substances. Free support is available for healthcare workers and others impacted by COVID-19.

Wendy White, Face It TOGETHER’s CEO, has her own problem drinking story. Her former role in healthcare caused a lot of stress and anxiety. Most days after getting home from work, she had a glass of wine to take the edge off.

After starting a weight loss journey, Wendy realized she couldn’t make it a month without alcohol. 

“I started to exercise and lose weight and I kept telling myself, ‘I’m not going to drink this month.’ I’d do well for a week or maybe two weeks, then I’d have a really crappy workday,” she said. “And then there went my commitment to myself that I wasn’t going to drink that month.”

This cycle went on for about a year until she realized how preoccupied with work she’d become.

“One night my son made up a play and made little tickets for us. Normally I would’ve said, ‘Later, buddy. I’m making dinner,’ or, ‘Later, buddy. I need to take care of this email,’ or whatever it might’ve been. I always had some excuse,” she said.

Instead, Wendy and her husband both took the time to attend. Afterward, her son talked about it for days; he was so excited they had watched. 

“I recognized then that I wasn’t the mom that I wanted to be. I wasn’t being present,” she said. “It was a combination of my work environment and the way I was coping with my work environment, which was with drinking.”

Shortly afterward, Wendy joined Face It TOGETHER. In addition to the career switch, she attributes her reduction in drinking to education and self-reflection.

Though Wendy didn’t seek peer coaching at the time, she believes it would’ve helped her goal of drinking less. 

“Often, drinking is a symptom of something else that’s going on. For me, it was work. For many, it could be the anxiety and pressures of working in healthcare during the pandemic,” she said. “I think support from a coach could’ve been immensely helpful.”

Wendy encourages others to seek help if they’re in need.

“If the choices that you’re making aren’t making you feel good, working with a peer can help,” she said. “Even if you just want to cut back, coaching is a great solution.”

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by substance use, either personally or as a loved one, please reach out for help. Face It TOGETHER coaching is evidence-based and confidential. Free support is available for healthcare workers and others impacted by COVID-19. Learn more at wefaceittogether.org or by calling (855) 539-9375.