Tag: job

Do you actually understand what addiction or substance abuse disorder means?

I just had a long term former substance disorder patient turned warrior and full fledged citizen of llife and family and work. She spent years on crack cocaine and it destroyed her life, her job options, her home, her family, and her health. Her once bright appearance became unrecognizable. The good news is that three years ago now, with prompting by her parents who had not yet given up on her, offered her a place to live in exchange for getting help. You know what, she got that help and three years later she is independent, has her own apartment, and her own job and comes into my office smiling with make up on. It is amazing to witness.

it really got me to thinking a lot about addiction and substance abuse disorder. I thought about all the misconceptions that I have heard about it and all the judgement that I have heard about it. Let me take a minute to explain what it really is.

Sadly I have a lot of personal experience with this with patients and I make it a point to listen to their stories in detail, always hoping that I can grab something from one of them that could be used to inspire another patient in trouble.

Let’s first define addiction. The definition of addiction is the fact or conditions of being addicted to a particular substance, thing, or activity. I know, using a word to define itself right? An addiction can also be referred to as a dependence, craving, habit, weakness, compulsion, fixation, or enslavement to a particular substance, thing, or activity. You get the point though, correct? It implies an unhealthy deep attachment to anything.
Now let’s talk about substance abuse disorder. the definition of substance use disorder is the persistent use of drugs despite substantial harm and adverse consequences to oneself and or others. This often described in laymen’s terms as drug or alcohol abuse.

So, you see they both go together. They can’t really exist without each other, but yet they are not the same thing.

Theses are devious bad buddies people. When people often think of addiction, they get either judgy or uncomfortable. They tend to be afraid of or look down on those patients and people, either because they just don’t understand it or they have had some personal bad experience.

I get it, if you have been the victim of a crime perpetrated by someone under the influence of drugs or alcohol, it can be both terrifying and very serious and something that it hard to get. Short of that, most of the judging or condescending toward addiction patients is just a lack of understanding,

This is not me saying that there are basic codes of conduct that should be followed by any human being. No. Not at all. I am just trying to make sure that this particular disease is better understood.

Wait? Did I say disease? Yep I did. Addiction is truly a form of disease with multiple components not unlike diabetes or hypertension. You could tell yourself, there is no way that someone made a choice to be diabetic or hypertensive and an addicted person did! Well, actually, in a way, genetics aside, sometimes people have made choices to gain weight or make other unhealthy decisions that led them to those diagnoses in the first place and once the anatomical changes are in place, serious measures have to be taken to attempt to correct them and ensure a longer life.

Well, whaddya know. The same kind of principles apply to addiction. Addiction has multiple components. There may in fact be a genetic susctibility. There may be environmental factors. There may be stimulating traumas that lead people to try to find a mental way out and they pick the worst one. Last time I checked, no addicts that I have come to know just sat down one day and decided to shoot up heroin out of nowhere. That initial terrible decision came from a variety of different sources and triggers the majority of the time.

Like with any disease, once addiction has rooted itself in the brain, it literally changes the brain anatomy, It literally causes the formation of a whole new shortcut pathway of dopamine to the nucleus accumbens in the brain. This decreases and intensifies the perception of the pleasure response, while also shortening the duration at which it lasts. This is a terrible double-edged sword and even for those who maintain recovery status, there is a risk of that new path always being there, hence the forever fight against cravings and temptation.

Like with any disease, it requires a certain level of readiness before recovery can even become an entertainable option, just like hypertension and diabetes. I have patients every day that are not ready to actualize that they have these conditions and it is incredibly difficult to help them until they are ready. Unfortunately, addiction carries the extra weight of ruining all the patient’s relationships and job opportunities all around them so many people suffer, not just the patient. That is a way that addiction is definitely worse and potentially more powerful.

My whole point and the most important bottom line is to offer a least a slight pause of understanding for the addicted patient. They do need help and hopefully they are willing to receive it. They have to understand going in that it will require a lifetime of strength, resistance and fortitude. It is not a job or a task that is completed in a day. There are multiple steps every single day to keep the train on track so to speak. It is no easy task, but it can potentially save their lives.

Have a great day everyone. There are potential heros at heart everywhere.

Dr. Katz

You need to love your job…or stop doing it

According to statistics from February 2022, 65% of U.S employees are satisfied with their jobs, but only 20% are passionate about them. Notice that these statistics don’t address how many people are actively employed, it just speaks to the percentage that are. This makes it a little tougher to ascertain the true meaning of this. But let’s take them at face value. To be honest, with everyone’s behavior lately, I am surprised that the statistics are even this positive. I sometimes wonder if the majority of people in the United States even want to work anymore. I am extremely thankful that I have found some that do.

So, why is job satisfaction so important? Doesn’t it only matter that the work gets done? The short answer is no. The completion of work is not the only significant factor. Job satisfaction really matters. Let’s look at why.

Job satisfaction affects workers, which in turn affects the company. When workers are happy with their careers, they become better team players. They tend to align themselves in a sincere way with the company mission and goals. This leads to employees being PR ambassadors, spreading the word about how much they love working there and then generating more word of mouth business for the company.

There is way less job turnover when employees are satisfied. This means less HR headaches and less time and money spent on hiring. On top of that, satisfied workers are more productive and more motivated to complete their tasks. They will work harder and company profit will increase. It’s a win win.

So, let’s take a look at what makes jobs satisfying. 60% of U.S employees feel that their co workers are the biggest factor in their work happiness. This does not necessarily refer to their upper level bosses. These are the people that they work with every day. If they all get along, have each other’s backs, and work as a team,, everything goes better and is more enjoyable. Even if they are not a fan of their boss, as long as they get along with their co workers, things usually function ok. Another 74% of U.S employees believe that company culture is the biggest contributing factor. It makes sense. A healthy and positive work environment makes any day go better. I have to agree with this. Having a good team around me has made work more enjoyable than it has been in years.

What are some of the most satisfying jobs in the workforce? According to U.S News and World Report, PayScale and CareerBliss, this is the list of the most satisfying jobs available:

Chiropractor

Chief Executive

Conservation Scientist

Physician

Nurse

Physical Therapist

Teachers

Clergy

Psychologist

Surgeon

What is so special about these jobs? From my estimation, all of these jobs have some characteristics in common. There is variety. New things happen every day. The job is ever changing. They have an opportunity to advance. They involve helping people. They have higher salaries, which decreases bill pay stress. All of these factors contribute to job satisfaction.

What makes a job less satisfying? Less flexibility, lower pay, lack of benefits, poor work environment, no opportunity for advancement and high turnover rate all lead to less job satisfaction. Jobs that fall into this category include parking lot attendants, fast food cooks, dishwashers, cashiers, waiters, and retail salespeople.

Now, having said all of this, I am sure that a lot of employees don’t fit into these categories. Some cooks love their jobs. Some teachers hate theirs. I am not attempting to generalize. These examples are research-based. I realize that there are always exceptions.

We have discussed all the statistics. Now let’s talk about why I think job satisfaction is important. I think it is important because I literally can’t do my job well without it. I am grateful every day that I love what I do. I know this from the bottom of my heart. I have really been tested lately. Many of us have. Times have been really rough these last three years. I have worked without pay, through cancer, through family mental health issues, through my husband’s heart attack, and through the pandemic. I haven’t worked for reimbursement. I have worked because I love it. I still do. As long as I keep that in mind, and as long as that is still true, I will keep on doing it.

Dr. Katz

The Nissan and the Lexuses..or….why don’t I fit in?

Every morning, my little Rogue and I drive to work together. When I find my way into the parking lot at the hospital, I am always greeted by a fleet of Lexuses, Teslas, and Maseratis, etc, all parked incorrectly, the vast majority taking up more than one spot. I drive around and around, looking for somewhere to park and end up finding something a little more remote, despite my doctor’s parking pass, and I squeeze my little Rogue in and head up to my office. Sometimes I look back at my goofy little car with the Mechagodzilla on the dash and my fuzzy dice in the window and just kind of giggle a bit. It does look kind of out of place amongst all the other luxury vehicles but it’s just…more….me.

I realize at that moment that it is kind of a metaphor for how I don’t exactly fit with my colleagues at any one time. I have spikey hair. I have tattoos. I don’t act like I am better than anyone else. I talk with people not at them. I am not employed or owned by anyone. I don’t see a high volume of patients like cattle on certain days. I say what I think while at least attempting to be professional and appropriate at the same time. I am pretty goofy and I like to laugh. My job is not just a drudgery to me. I love it and hopefully it shows! ( By the way, I am not saying that everyone is like this. These are just some differences I have noticed over the years in some cases.)

I used to perseverate a LOT about the fact that I was so different. I felt this pressure to conform, fit in, be a grown up all the time, get in line….all that. In fact, I worried about that until this last year as a matter of fact. Then, I got cancer and my whole world changed. I definitely had an epiphany YOLO moment. I realized that life is too short to try to mold yourself to others’ models. Being you is your best chance to be able to live YOUR life at YOUR best. In fact, I have noticed that since embracing my uniqueness more lately, I feel like I have attracted more patients, built better relationships , and been more successful. I think the key was getting more comfortable with who I am and caring less about the opinions of others. That removed an unnecessary distraction that was just getting in the way of my own success. Now, let me be clear, I am not advising anyone to be out of control or fly in the face of every applicable convention that is laid before them. I am not saying to never go by the rules. I am just saying to enjoy….being……YOU!

Dr. Katz

It’s Just a Job

I saw someone post on Facebook the other day…People at work are not your friends. It’s just a job. Do your job. Go home. I also hear people say ” It’s just a job.” far too often. While I get that we are always told not to bring our work home with us and to make sure that we have healthy work and life balance, I am not sure that that is what that statement really means. For the majority of folks, if you were to ask them about their current employment, they might respond with a somewhat dismissive, “It’s just a job.” I think that this response it somewhat a metaphor for the troubles with work ethic and even life ethic that seem to plague us. As an employer( and an employee), when someone says it’s just a job, here is what I hear. ” It’s just a job. I don’t actually care that much. At least I am only somewhat responsible during my shift, which I hate showing up to and then I am free as a bird after that. I can always dump what I didn’t finish on the next person. It is a means to make some money, but that is it..and even knowing that, I don’t really appreciate the fact that it is helping me pay my bills and be able to live. I don’t really care that I am lucky to have a job and lots of other people don’t. I have no sense of true commitment or loyalty to my boss and I have no ties to my work colleagues. And finally, I literally never even think about my job or what I am responsible for when I am away from it and if I forget something, oh well.”

Ok I get it, that is adding a lot of weight to one sentence, but I really think that it is applicable. I think some of us have lost our sense of value and ethics when it comes to work. On top of that, inflation aside, we expect to get more pay for doing less because we are somehow owed. I get that not all jobs have the same level of objectively measured importance, but they are still important for different reasons. Each and every job has an associated goal that requires completion for the rest of the steps to continue. Even a ditch digger has to complete the required depth and width to be able to accommodate whatever object is to be buried and if they don’t the rest of the project cannot continue. True, it is possible that no one’s life in particular will be significantly affected by it, but it is still important nonetheless. I cannot think of any job that is not interconnected to another one in some way or that wouldn’t be improved by some real investment on the part of it’s employees. In my office, this is particularly true. I am a physician and I also practice aesthetics. My job is essentially runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There is never a time when I am not responsible for the lives of my patients. I get that. I embrace it AND.. I knew what I was signing up for so I tend not to complain. To me, it is a sacred honor and privilege to be able to care for people and I reremind myself of this every day, even on the worst days. I am that weirdo in the operating room that takes an additional pause after the surgical pause to reflect on how lucky we are to be able to be here for this patient, for this procedure. I worked hard to get here and I am not leaving any time soon. I know that I am never really “off the hook” when it comes to patients. I don’t ever really leave the office even when I leave it physically. But, it’s ok. I love what I do. I am grateful for what I do. I will always be grateful for what I do. I take care of my employees and patients like family. I would do anything for them. I keep working whether I get paid or not so that I can take care of my employees. Do I expect my employees to be on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week like I do? No. Do I expect them to be there as late as I am all the time? No. Do I expect them to have the same crazy level of work ethic that I do? No. Their level of responsibility is not the same, but they are responsible nonetheless. I do expect them to complete their jobs to the fullest. I do expect them to go through some checks and balances each day BEFORE they leave to make sure that all tasks are completed, all referrals are in, all labs are called, all scripts were sent, etc. I expect them to not directly refuse tasks or passive-aggressively avoid them and think I won’t notice. I expect them to have a team mentality and realize that we are all incredibly important in providing the best care for our patients. Even though the only cog in the wheel that really can’t be replaced is myself, they need to understand that I will value each and every one of them and treat them with respect. Having said that, I also hope that they realize that respect is a mutually earned commodity and it has to be given and returned in kind.

I hear stories from employees from an older generation about incredible abuse they suffered in the workplace that went on for years and years and how they kept coming back for more because ” that’s what you did in those days.” I hear about how they were insulted, made fun of, worked with no breaks, had to cover for their boss’ alcoholism and had to make excuses for them if they failed to show up for procedures, etc. Compare that to nowadays when employees quit over proverbial hangnails and there is no comparison. I have to admit, when I first hear those stories, I find myself thinking oh I wish I could even get a fraction of that loyalty. Then, I catch myself because I realize that those situations were not about loyalty. They were just about frank abuse and I don’t want any part of that. I am not converting myself into an asshole to get people to do what I want. It’s just not me. I feel like we should be able to meet somewhere in the middle. I have no idea why employees of yore put up with such terrible things to keep their jobs. I suspect that it is at least partially a reflection of our former extremely patriarchal society. I am not sorry that some of that has gone the way of the dodo, but I feel like we have gone too far in dropping our level of work ethic. Now employees feel like they can quit with no notice, no show no call for work, talk back and refuse to complete tasks. How did we get so far off track? I don’t really have the answer but I have some theories. I think that our culture has slowly transformed into one of ever-decreasing actualization of responsibility in everything that we do. If something doesn’t work out? Oh well. If a child is acting out..it must be his or her parent’s fault. If someone does something wrong, incomplete, or incorrect, we cannot even attempt to guide them without being misinterpreted as belittling or chastising and get written up. We are dealing with an overall decreased actualization of responsibility without the tools to deal with it because the potential repercussions of trying to deal with it are sometimes worse than whatever went wrong in the first place! How exhausting is that crap?

For myself, I keep plugging away hoping that my work ethic somehow becomes infectious and spreads to those around me. I offer uncapped incentives for hard work, on top of salaries. I am truly a believer in the phrase,” you get out what you put in” and I want to make that true for my employees. The ones that work harder will get rewarded with raises and incentives, but I do not want to, nor can I afford to, give it away. I desperately want them to be invested in their work and this is the most clever way I can think of to try to make that happen, by having something in it for them besides just work pride. I cannot really chastise people for wanting more money. I mean, who doesn’t want more money? That is a pretty normal human want. I am just hopeful that they see that they have all the tools to be successful financially and at the work place, as long as they put in the effort it takes to be so. It is a potential win win for everybody…the patients, themselves and for the longevity of our practice. Well, those are my thoughts. Have a fantastic day everyone!

Dr. Katz