Functioning on the Outside, Hurting on the Inside: “High‑Functioning” Addiction in Professionals

At Sovegna, we meet many individuals whose lives look successful on the surface - attorneys trusted by their clients, physicians devoted to patient care, executive and business owners with immense responsibilities, etc.

Of these people, many confide to us privately that they rely heavily on alcohol, stimulants, sedatives or pain medication just to get through each day. Although they're trying their best, inside they feel increasingly overwhelmed, ashamed or alone.

High-functioning addiction is invisible to others, sometimes even to its sufferers themselves. At Sovegna, we provide discreet yet compassionate evidence-based addiction treatment in Salt Lake City. Our programs help people move from simply coping to truly recovering.

What Is “High‑Functioning” Addiction?

"High-functioning" addiction isn't an official diagnosis. Rather, it refers to individuals who fulfill all their responsibilities, like attending work and supporting a family. But they are dealing with substance use disorder issues in private.

Research and treatment programs focused on professionals (physicians, nurses, lawyers, executives and pilots) demonstrate that even people in demanding careers, such as physicians, aren't immune from addiction. In fact, they may face even higher risks due to stress levels, long hours at work, cultural norms regarding alcohol consumption, and access to medications.

At Sovegna, when meeting with professionals for advice regarding high-functioning addiction, this generally manifests itself in various forms such as:

• “I never miss work, but I’m exhausted and anxious every day.”

• “I promised myself I’d cut back… but my use keeps slowly increasing.”

• “If I were really addicted, I’d have lost my job or my license by now.”

These narratives of self-sabotage and denial are natural responses, yet they can delay getting help. Our role is not to judge or label, but instead gently help you recognize what's really going on and provide evidence-based addiction treatment in Salt Lake City.

Why Professionals Are So Vulnerable

Professionals may be surprised to discover just how many colleagues share similar struggles silently, including high stress levels and emotional overload. Here are a few common themes:

High Stress and Emotional Burden

Law, medicine and business leadership come with high stakes. You may need to make complex decisions for others and respond in crisis situations yourself, all while staying "on" even when exhausted. With constant stress and emotional overload on the horizon, drugs may seem like an easy, private way to lower the stress.

Perfectionism and Self‑Reliance

High achievers often become the ones responsible for solving problems or caring for others. Those are strengths, but sometimes make it challenging for high performers to admit they need help themselves. Unfortunately, those roles make it very hard for high achievers to say, "I’m not okay".

Addiction often masks itself behind phrases like "I can handle this myself" and "I will solve the issue myself". You might believe you can control your use on your own.

Fear of Stigma and Consequences

Professionals pondering therapy often express deep, understandable anxiety:

• “Will this affect my license?”

• “What will my partners or colleagues think?”

• “If I get help, does that mean I’ve failed?”

Studies and long-running professional programs demonstrate that when people receive care, they not only return to work more safely and sustainably than before but can even surpass previous levels.

You deserve the same chance.

Gentle Warning Signs to Pay Attention To

Because your life is still “working” in many ways, it’s easy to dismiss early signs. We encourage people to quietly observe the early warnings that may exist.

At Work

• You’re more forgetful or distracted than you used to be.

• You feel more irritable with colleagues, staff, or clients/patients.

• Your body relies on substances for transitioning in or out of work, whether that means simply relaxing, focusing, or falling asleep.

In Your Use

• You require more of the substance for it to have the same impact.

• Start using earlier each day or in situations you had considered "off limits".

• Feeling anxious or paniced at the thought of not having access to alcohol or medications.

In Your Inner World

• Your anxiety, depression, or sense of emptiness is getting stronger, not weaker.

• You are more secretive about how much or how often you use.

• You carry growing shame or fear, but feel unsure where to turn.

If any of this resonates, that doesn't indicate you are broken. Rather, it indicates something within is seeking attention and help. Our evidence-based addiction treatment in Salt Lake City was created precisely for these situations when action can still be taken.

How Sovegna Supports Professionals in Recovery

At Sovegna, we bring together addiction medicine, integrative psychiatry, trauma‑informed therapy, EMDR, ketamine‑assisted psychotherapy, and wellness services. This kind of integrated, evidence‑based care is most effective for long‑term recovery and return to practice.

Medical and Psychiatric Assessment

We begin by listening to your story, your concerns, and your questions. Then we look carefully at:

• Your substance use history and current health

• Co‑occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, or trauma‑related symptoms

• The realities of your profession, licensure needs, and family or financial responsibilities

This helps us shape a plan that fits you rather than asking you to fit a program. Compassion is as important to us as clinical accuracy.

Evidence‑Based Therapies, Delivered with Care

Our evidence-based addiction treatment in Salt Lake City includes:

• Addiction Medicine: When appropriate, we may use medications to ease withdrawal, reduce cravings, and support stability.

• Individual and Group Therapy: We draw from approaches such as cognitive‑behavioral therapy (CBT), trauma‑informed therapy, mindfulness‑based interventions, and other evidence‑supported methods to help you understand triggers, patterns, and healthier ways of coping.

• EMDR for Trauma: Many professionals carry unprocessed trauma. Clinical events, high‑conflict cases, personal loss, or earlier life experiences. Gently addressing trauma can reduce the need to numb with substances and restore a sense of safety in your own body.

Programs that blend these components, medicine, psychotherapy, and ongoing structured support, see strong outcomes in sustained recovery and return to work.

Whole‑Person, Integrative Care

What feels unique at Sovegna is our emphasis on you as a whole human being, not just a diagnosis:

• Integrative Psychiatry: We look beyond symptom control to support cognitive clarity, emotional balance, sleep, and energy, so you can show up fully at work and at home.

• Nutrition and Meditative Movement: Gentle, supportive nutrition and practices like yoga, mindfulness, and breathwork help rebalance the nervous system and support long‑term recovery.

• Mindfulness and TIRF (Trauma‑Informed, Resiliency‑Focused) Care: Mindfulness is not about becoming passive. It’s about building the capacity to pause, notice, and choose skills that are profoundly helpful in high‑stakes professions.

Our intention is not to strip away your professional identity, but to help you inhabit it in a way that is sustainable and aligned with your values.

Protecting Your Privacy and Your Professional Life

We know that confidentiality is not just a preference; it’s essential. Professionals often tell us, “If I seek help, I can’t afford for everyone to know.”

Within the protections of privacy law and ethical practice, we are committed to:

• Protecting your personal and medical information

• Collaborating around licensure or monitoring issues only when necessary and with careful consent

• Helping you plan a safe, ethical, and thoughtful return to practice or leadership, if that is your goal

Other programs across the country have shown that when treatment includes attention to workplace realities, ethics, documentation, safety, and communication. People are more likely to return to work in a healthy, grounded way. Our evidence-based addiction treatment in Salt Lake City is shaped by these same principles.

You Don’t Have to Reach a Crisis to Deserve Help

Many professionals wait until there is a clear “event”, a DUI, a complaint, a medical error, or an incident at work. We want you to know: you don’t have to wait for that moment.

You are allowed to seek help simply because you are suffering. Because your relationships are strained. Because you feel like you’re losing yourself. That is enough. You are enough.

At Sovegna, we believe recovery is not about punishment or judgment. It is about gentle honesty, guided care, and supporting you as you reclaim your health, sense of self, and ability to live and work. If you see yourself in any part of this, you are not alone. Reaching out is not a failure; it is an act of courage and care for yourself and the people who rely on you.