Addiction Recovery for Business Owners: 7 Real Strategies That Work
- Updated: May 15, 2025
You already know addiction is in the room.
Maybe it’s alcohol. Maybe it’s sex. Maybe it’s work, spending, or crypto.
It doesn’t matter what your vice is—it’s hijacking your energy, and you’re tired of pretending it’s fine.
I’m Denise G. Lee, a Healing and Leadership Coach.
And I’m not speaking from a textbook—I’ve lived it.
Getting sober while trying to keep a business afloat isn’t glamorous or tidy.
Most of us don’t get the luxury of checking into rehab and disappearing from our responsibilities.
We have families. Teams. Bills. Reputations.
So if you’re here, you’re probably doing what I did: trying to heal while still holding everything together.
This isn’t a quick-fix list.
These are seven hard-won strategies that support real recovery—while leading, building, and staying honest about what it costs.
I’ll break down the psychology behind each one, but before we get into that, let’s clear up a few lies you might still believe about addiction.
Jump to What You Need
Let’s Clear Up a Few Lies About Addiction
Myth #1: Addiction only happens to the poor or broken.
Wrong. Addiction doesn’t care how much money you make, what title you hold, or how “put together” you look from the outside.
I’ve worked with high-earning, successful business owners quietly wrecking their lives behind the scenes.
I’ve been one of them.
In the U.S. alone, over 46 million people (ages 12 and up) struggled with substance use in the past year. That’s not a rare exception—it’s an epidemic.
But because high-functioning people hide it better, they often go untreated longer. That delay can cost you your relationships, your business, your health—or your life.
Battling an addiction is like being caught in a powerful river current. No matter how strong you are or how good a swimmer you are, sometimes the current is too strong to fight on your own. You need help to get out safely. It's not just about willpower; it's about getting the right support and treatment.
Myth #2: Addiction is just a self-control problem.
Also false.
Addiction is a survival response—an escape hatch from pain, fear, shame, or trauma.
You didn’t just “make a bad choice.” You were trying to cope with something that felt too big to carry.
Yes, you’re responsible for your healing.
But white-knuckling it alone? That’s not recovery. That’s self-punishment.
Addiction doesn’t just show up in the obvious ways.
Sometimes it’s a nightly glass that turns into three.
Sometimes it’s the compulsive scroll, the late-night work binges, the secret Amazon boxes you don’t even open.
As business owners, we’re masters at keeping up appearances—even when we’re slowly unraveling behind the scenes.
Recovery starts by telling the truth.
Not to the world.
But to yourself.
Here are seven strategies I’ve seen work—not in theory, but in real-life trenches with clients, friends, and my own story.
7 Real Steps to Recover While You Lead
Step 1: Name What’s Really Going On
Addiction thrives in silence and self-deception.
And for high-functioning leaders, it’s easy to rationalize: “I’m stressed,” “It’s just wine,” “This is how I unwind.”
But when your focus slips, your temper flares, your inbox becomes a graveyard, and your nights blur together—you know.
Naming the problem isn’t weak. It’s step one.
Not just for your healing, but for the survival of your relationships, your business, and your body.
Don’t wait for rock bottom. If it’s costing you clarity, sleep, peace, or trust—it’s already expensive.
Start tracking what you’re doing, when, and why. No judgment. Just data.
Because the truth is: you’re either in charge, or your addiction is.
Step 2: Get Real Support (Not More “Motivation”)
You can’t fix this alone—not with another course, podcast, or productivity app.
This isn’t about willpower. It’s about unpacking what’s driving the behavior and having safe people around you while you do it.
Whether it’s a trauma-informed therapist, inpatient program, or 12-step group—you need more than advice.
You need support that can hold your truth without flinching.
I didn’t just need help. I needed structure, witness, and accountability. And I still do.
Explore what works for your level of struggle. Don’t try to self-diagnose or ask friends who normalize dysfunction. Ask someone trained. Then commit to the process.
Step 3: Build a Circle That Gets It
You cannot heal in a room full of people who need you to pretend.
Your circle needs to include emotionally mature folks who:
Don’t panic when you say “I’m not okay.”
Refuse to enable.
And will never minimize.
This might mean stepping back from family or friends who love you but can’t support your healing.
Find people who’ve done the work—or are doing it now.
Recovery is relational. And honesty without safety is just another trauma.
Step 4: Channel Your Obsession Into Something Clean
You know how to commit. You’ve stayed up late for deals, code, emails, or doomscrolling.
Now it’s time to redirect that fire into something that builds you instead of breaks you.
This isn’t about becoming a yoga influencer overnight.
It’s about stacking enough small habits that your nervous system gets a break.
Move your body every day.
Pick up something creative, even if it’s ugly.
Put structure where chaos used to live.
You can’t just stop using. You have to build something better to return to.
Step 5: Address the Pressure Cooker
Stress doesn’t justify addiction. But it fuels it—fast.
Being the one who holds everything together can break you if you don’t start handing off what’s not yours.
This means:
Delegating. Imperfectly.
Letting things fall.
Saying “not now” to anything that feels extractive.
You don’t need more grit. You need relief.
Give yourself the kind of structure your addiction pretended to provide.
Step 6: Set Goals That Honor Reality, Not Fantasy
Addicts love all-or-nothing thinking.
“I’ll quit forever starting Monday.” “I’ll launch the new thing and go sober.” “I’ll fix it all.”
That’s your nervous system trying to shortcut shame.
Instead:
Set a 3-day goal.
Celebrate one hard conversation.
Write the damn milestone on a sticky note and mean it.
Progress counts. So does rest. And your worth isn’t measured in streaks.
There's no such thing as perfection in recovery, only progress. Stick to your recovery plan and don't hesitate to ask for help.
Step 7: Accept That Relapse Isn’t the End
You might slip. You might binge. You might fall asleep on the couch with a drink in your hand after 90 days clean.
That doesn’t mean you’re broken. It means you’re human.
The key is what you do next:
Tell someone safe.
Trace what led you there.
Choose again.
Falling isn’t failure. Faking it is.
Keep coming back to why you started this. Not for perfection. But for peace. For presence. For power that doesn’t require performance.
FAQ: Getting Sober While Being an Effective Leader
Q1: Can business owners really recover from addiction without losing everything?
Yes. With the right support system and structure, recovery can actually make your business stronger—by forcing clarity, boundaries, and deeper self-leadership.
Q2: What if I don’t think I’m “that bad”?
Denial is common. If your habits are harming your relationships, creativity, or energy, it’s worth investigating. You don’t have to hit rock bottom to make a change.
Q3: Do I need rehab or just a therapist?
It depends. Some business owners need inpatient rehab. Others do best with a trauma-informed coach, group support, or EMDR. The key is finding what addresses your root patterns—not just the surface habit.
Q4: How do I keep my business running while I recover?
Delegation, realistic goal-setting, and a support network are essential. Many entrepreneurs find their businesses grow more sustainably when they stop white-knuckling everything solo.
Final Thoughts on Addiction Recovery
Overcoming addiction is hard. Growing your business while developing healthier habits may seem impossible, but it’s achievable. If I could do it, so can you. Healing and recovery involve discovering your true self and challenging your old patterns.
If you’re building a business while battling addiction, I want you to know something:
You’re not weak. You’re worn.
And the part of you that’s still fighting? That’s the part we can work with.
Go Deeper
💛 Work with me, Denise G. Lee – Together, we’ll unravel the hidden patterns behind your addiction and rebuild the emotional strength your business (and soul) actually needs.
👉 Start your healing journey
🎙️ Prefer to listen?
Hear how addiction shaped one woman’s path from the bench to rock bottom—and back again.
👉 Listen to this podcast episode
💌 Want to talk privately?
Share what’s coming up for you. I’ll read it personally.
👉 Write me a note
Just remember:
You can be powerful and still need help.
Leadership doesn’t mean white-knuckling your pain.
It means choosing to heal—even when no one else knows you’re bleeding.
