Should I quit my job to get sober
12 Step Recovered Alcoholic
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 6,613
I took 6 weeks off work and put in a big effort with AA. When I returned to work I was fired and all my gear had been stolen. I stayed sober and carried on with AA. A better job came along.
The thing is the job, or lack of it, had nothing to do with whether I would stop drinking or not.
I had to develop a new way of life. Some go to rehab to get a start and then follow the rehabs advice which is usually to continue with AA, and they seem to do ok.
I cut out the middleman, went to AA directly and gave it my best shot, and it worked.
The thing is the job, or lack of it, had nothing to do with whether I would stop drinking or not.
I had to develop a new way of life. Some go to rehab to get a start and then follow the rehabs advice which is usually to continue with AA, and they seem to do ok.
I cut out the middleman, went to AA directly and gave it my best shot, and it worked.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Sonoran Desert & Southeast Asia
Posts: 6,561
Originally Posted by Rock2534 
I tapered and this is my last day. Actually don't feel to bad for once but I'm worried I've never solved this problem. I don't really like my job, but have never really hated it and it would be hard to quit. One of those jobs you can stand and the pay and people are good. I don't know if I can take doing both things at once. It's sad because at my job I can multietask task many things. When it comes to my personal life, I can only do one at a time. Wish it was the opposite.
I talked to my boss about it and they offered me a month off but I wanted more so I ended up just quitting and doing early retirement. It's SO much easier to make changes in your life without the work stress. Now that I feel better I'm considering some small business ventures or consulting part time. For me it was worth it, but I knew going in I didn't have to go back to work if I didn't want to.
I should add that if you're the type that needs structure to avoid drinking, make sure you have a plan and/or rehab program lined up.
Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: highland beach, florida
Posts: 649
Originally Posted by Rock2534
This time I really feel like I hit rock bottom. And if things get worse, and I really don't know how they can, I don't want to go there. I've spent a week just sitting in bed tapering. I really didn't even watch tv. I'm not a religious man and only go to church for weddings, but I'm willing to give aa a try. I looked at my life during this time and saw that I really had nothing left. Have a few friends, girlfriend and family. And I'm pretty sure I'm about to lose the family part of it.
You have your whole life "left"....of course if you decide to spend weeks in bed "tapering" well that is where your LIFE will keep you.
If you are an alcoholic you have not begun to live the life you were capaple of having. Alcohol will undermine every attempt to take your place in the real world. Who knows what you are capable of--Great things I hope.
IMOO "TAPERING" is the excuse we use for being too scared of "Commitment".
.....and in MOO it NEVER works--you have got to get every molecule of alcohol out of your system. That does not mean "SIPPING" you way to sobriety. It means Never taking 1 sip of alcohol. Unfortunately we are from that Planet where alcohol is like Kriptonite .
The thing that scares the hell out of all of us is looking at a FUTURE without alcohol ever in it. You Cannot do that --you literally have to forget future thoughts and think ONLY for ONE DAY AT A TIME. Believe it or not those "1 day at a time" gets us to the point where one day you realize you have not had a drink in years....and furthermore it does not have the same pull on you it once did. You do not need it to LIVE!
......and it is the hardest thing you will ever have to do--let us hope!
Stay strong!
Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Eastern Us
Posts: 1,366
Doug, try AA. It is everywhere. It might help you save your life. If you find AA doesn't resonate with you try something else. Look at the secular connections section here for some options. I found that being around other people like me help immensely during early sobriety.
Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Toronto
Posts: 318
This sounds very similar to my story. I also had a seizure at work. I decided to go to treatment to get my life together and by all means it works however you will still have some psychological issues that will arise after returning to work. I as well had enough funds to get by, but I was hell bent on returning to work because I had nothing better to do. This was a mistake. At 3+ months sober I'm going through intense PAWS being overemotional and Over-Stressed. This is very common. I go to as many meetings as possible, but in retrospect I should be putting my sobriety and getting better psychologically my number 1 priority. I find that if I don't put my sobriety #1 I get complacent, get the "f...its" and return back to my old ways. I am also a chronic relapser. This is just my experience.
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 13,560
If you are dead you will not be back to work anyways....just saying. If your boss is as nice as they seem, they will support you getting help. "Tapering" does not work for an A. If you are in the mindset that this has to stop then by all means, get some help. If you are only doing this to help you "taper" I would not waste your time. Alcoholism is a serious disease that takes a serious attitude to recover from. I hope you do the right thing for you. Of course this is just my opinion, someone who spent literally thousands sending AH to recovery...not realizing since he was not serious it was a waste of alot of heartache and money.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Silver Spring, MD
Posts: 109
I am on day 27 of a 30 day inpatient rehab and it was the best decision I ever made. I was like you. I couldn't stay quit for more than a few days "out there". Being here has given me time and space to get my head together and prepare an ongoing recovery plan.
I did not quit my job, I just took leave. I am really looking forward to having my job to go back to - it gives me something to do with big chunks of time, it pays the bills, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Good luck whatever you do!! Please keep in touch.
I did not quit my job, I just took leave. I am really looking forward to having my job to go back to - it gives me something to do with big chunks of time, it pays the bills, it gives me a sense of accomplishment.
Good luck whatever you do!! Please keep in touch.
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 453
One of my employees quit on me suddenly, no notice or warning. I suspected something was up and later found out she was an alcoholic (and I'm pretty sure she left to go to rehab). I would have been more than happy if she had just taken a leave of absence and would have kept her job for her.
As it is, she quit with no notice and isn't eligible for rehire.
Little did she know how much I empathize with her condition... I can almost guarantee that she has no clue that I'm also an alcoholic and she will be surprised if we ever run into each other at a meeting!
If you have a good job and can take a leave of absence, that seems wisest to me.
But definitely do what it takes to get sober. Wishing you well.
As it is, she quit with no notice and isn't eligible for rehire.
Little did she know how much I empathize with her condition... I can almost guarantee that she has no clue that I'm also an alcoholic and she will be surprised if we ever run into each other at a meeting!
If you have a good job and can take a leave of absence, that seems wisest to me.
But definitely do what it takes to get sober. Wishing you well.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 88
Originally Posted by Hawkeye13
Hi Rock;
Just checking in. Hope things are going better with the detox.
Just checking in. Hope things are going better with the detox.
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