Can someone in recovery maintain his career?
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 73
Can someone in recovery maintain his career?
I was just arrested for my 3rd DWI charged (I was convicted of the 2 prior charges). My attorney told me I could avoid jail time by entering an inpatient treatment program. I know that the program will help me with my issues with alcohol, but I am also concerned about my career. Should I let go of the desire to be successful because I know I have a problem? I have heard stories of doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who are in recovery, but I have yet to have any contact with such a person. Right now, I feel that my whole life has been a waste of talent and potential. The worst thing is that I will be in massive debt due to the student loans for my MBA. Is there hope for me? Is it possible for me to find a job that is consistent with my education and experience? Or should I accept that I have lost the past and the future is out of my hands in terms of a career?
Forward we go...side by side-Rest In Peace
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Serene In Dixie
Posts: 36,740
You can have a future beyond your expectations.
The AA Promises ..
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will
see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not dofor ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises?
We think not. They are being fulfilled
among us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always
materialize if we work for them.
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-84
The AA Promises ..
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development, we will be amazed before we are half way through.
We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness.
We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.
We will comprehend the word serenity and we will
know peace.
No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will
see how our experience can benefit others.
That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear.
We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows.
Self-seeking will slip away.
Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change.
Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.
We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not dofor ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises?
We think not. They are being fulfilled
among us -- sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly. They will always
materialize if we work for them.
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 83-84
Member
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: California
Posts: 972
there are laws protecting your mental medical health issues from the public. Individuals and corporations (including health orgs) are not privy to that information. I would talk to your supervisor about your problem ( or whoever you believe will most keep your anonymity intact) and arrange for the month's sick leave for rehab.
Jeez, I know of doctors, nurses, venture capitolists, lawyers, judges and actors who have benefited from the public knowledge that they had the courage to fight their addictions.
Even the president of the US is in recovery! Don't pass go, don't collect 200 bucks but arrange that sick leave you need to get on with your life in the manner you so desperately seek!!!!
You can do it!
Let us know how it goes for you...
Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: QUEENS, NY
Posts: 200
Should I let go of the desire to be successful because I know I have a problem?
Why? I found that my career accelerated once I stopped drinking, my head was clear, I was calm and I was productive beyond my beliefs.
Take care of your sobriety and everything else in life will fall into place, "life beyond your wildest dreams" this promise is true.
Love, Rose
Why? I found that my career accelerated once I stopped drinking, my head was clear, I was calm and I was productive beyond my beliefs.
Take care of your sobriety and everything else in life will fall into place, "life beyond your wildest dreams" this promise is true.
Love, Rose
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 73
Thanks michski. Things would be better for me if I was working. However, I am not working. Before the DWI arrest, I was actively interviewing for jobs. I declined a great offer from Bank of America last week due to my fears related to the background check. I thought I could explain 2 DWIs, but 3 is just insane. Anyway, I cited personal problems as the reason for declining. The exec who made the offer seemed to understand, and he asked me to call him once my personal issues are resolved, but I'm sure he wouldn't be so interested in me if knew about the details of my past.
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 73
Thanks Suzin. I am in the process of prospecting treatment providers. What should I be looking for? May I ask for results or testimonials? Is there an accrediting body or industry association that rates facilities?
Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 15,236
Hi Im Sharon and Im an alcoholic.
By the Grace of my HP and people like u here
in SR i havent had a drink of Alcohol since
8-11-90. For that im truely grateful.
I went thru a 28 day inpatiant rehab treatment
via a family intervention. After so may attempts
to stop drinking on my own i realized i was
POWERLESS....MY POWERLESSNESS led me to
wanting to end my miserable life. And so with a
hand full of pills i was headed to ending my life....
Thank God the attmept failed are else i wouldnt
be here to tell u about my experience. My family
stepped in and did for me what i couldnt do for
myself.
And so i went to rehab for 28 days followed by
a 6 week outpatiant aftercare program.....
My 28 days stay....detox..getting that "crap"
alcohol out of my system....being in a controlled
inviroment where alcohol is not a temptation.....
We exercised, we had group sessions...i was
taught in depth the history of my disease
followed by the steps i would take for the rest
of my life if i wanted to stay sober....And to
learn how to achieve Happiness,
Joy and Freedom from alcohol.
I wanted more than anything to follow
the suggestions of our wonderful program
that was so freely given to me....well
insurance paid for treatment....but every-
thing afterwards was freely given to me for
the taking.
Going to meetings, doing service work,
working with others.....all of this in order
to stay close to my family, otherwise they
wanted to send me away to a halfway house
away from my 2 little kids at the time.....so
i did what was suggested whether i liked it
or not as my life depended on it.
The payment....im still married after 24 yrs...
my 2 kids now 19 and 22 are prospering young adults
attending college majoring in Music and English with
no signs of dependency on alcohol or drugs...
Thank God for that....
I also have a little part time job and a roof over
my head and food on the table....
And a supportive harding working husband that
continues to stand by me as i grow in recovery.
If i were still drinking my guess i would either be
drunk right now...in the looney bin....or dead.
Even if i have some days that r tough, its nothing
compared to what it was like when i was drinking.
Thank u for letting me share.
By the Grace of my HP and people like u here
in SR i havent had a drink of Alcohol since
8-11-90. For that im truely grateful.
I went thru a 28 day inpatiant rehab treatment
via a family intervention. After so may attempts
to stop drinking on my own i realized i was
POWERLESS....MY POWERLESSNESS led me to
wanting to end my miserable life. And so with a
hand full of pills i was headed to ending my life....
Thank God the attmept failed are else i wouldnt
be here to tell u about my experience. My family
stepped in and did for me what i couldnt do for
myself.
And so i went to rehab for 28 days followed by
a 6 week outpatiant aftercare program.....
My 28 days stay....detox..getting that "crap"
alcohol out of my system....being in a controlled
inviroment where alcohol is not a temptation.....
We exercised, we had group sessions...i was
taught in depth the history of my disease
followed by the steps i would take for the rest
of my life if i wanted to stay sober....And to
learn how to achieve Happiness,
Joy and Freedom from alcohol.
I wanted more than anything to follow
the suggestions of our wonderful program
that was so freely given to me....well
insurance paid for treatment....but every-
thing afterwards was freely given to me for
the taking.
Going to meetings, doing service work,
working with others.....all of this in order
to stay close to my family, otherwise they
wanted to send me away to a halfway house
away from my 2 little kids at the time.....so
i did what was suggested whether i liked it
or not as my life depended on it.
The payment....im still married after 24 yrs...
my 2 kids now 19 and 22 are prospering young adults
attending college majoring in Music and English with
no signs of dependency on alcohol or drugs...
Thank God for that....
I also have a little part time job and a roof over
my head and food on the table....
And a supportive harding working husband that
continues to stand by me as i grow in recovery.
If i were still drinking my guess i would either be
drunk right now...in the looney bin....or dead.
Even if i have some days that r tough, its nothing
compared to what it was like when i was drinking.
Thank u for letting me share.
Administrator
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Dancing in the Light
Posts: 61,476
Hi Cubbie,
I agree with you that any company that does a background check will find out about your dwi's and that it will hard to explain. It would probably be best to focus on recovery now and give your energy to getting better. Then, begin job hunting, with some recovery under your belt and with honesty towards your prospective employers. It may be frustrating that there are rejections because of your past, but, the right job will come along at the right time. I am certain of that.
I agree with you that any company that does a background check will find out about your dwi's and that it will hard to explain. It would probably be best to focus on recovery now and give your energy to getting better. Then, begin job hunting, with some recovery under your belt and with honesty towards your prospective employers. It may be frustrating that there are rejections because of your past, but, the right job will come along at the right time. I am certain of that.
I found a job I loved... in a new field...Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boston, MA
Posts: 93
The fact that I was NOT in recovery is what killed my career. Or at least has put it on hold for now. Now that I have a couple months recovery behind me I am ready to start looking for a new place in my field. I know I am good at what I do so I have faith that the right thing will come along. Certainly will be alot easier to go to work clean and sober than it was when I was strung out.
Work on getting well first. Then work on getting work. Good luck.
Work on getting well first. Then work on getting work. Good luck.
Member
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LA - Lower Alabama
Posts: 5,068
Cubbie,
A couple of things to consider. Most companies do not do background checks. You mentioned BofA. If you are getting into (or staying in) the banking industry, however, you can pretty much guarantee a background check.
I googled a background check service because I wanted to run a check on myself to see if my 2 arrests/convictions from 7 and 9 years ago showed up. They did not. I am not sure how good these checks really are.
Good luck and remember FIRST THINGS FIRST. Do not take a drink.
A couple of things to consider. Most companies do not do background checks. You mentioned BofA. If you are getting into (or staying in) the banking industry, however, you can pretty much guarantee a background check.
I googled a background check service because I wanted to run a check on myself to see if my 2 arrests/convictions from 7 and 9 years ago showed up. They did not. I am not sure how good these checks really are.
Good luck and remember FIRST THINGS FIRST. Do not take a drink.
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
Posts: 500
I have had 2 DWI's in the last three years and some places do background checks, it depends on what field you want to go into, awhile back I was looking for a job even some retail stores to background checks and I think they also take into consideration the circumstances, if you are going into treatment, it is probably best to wait til you get out and then start your search for a job, one problem I am having is my suspended license, which I will get back in December of this year, so I will probably wait til then to look for the type of job I was doing before which was in the legal field and if you can believe it, most law firms dont do background checks at least that is what my sister says who is a lawyer cause she said if they know you can do the work they dont care about your past- crazy, isnt it. Best luck to you,
Anne
Anne
Member
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: FRIENDSWOOD, TEXAS
Posts: 500
I am also going to do a background check on my self sometime soon cause after I got my most recent first Dwi which was in May, 2004 I went to a placement company for employment and she did a background check and it didnt even come up and I had a DWI that came up from when I was 18 over 20 yrs ago, but the lady said that it didnt matter anyway.
Currently Active Users Viewing this Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
