Hey Col..talk about a scrooge situation.sorry for your dilemma.These are some things that was suggested to me obviously number1 being DON'T PICK UP NO MATTER WHAT! Now thats out of the way these are some suggestions that help me settle inside a little..
For a few SUGGESTIONS I never liked must's or dont's,kind a always kicked up my rebellious side.... Think about just taking any job you can get your hands on(did that and was worse than job I had and ended up quitting)
Interviewing like crazy(was making me really crazy)
Take any first offer ,similar to number one,look into the position and not the idea you may make $8.00 an hour
Panic and run in circles(that was me,why me? now what? how gonna pay my bills?im gonna starve and on and on
Will be time after the shock to realize:
iTS REALLY NEVER AS BAD AS YOU THINK(yeah easy for you to say Mike,,,,I know I was my own worst anxiety giver)
You MAY HAVE MORE OPTIONS THEN YOU THINK,Maybe unemployment,severance? Your not going to DIE of Hunger
Once you stop freaking out(its what WE do as people in recovery and humans in general)
I always after the freak out tried to see if there was a lesson I was missing here??
You have another opportunity here may sound nuts but when you get some of the above stuff settled maybe try something to get your head out of the depression(me wallowing in the mire) maybe do something physical,I started running,taking walks ,meditating to clear my head.Think about what you would like to do.I KNOW this is not how we usually do things and I myself am struggling to find work after I left my job up North thinking I could always get reemployed. Aint that easy but its doable. Faith,, being sure of what we hoped for and certain of what we have not seen,,,,A real good time to to incorporate our 3rd/11th steps into your daily being.....Seek thru prayer and meditation and turn your will over to the CARE of that Power.
MOST OF ALL JUST DON'T USE,(one of few times I use dont),,,all bets are off when we pickup,our worst day in sobriety is better than our best day caught in the grip for people who suffer from addiction.I will lift you up in prayer,stay close with your support group and I found for me helping others was some of the best medicine to get out of my own head.I truly believe one door closes and another may open..I can identify with you feeling like saying SHUT UP MIKE!! i know I have been in this dilemma while in the grip and in sobriety,the difference was one area I had tools the other I only had more devastation.I will lift you up in prayer and yes Have a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday period...Each day More is revealed.let us know how its going....Have an egg nog(minus the poison) for me....Peace in thought...
-- Edited by mikef on Friday 21st of December 2012 04:47:22 PM
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Selfishness-self-centeredness! That, we think, is the root of our troubles.
There is a passage early in the Big Book that gives advance warning that this kind of thing will happen. Bad things happen to everyone,not just alcoholics, it's part of life.
"Particularly was it imperative to work with others as he had worked with me. Faith without works was dead, he said. And how appallingly true for the alcoholic! For if an alcoholic failed to perfect and enlarge his spiritual life through work and self-sacrifice for others, he could not survive the certain trials and low spots ahead. If he did not work, he would surely drink again, and if he drank, he would surely die. Then faith would be dead indeed. With us it is just like that."
I got fired at 6 weeks sobriety and not only that, all my gear was stolen from my locker, even my new boots, and my employer couldn't have cared less. I couldn't say that I was aware of the above passage at the time, but I acted like I was. I carried on with my step work, kept working with others, going on 12 step calls, driving people to meetings, praying and trying to learn how to practice these principles in all my affairs. I didn't know much, but I did know that sobriety was my number one priority regardless of anything else. Through prayer, my faith was getting stronger and another promise came true.
Page 63 (third step) "We had a new Employer. Being all powerful, He provided what we needed, if we kept close to Him and performed His work well."
Pretty soon a new job came along, so much better than the old one, and I was able to finish my apprenticeship. He did indeed provide what I needed.
I've been through a few more low spots and the above has always held true.
There is another passage from which you can take encouragement:
"Some of us have taken very hard knocks to learn this truth: Job or no job - wife or no wife - we simply do not stop drinking so long as we place dependence upon other people ahead of dependence on God.
Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house."
God bless,
Mike.H.
-- Edited by Fyne Spirit on Friday 21st of December 2012 10:14:02 PM
I got fired from my job today. I don't really want to discuss details, but it's the first major thing that's happened in the 7 months I've been sober and I'm freaking the f out. Just spent all my $ with holiday coming up and I'm screwed. Everything was going along smoothly, and it was all coming together and now my little sober world is shaken. A bar seems like a good place to be, cuz I feel like the kind of loser that should be in one at 3 in the afternoon. My sponsers unavailable and I have an hour to kill before a meeting so I just wanted to vent here and ask for your support and prayers for me to deal with this while remaining sober
Hey Col, ... Try to calm down and relax with some deep breathing ... go to your meeting and consider that you do have your sobriety in the now ... as you know, to drink now would only serve to worsen your situation ... it would cost you money that you don't have to spare right now and it would end up costing a whole lot more ... talk to your higher power and thank Him/Her for what you DO have and ask for His will to be done ... He/She knows what you are needing right now, so be patient and things will work out ...
Above all else, don't take that first drink ...
Praying for God's will to be done for you as well as us all, Pappy
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'Those who leave everything in God's hand will eventually see God's hand in everything.'
While losing your job is rarely cause for celebration, this was not a job you wanted to keep forever anyhow. One door closes and another one will eventually open. I have faith better things are in store for you.
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Keep coming back. It works if you work it. So work it. You're worth it!
I'm really sorry that happened, especially before the holidays. It sucks financially and it sure is a big hit to the ego. When I'm that scared and hurt I feel like I'm flailing around just trying to seek comfort. I am really inspired, as a newcomer, how you came here first and are going to a meeting. I was offered a drunken good time today that has really had me thinking. Let's boot that idea of another drunk right outta town. You with me, girl?
Sorry to hear that. Colleen. It's never a good time to get news like that, but at least you're sober...Stay that way! Good call coming here first. A lot of good suggestions have been made already. Any chance you can get unemployment? I know I've not been here long enough to grasp the whole situation, but if you need an ear, I'm here. Everything happens for a reason...I'm sure you'll know it soon enough.
Before I made the move here to Texas I stood in a field carrying 2 buckets of water saying "God, if you're there, I have no education or job skills and I have 3 children to raise alone. Please help me if you will." and when I came to Texas I got a job carrying 2 jugs of water that sustained us for the next 22 years! And when I was let go of that job after 22 years I got a job doing apartment management and I wondered why I hadn't done it sooner! Ya just never know!!
I know that feeling Colleen. I got fired a few times in early sobriety, more times than when I was drinking. Seems that with showing up for work every day I wasn't keeping a low profile. What I did learn was to Pray for work. It works well and I still do it weekly, as I've been self employed for 22 years now.
Thanks so much everyone.. I'm not at the "good things will come of this" point yet, but I can see the wisdom of it. I'm at the "I'm a piece of crap that f d up and deservedly got fired" point. Sure, I've been sober 7 months but I've still got a lot of work to do because I still do stupid crap that is unacceptable. The fact that I have to face the consequences of my actions sucks. The fact that i went to 2 meetings, got on here, spoke to my sponser shows that I do not have to sit in the back of the dirtiest dive bar shooting back whiskey all night while telling myself it's what I deserve is a miracle.. Cuz that's what I've wanted to do all night. I now know I truly value my sobriety and have to just be strong, cuz I can't play victim in this situation. Truly it's not a great feeling and I thank you all for being supportive even though its totally my fault
Ahhh.. Wait a minute- is this kinda like 'being an adult'?? You have to take responsibility for your actions, accept and deal with the consequences? Oh, man. Serenity prayer.
Im new and will pray for your Health, Safety and Future Employment.
Being sober now I think of lots of bad things that could happen. All I try now (not sure if it is right or not) but to take 1 day at a time and make good choices and to be at peace with myself.
