May be my hardest day of sobriety yet

Emotional Support
1

Y’all ever have a month where everything just sucks? :pensive_face:

I finally got my life to a place I was proud of. I worked so hard and really felt like I was accomplishing something.

Then today…I got fired.

The reason I was given?
“It’s just not working out.”

I asked for clarification and was told they wanted someone with more industry experience. I’ve been there eight months. We were way past the point of deciding if I was the right fit. When I pressed further, they told me to grab my things.

I was completely blindsided.

I just had a positive performance review. Last week, my CEO told me I was on track to make six figures in five years. I’ve been told multiple times recently that I was “crushing it.” This is a small company. There was no warning—no write-ups, no disciplinary action, nothing weird or out of place.

I carried a massive workload. I was the Director of Internal Operations and handled HR, IT, onboarding, insurance, internal communications, customer service, community engagement, social media, marketing design, event planning—you name it.

I’m not perfect. I make mistakes—especially pulling 9–12 hour days (salaried, no overtime) and some weekends too. But I always own it, even when I catch it myself. I fix it. I show up. I care.

But I live in an at-will state. That means they can fire me for basically any reason—or none at all. So… they did. And apparently, they already had my replacement lined up.

They let me work 6 hours today knowing they were about to let me go.

I feel like my whole world collapsed. But I’m staying strong in my sobriety. I called someone and talked the entire way home—no stops, no temptations. Just panic and heartbreak.

I know something better is coming, but right now I just feel wrecked. Thanks for letting me vent. Really hoping this chapter is behind me soon.

13 Likes
2

I’m so sorry they let you go. I lost two jobs and I know how painful it is. Give yourself time to grieve. Can you collect unemployment? I’m glad you are staying strong in your sobriety!

3 Likes
3

Now that sucks. You don’t need to hear the “when one door closes etc…”. We’ve heard that before. Next time someone says that to me I’m going to slap them. Just kidding.

I had a similar thing happen to me. We’re an at-will state too. Mine happened a week before Christmas. No warning, no clue. That was in 2012. Looking back, I’m glad it did. I couldn’t stand the GM. It was pretty toxic. I took a little time off, after all it was Christmas and found something new I enjoyed better. It didn’t pay as well, but it was much less stressful and it was way more enjoyable. I worked there for around 10 years. The owner sold the place and retired. I was out of a job, but that’s the way it went.

Long story short. I ended up in the hospital January 3 2024. Alcohol related internal damage, better known as cirrhosis of the liver. Was there for a week. While I was there they fired the General Manager at the first job I discussed and asked me back. I went into the hospital on a Friday and as working the next Tuesday. I never did tell them anything about my hospital stay or that I had stopped drinking. They’re paying me more than before and I love the job. I’ve been there almost two years and haven’t touched alcohol since.

I guess what I’m saying is things happened that were out of my control. It worked out better than I’d imagined.

Try and not let the stress get to you. Stay sober.

I wish you the best.

4 Likes
4

I may be able to. I’m going to file. Its a 1-3 week approval process so I’m going to have to find a side gig or a temporary job that will hire rapdily or something just to make sure i can pay my bills. I’m very blessed with a supportive partner. So hes been awesome through this and I’m not all on my own at least. But also thats more pressure. Its not just my life that was impacted. He swears i havent let him down but it still feels like ive failed my family and i dont even know why. I dont even know what id say when someone asks why the fired me.

We just started planning our wedding. We just moved. Just finally got a new car. Just…so much to think about :frowning:

3 Likes
5

Thank you for sharing!

I actually hit late stage 2 in 2023! Full on jaundice. That is why i quit too. I’m sorry you also went through that.

What sucks is this is the first place ive worked that wasnt toxic. Well. It didnt seem toxic. Everyone was very religous, very honest, very kind. I legitimately thought these were some of the most genuine people id ever met. To not get any sort of real response as to why just felt like a betrayal. There is clearly a deeper reason and I just dont get it fully. Like mistakes happen. I’m not a perfect person. But i definitely didnt do anything to deserve to be fired without warning. No write up or warning. Just… came in and worked 6 hours of my day and then boom. I have no job.

Ive never been fired before. Ive made it 27 years and never been fired. So on top of the general pain and anger my pride is suffering a little bit too.

Like they know I’m planning my wedding, taking care of twon younger siblings one of which is only 7. They know my apartment flooded and we had to move due to black mold which cleared my savings. They know that we recently had a death in the family. They know what I’m going through. After everything i did for this plsce to not even get the chance to fix whatever the issue is really sucks

2 Likes
6

I hate this for you! It breaks my heart and honestly makes me feel anxious as well. I also live in an “at will” state and have been afraid that my boss will decide to let me go. My addiction caused a lot of problems with my workload and ultimately “theft of time” where I wasn’t doing the things I needed to be doing for work (which I’ve since resolved and carried a proper workload for the past 8mo at least). My boss knows about it all now and has for a year or so, but the thing he doesn’t know yet is that I’m transgender and transitioning. I’m afraid he’s going to use my past behaviors to try to justify firing me when I come out later this year so that he doesn’t have to “deal” with having a transgender employee.

I’m so sorry to read about your experience and I really think things will work out wonderfully for you and your partner. Having experience essentially running everything (especially IT) is huge for you. Good luck with everything and kudos for not allowing something so devastating to break your sobriety :light_blue_heart:

1 Like
7

Thank you for sharing! I’m gonna send you a private message real quick w some advice!

1 Like
8

I’m so, so sorry to hear you’re struggling.

I know the shock of being fired, especially when it comes out of left field. It’s a kind of betrayal that leaves scars on the soul.

The only time I was fired, it was from a major bank’s call center. This was in 2008.

I thought similar things: what? Why? I JUST had a great review?

They were vague and gaslit me into believing I somehow failed.

I carried that around for a few months until I ran into a former coworker. They lamented getting fired, too.

Turns out, the entire department was let go within weeks.

We worked in the mortgage department and it was during the housing market crash.

We were all told the same story.

I walked around feeling like such a hopeless failure, when that simply wasn’t true!

Don’t let this negatively effect your sobriety. YOU are much more precious than this super crappy moment. Feel your feelings, honor them; but don’t stay in them.

Sunshine is coming.

3 Likes