So, about a month ago I was approached by my supervisor at work asking if I was using. They were concerned because I was showing symptoms of opioid withdrawal. At the time, I was using. Not daily, and not even enough to really lead to a dependency issue. But I was honest and admitted that I was. They had me return home and wait further instructions from HR. HR determined they wanted a drug screen, which I was willing to comply with. However, the next day and I woke up feeling horrible. Fever, chest congestion, chills, and a serious cough. Tested myself for COVID and determined that was negative. So, since I can’t drive due to medical issues, I walked to the walk-in. They tested me and I tested positive for Influenza Type A. I asked they fax the diagnosis to my employer so they knew I was genuinely sick. Walk-in complied. Contacted my supervisor and they still hadn’t heard anything back from HR about the UDS order. Well, the next day I woke up and felt even worse. Could barely sit up in bed without being dizzy and out of breath. Direct supervisor said I had till the following day to be drug screened. So I went back to bed. Next day I get on the bus, do a transfer, and walk a quarter mile to the screening sight, and they were closed. At this point I was panicking. I called my supervisor and explained. She told me to go home and rest and she would take it up with HR on Monday. HR didn’t get back to her or I for a week and then fired me. I found out and contacted my plug. Bought a ton of shit. Went on a full blown binge. Went to my Mom’s the next day and OD’d. Now my whole family knows. I don’t have a job. I feel worthless. I have used since I OD’d and have been going to outpatient. But I feel so fucking worthless. I fucked up and I feel like I’m spiraling. I’ve been having horrible thoughts. I am gonna have to go without my antidepressants and anti seizure medications soon because they terminated my insurance when I was fired. I’ve been applying to other jobs and I have an interview next week, but I’m really just struggling to even get through the day.
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Hopeless Just Feeling Worthless
- Thread starter Floeyoeyo
- Start date
Jerry Atrick
Bluelight Crew
Are you in the US? If you need health insurance, apply for ACA/Obamacare. That's what I've been using for the past 2 years. All you have to do is go to healthcare.gov and do a preliminary assessment to see if you are eligible. If you are, then just fill out the online application and you will sign up for affordable health insurance on the spot. Open enrollment ends January 15 so hurry up.
Also, if you were fired, apply for unemployment. They will pay you full time income until you find a new job and they will help you find a job. I did it when I was laid off 2 year ago and it saved my ass.
Please don't give up when there are safety nets out there to assist people in your situation. Let your rich Uncle Sam help you out for a little while and you will be okay, I'm sure of it
Also, if you were fired, apply for unemployment. They will pay you full time income until you find a new job and they will help you find a job. I did it when I was laid off 2 year ago and it saved my ass.
Please don't give up when there are safety nets out there to assist people in your situation. Let your rich Uncle Sam help you out for a little while and you will be okay, I'm sure of it
Yes, I’m in the US. I was told by others that if I was fired, I can’t get unemployment. But I am going to apply for ACA. I’ve been stressed and feel like shit. My depression has completely taken over and it’s been getting worse as the days go on. Unless I’m with other people (which costs money for me to make happen) I feel like garbage. I haven’t been taking care of myself or my apartment. Only my pets. Thank you for your comment, I will look into the unemployment thing.Are you in the US? If you need health insurance, apply for ACA/Obamacare. That's what I've been using for the past 2 years. All you have to do is go to healthcare.gov and do a preliminary assessment to see if you are eligible. If you are, then just fill out the online application and you will sign up for affordable health insurance on the spot. Open enrollment ends January 15 so hurry up.
Also, if you were fired, apply for unemployment. They will pay you full time income until you find a new job and they will help you find a job. I did it when I was laid off 2 year ago and it saved my ass.
Please don't give up when there are safety nets out there to assist people in your situation. Let your rich Uncle Sam help you out for a little while and you will be okay, I'm sure of it
THECATINTHEHAT
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2005
- Messages
- 8,180
If I was you I would deal with my drug dependency before worrying about getting another job.
You can.
I did when I got locked up in S Fla.
Just had to keep filing weekly certifications and eventually they gave it to me... it paid my way back to SC when I got out and couldnt find work.
The year 2007 was one of the worst self inflicted time of my life until all this recent BS.
I have to agree that the drug use/abuse should be reighned in before seeking any type of decent paying job with benifits.
Dark days are followed by brighter ones eventually.
After a couple months of focusing on my own health for a change I actually was smiling when I left my therapist for the first time yeaterday..
still do not know what to think about it (stunned) but can see a change in my mental state and also feeling a little more positive about the future.
There is help out there when the weight gets to be unbearable but I had to open myself up to it and keep hope in the foreground of my mind as hard as that was to do.
You have it in you to bounce back if you choose... I actually didnt feel I had a choice in the matter.
I was even offered (by therapist) to help others who are going through drug issues within their department. I reminded her of my extensive criminal background and lack of transportation. She said let her work on that as it was past and she felt I had a lot to offer in regards to this.
I was like "wuuuuuuttt? "
Hold fast. Tables turn. We all get our second or thousandth time to make things right.
I understand, however, I need money so I’m not homeless.
Painful One
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Jan 18, 2017
- Messages
- 4,215
Apply for unemployment. It is up to the employer usually. It costs them nothing. They have to carry insurance for that and it is sketchy on if they can fire you for a health issue or not.
Also, you can keep your health insurance via COBRA, it is to keep people from having a lapse in coverage when terminated from employment. You will have to pay the entire premium amount but Can keep health insurance that way for like 6-18 months.
Apply for the Obama care thing as @Jerry Atrick advised. That will cut down the cost to about $80 a month.
You have 60 days to reinstate your health insurance via COBRA and they will go back and pay any medical claims you may have or acquire during this time. So, save receipts . Tell health providers that you are in process of continuing health insurance via COBRA and to just resend their claim in.
Continuation of Health Coverage (COBRA)
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) gives workers and their families who lose their health benefits the right to choose to continue group health benefits provided by their group health plan for limited periods of time under certain circumstances such as voluntary or...
COBRA generally requires that group health plans sponsored by employers with 20 or more employees in the prior year offer employees and their families the opportunity for a temporary extension of health coverage (called continuation coverage) in certain instances where coverage under the plan would otherwise end.
COBRA outlines how employees and family members may elect continuation coverage. It also requires employers and plans to provide notice.
Next, pick yourself up, dust of the hurt to your pride and work on taking care of yourself.
Make sure you eat healthy and sleep.
Find some easy job that you can manage, if You could go part time right now and still meet your needs do it.
You can live on way less than imagined.
Don’t give up.
Everyone and I mean EVERYONE has had issues and problems.
People are generally understanding if you are honest and just talk to them.
Things will work out.
Hang tough.
When one door is closed, another opens.
This might end up being a good thing.
Jerry Atrick
Bluelight Crew
I will echo what others have said in this thread. Don't listen to the ones who said you can't get unemployment for being fired because they are sadly mistaken. The truth is that you are completely ineligible for unemployment if you quit. AFAIK the only way to get on unemployment is to be fired or laid off. I don't know what state you are in but for sure google it and look into this.
Yes, apply for ACA. Like @Painful One said, COBRA is always an option but will cost at least between $600-$800 per month. On the other hand, depending on your income, ACA can be anywhere between completely free to a few hundred dollars a month. The first time I got on ACA it cost me about $150 per month. This past year is was $60 per month. Now my income is so low that when I re-enrolled a couple of weeks ago, I qualified for and will now have a $0 monthly premium in 2023.
The problem with ACA is you have to make a minimum amount to qualify for the lowest prices. It's fucked up but if you earn less than like ~$13,500 per year, you will pay more than if you earn a higher income up to a certain amount. The reason is because the premium discount is paid through a tax subsidy. This means if you don't pay enough in taxes, then you won't qualify for the bigger discounts. It's kind of backwards but that's the way it works.
Therefore I recommend applying for unemployment and ACA at the same time. Get at least some part time income through unemployment and when you apply for ACA, give them a projected income amount that is somewhere high enough to get a decent subsidy but low enough to not be forced to pay several hundred dollars per month. There is a sweet spot. Since you are giving them future projected earnings, they can't check and have no way of confirming your income when they determine your monthly payments. But keep in mind that when taxes a due a year later, if you are too far off the estimated mark, you may have to repay the difference to the IRS. But it's totally worth it to take a shot and see what your options are.
Jerry Atrick
Bluelight Crew
Like I said above, it works on a sliding scale. Currently my income is low enough that I pay nothing. I have two part time jobs but still don't make full time income.
I can't give you any exact numbers but you can go here and fill out a preliminary unofficial application and find out your estimated cost. It can be anywhere form zero dollars to a few hundred per month. It all depends on your income. Hurry up because open enrollment ends Jan 15. That's 4 days from today!
This is absolute neo liberal bullshit. When i worked with the teamsters you got people on basically every drug working at ups. Should your drug problem prevent you from working they may send you to rehhab but because the teamsters is a good union they cant fire you for that. One guy there had alcohol wd so bad he coulddnt work so they just sent him home with pay so he could get straintened out by a doctor. Another guy was absolutly shit faced and ran into a ups truck in the parking lot. But they could not under union contract fire him so he went to a very kushy rehab instead maybe with pay.
What your going through is absolute fuckery
What your going through is absolute fuckery
crazyhairman
Bluelighter
Oh my God, dude I'm really sorry. You need a scholarship. And by thy I mean right now you need help. Big help. If I was there man I'd get you a job, and a place to live but first... you gotta dry out man , I couldn't afford rehab. I dried out in a shack in the woods, and earlier my mom's couch. About six months.
Then I worried about a job and mending my life.
The most important thing Is your health, quality of life.
Took two more years after that to truly enjoy life again. As well as forgive myself. I'm not ashamed, you shouldn't be either. It's as common as the flu... addiction can happen to anyone and everyone.
Try not to get down about it, things Fer me got worse before they got better. But no you couldn't pay me enough to go through it again.
Remember your family loves you, heck everyone loves you. You did the right thing, you told the truth. And they did right by being concerned enough to ask. You are in for a fight of your life. And everyone is rooting for you but you and you alone must do it.
You will overcome this , and you will forgive yourself and own it. One day at a time . You look back on this day for years to come. Will it be a story of triumph or one of soarrow. Could very well be a blessing.
Good luck
Then I worried about a job and mending my life.
The most important thing Is your health, quality of life.
Took two more years after that to truly enjoy life again. As well as forgive myself. I'm not ashamed, you shouldn't be either. It's as common as the flu... addiction can happen to anyone and everyone.
Try not to get down about it, things Fer me got worse before they got better. But no you couldn't pay me enough to go through it again.
Remember your family loves you, heck everyone loves you. You did the right thing, you told the truth. And they did right by being concerned enough to ask. You are in for a fight of your life. And everyone is rooting for you but you and you alone must do it.
You will overcome this , and you will forgive yourself and own it. One day at a time . You look back on this day for years to come. Will it be a story of triumph or one of soarrow. Could very well be a blessing.
Good luck
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crazyhairman
Bluelighter
Dam that's heavy tho.. obviously those meds you can't live without right? I feel like I should delete my response. I want to make sure I don't sound preachy or righteous. I'd crash on my mom's couch and if I did work while on detox, I'd give all my check to her. Throw the dealers number away. Just try to take care of myself until I'm on my feet again... make just enough to get your meds.
I'm truly sorry. And sorry to those I may offend if this is the incorrect way to respond.
I become overcome with emotions sometimes, reading any of these dark intimate stories.
I'm truly sorry. And sorry to those I may offend if this is the incorrect way to respond.
I become overcome with emotions sometimes, reading any of these dark intimate stories.
In my experience if I get fired for attendance..the unemployment will do a 3 way call with you and employer and basically wouldn't give me unemployment because attendance is a part of full time contract work and I BET that drug use is also very much frowned upon with employers but hey I could be dead wrong about eligibility and all..all I know is, I've never been fortunate enough to get unemployment...unless laid off or furlow(sp?), I find it extremely difficult .
Jerry Atrick
Bluelight Crew
True. Unemployment Insurance eligibility may differ from state to state. I never had to do a 3 way call, I just applied and got it. I still had to apply for jobs every week but even searching for jobs online was considered "activity."
A bit of an update… I have a new job. I’m a supervisor. I’ve been clean (for the most part) since all of this went down. I enrolled onto Medicaid, because my new employer requires I be employed for 3 months before I enroll on their insurance. I haven’t had my medications in about 3 weeks. Seizure activity has picked up (I have a seizure disorder), and my sleep is fucked. But I just was approved for Medicaid today. So I’ll be attempting to set up a new primary care appointment on Tuesday. I am not feeling as suicidal or hopeless now, which is good. But there’s still some serious difficulty with motivation. My depression is known to be rather resistant to treatment and has landed me in psych centers more than once. I’m just trying to get through until then.
A bit of an update… I have a new job. I’m a supervisor. I’ve been clean (for the most part) since all of this went down. I enrolled onto Medicaid, because my new employer requires I be employed for 3 months before I enroll on their insurance. I haven’t had my medications in about 3 weeks. Seizure activity has picked up (I have a seizure disorder), and my sleep is fucked. But I just was approved for Medicaid today. So I’ll be attempting to set up a new primary care appointment on Tuesday. I am not feeling as suicidal or hopeless now, which is good. But there’s still some serious difficulty with motivation. My depression is known to be rather resistant to treatment and has landed me in psych centers more than once. I’m just trying to get through until then.
A bit of an update… I have a new job. I’m a supervisor. I’ve been clean (for the most part) since all of this went down. I enrolled onto Medicaid, because my new employer requires I be employed for 3 months before I enroll on their insurance. I haven’t had my medications in about 3 weeks. Seizure activity has picked up (I have a seizure disorder), and my sleep is fucked. But I just was approved for Medicaid today. So I’ll be attempting to set up a new primary care appointment on Tuesday. I am not feeling as suicidal or hopeless now, which is good. But there’s still some serious difficulty with motivation. My depression is known to be rather resistant to treatment and has landed me in psych centers more than once. I’m just trying to get through until then.