{"id":181684,"date":"2024-04-26T12:40:26","date_gmt":"2024-04-26T16:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/?post_type=article&p=181684"},"modified":"2025-11-18T17:02:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T22:02:09","slug":"i-got-fired-from-my-job-because-of-my-addiction-or-mental-illness","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/screening.mhanational.org\/es\/content\/i-got-fired-from-my-job-because-of-my-addiction-or-mental-illness\/","title":{"rendered":"Me despidieron de mi trabajo por mi adicci\u00f3n o enfermedad mental."},"content":{"rendered":"

You\u2019re fired! That word rings loudly when you hear it. For some people, adicci\u00f3n<\/a> o mental illness<\/a> can lead to being forced to leave work, and it feels crummy. It doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re weak or a failure<\/a>. It happens.<\/p>\n

Losing your job<\/a> is triggering and may be a sign that you need to find support. You may be struggling with addiction and\/or a mental illness, as well as feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, shame, or fear of how you\u2019re going to pay for things. You may be experiencing grief and loss, but that can come with losing your job or struggling with addiction or mental illness. And though it will take time, you can learn from this, begin to take care of yourself<\/a>, and move forward.<\/p>\n

Talk about your anger and frustration<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s important to find ways to take care of yourself if you\u2019re feeling upset about being fired. This is easier said than done. You don\u2019t need to ignore feelings of anger, you can name them and choose not to react based on them. By not acting out of anger or bottling up your feelings, you are doing your best not to make the situation worse.<\/p>\n

Talking to someone who you can trust<\/a> can help, because talking it out has lots of benefits. It can give you a new perspective on your situation.\u00a0 It can also point you to strategies and solutions you may not have seen on your own.<\/p>\n

Another person can also offer you validation of your feelings. And bouncing ideas off of a trusted person can also lead to greater reflection and clarity about the situation. Beyond talking, being able to self-reflect is a plus. You may learn a lot about yourself and your current circumstances.<\/p>\n

You decide who you want to talk to. Maybe you bonded with someone at the job or you have a friend or relative you\u2019ve talked to before who has your best interest at heart. \u00a0 Or maybe a peer supporter<\/a> is someone you can confide in, too. Opening up about drug\/alcohol use or mental health to someone with similar experiences can allow you to feel supported. But, you don\u2019t have to open up right away. You can talk to your trust circle whenever you\u2019re ready.<\/p>\n

Sometimes, it\u2019s hard to take responsibility and not blame others for what you\u2019re going through. Coming to terms with these feelings and letting go can help you move forward with a clear mind and help you figure out your next steps.<\/p>\n

Reflect on what happened and what happens next<\/h2>\n

Be honest with yourself<\/a> about what really happened. Look at the big picture and take responsibility. Reflect on what you can do differently and what you need to take care of yourself.\u00a0 It may be painful to look at your addiction, mental illness, or the impact its had on your life, but it\u2019s helpful. Also, know that healing doesn\u2019t happen overnight.<\/p>\n

Reflecting on what happened<\/h3>\n

Even if you didn\u2019t have much of a warning before being fired, there may have been signs that your using, drinking, or mental health was interfering with your job performance, like:<\/p>\n