I started a new job to have structure in addiction recovery but I relapsed one day before and now Im overwhelmed and struggling
I’m currently struggling and looking for honest advice.
I’m in early recovery from substance use, but I’ve relapsed recently and I’m currently still in active use again. On top of that, I started a full-time 40-hour office job about 1 week ago during probation.
I took the job thinking it would help me get structure and stability, but right now I feel extremely overwhelmed. The stress from work + my mental health situation is making things worse, and I’m noticing I’m using substances to cope with the pressure.
I feel stuck between:
- trying to push through the job and stabilize
- or stepping back because my mental health/recovery isn’t stable enough right now and should take an easier job like a greenhouse
I also feel a lot of guilt because it’s a small company and they seemed happy to hire me, but I’m struggling to function properly and I don’t want to make things worse for them or for myself.
I’m not asking for judgment — I’m genuinely trying to figure out what people in recovery would do in this situation.
Did anyone go through something similar with work early in recovery? What helped you decide whether to stay, reduce pressure, or step away?
Any honest advice is appreciated.