Lost my job and I'm low-key freaking out.

I want to share something difficult, but important: I was let go from my job. It was entirely my fault—I said something to a customer I shouldn't have. I own that.

I’m not trying to justify it, but I’d like to offer some context around what I’ve been dealing with over the past year and a half. Since my surgery, I've had constant neck pain. Physical therapy, injections, and the toll of chronic discomfort wore heavily on me. As someone in recovery from alcoholism, that pain came with dangerous temptations—Luckily I have AA to lean on.

What you may not know is that I was prescribed Phentermine (Adipex) for weight loss well beyond the safe timeframe. Extended use can lead to side effects like insomnia, mood swings, agitation, and even hallucinations. Looking back, I believe the combination of pain and that medication seriously clouded my judgment.

After the incident, I took accountability. I stopped Adipex completely, and my latest nerve block procedure was successful—for the first time in ages, I’m not in pain.

I’ve also started a mood-stabilizing prescription and speak with a therapist weekly. These are the kinds of resources many companies actively support. Mine didn’t. That’s okay. I had a bad moment, and Recteq made the right call.

Since then, I’ve been interviewing, but nothing’s landed yet. I’m unsure how marketable my skill set is in today’s climate, but I’ll likely share my resume with you guys in hopes that someone here might know of a good fit. Job sites have only led to a few interviews.

Financially, I’ve tapped into my 401(k) just to stay afloat and prepaid most of my bills through August. That cushion is quickly disappearing. With my health insurance set to lapse, I’m unsure how I’ll afford my meds moving forward.

So here I am—asking for help. I feel incredibly humbled and a little embarrassed, but I have responsibilities I can’t walk away from. If I were alone, I’d probably crash on couches until I figured things out. But that’s not an option. I can’t default on my car payment or child support. Jen and Chris—Paul’s mom and stepdad—have a big family and one income, just like me. I don’t want to put more strain on them.

I know times are tough all over. Please don't feel obligated to help my dumb ass because I got fired. BUT, if you feel inclined, I do appreciate it. Paul, Chris, Jen and the girls will appreciate it. Hopefully a few bucks spread between a lot of people won't hurt you and will help us. That's the idea, anyway.

Regardless, thanks for your time.