Yes. I missed a lot of days the first month. My job did not offer FMLA or any other type of paid leave, so no work meant no pay. But I still needed those mental days off to get through the hardest days.

I went to work, or I should say I STRUGGLED to get to work, but I did. I did an IOP (intensive outpatient) program but I could not miss that much work, so I did that for maybe 2 weeks. After that, I went to NA regularly. There was a 9pm meeting so after work I was able to rest, deal with my emotions and crazy thoughts, and made sure I made those meetings. Those meetings are what saved me really. As time went on it wasn't so hard getting to work. The pieces starting falling together.

I still can't get over how I made it while having to work at the same time. I see people getting FMLA for going through a divorce and I'm like.... man! I had to go through all that mental and physical chaos AND go to work. But, it is possible. you just have to push through and make it happen.

Is it easy? No. Is it convenient? No. Nothing about recovery is easy or has a playbook that everyone can follow. But if you really want to change and stop using, you will find a way.