If we don't open our mouths, how are people going to read our minds to know what we need? In Veterans Treatment Court, I received therapy, which was the most valuable thing, and an ongoing support system for anything that I need. And that was the key to it.
My name is Joseph. I was in the Army. My MOS was a combat engineer, post-Vietnam era, 1981. I have chronic asthma, and it became a problem for me, as I was in the military for that time. I wanted to enlist in something that was more challenging than just being a soldier, so I chose combat engineer. Building bridges, demolition. Enjoyed the people I worked with. They were all, you know it was a team effort. We all worked together. You know, it was no one that was up above anyone else, from the sergeants on down.
When I lived in Washington, D.C., I went down for a while and we were working for the Corps. Engineers, I had another job. Eventually, I started using a lot of cough syrup, going to work, using a lot of cough syrup, marijuana. And it just became out of balance. I was losing my house, mortgage was like, so far behind. And then finally I got fired from my job. And it was like, ‘you need to get help.’ Thought about it, bounced it around a little while, and I said, ‘Well, I don't have a problem. I can deal with this myself.’ But it just didn’t work out that way. So, after about six or seven programs, which were like country clubs and a lot of outpatients, that really didn't do anything because they never tested me until finally this place tested me, all the time. So I had to be accountable for what I did. I had a guy who was a therapist and he was a clinician. He was like a mentor to me. You could tell that he really cared. Talking to me like a brother, and I could relate to that. And he just told me some key things that helped me. “One," he said, “Never take advantage of your support system. Two, just remember who you are.” I just took it and ran with it. The program didn't work by itself. I mean, you can go to 90 meetings in 90 days, It's not going to keep you clean. But the therapy was the key, because it helped me face the demons That I had been running from for so many years. I work on, dialectic behavioral therapy. And that's a weekly. Then I have one-on-ones. There’s different techniques that I’ve been learning,to just maintain, what I got. Feeling a little anxious, where is this coming from? Why is this coming from? Recognize it. Stop. Take a look at it.
Just keep everything in front of you, and you'll be fine. I recently graduated a program, but I still do what I do. they connected me with a nonprofit, that I work with people, from adults to teens. And, I help them now. You know, I've been clean for 16 months now, and I never would have thought I got here. Just go out there and be you, you know. Like going to the dance floor, knowing you can’t dance the waltz, or you can’t do any disco or robot, but you can still get out here and be your silly self. Put yourself out there. Don't be afraid to advocate for what you really need. Fight for what’s right. Just keep on doing what you need to do to keep yourself in a good mental state. Life’s gonna show up, and you’re still gonna face it, whether on the battlefield, or in the streets.
