Originally Posted By: Ryszard
Nobody asked, but I'll fill you in on my story. Those who know me will remember that I used to post many times a day. I guess I embarrassed myself a few months ago when I announced that I rarely used BIAB and was hardly involved in music at all. That's when I largely dropped out. There is more to the story, though.

I went through a catastrophic divorce in 2000 which rendered me homeless and destitute. I remarried in 2013 and am inexpressibly happy now, but I had to pull myself off the deck to get here. Between 2000 and 2013 I moved, on average, once a year. One year I moved three times. Things were lost. Things were stolen. Things broke. It sucked.

The larger story is that I was dealing with PTSD, major depression, ADD, a heart attack, and significant physical issues that I wouldn't discover until 2014. My ex kept hitting me legally, financially, and emotionally. But I still hadn't hit bottom.

In 2011 I was evicted from my home of five years because the landlord, who I thought was a friend, decided he wanted me out. I ended up renting several rooms 35 miles away and a universe apsrt from such a life as I had made. One of my housemates was a brain-damaged ex-convict who eventually threatened to kill me. I went into hiding for the three months it took for him to be evicted. It was another major shock to the system. I have omitted a lot, but those are the major points.

In early 2013, against all odds, I met the woman who became my wife. She is a musician, former EMT, Emmy Award-winning makeup artist, and all-around wonderful person. That alone was the start of my recovery and ascent to new heights. It keeps getting better, too.

Big finish coming. Trudy had wonderful health insurance, which I had been without since 2000. I hadn't had energy for decades, had narcolepsy (fell asleep 3-4 times a shift at work), and was having trouble breathing, A trip to the ER for the latter set me on a course which revealed uncontrolled diabetes and severe obstructive sleep apnea. Once those were addressed my mood improved, I lost weight, I got more rest, and i discovered that what I had thought was lack of motivation was actually the combined effect of everything else that was wrong. The final piece was successfully addressing the PTSD.

Today I wake up rested and happy. Trudy and I have both retired, so get to enjoy each other's company full time. I now have the energy to do a few things a day. I have a 15-year backlog from which to recover, but it's happening. Life Is Good.

Watch this space. cool

Richard






Richard,

It's great that you've come through so many disasters and come out the other side!


Regards,

Bob

Dyslectics Untie!


https://90dbband.bandcamp.com/

https://soundcloud.com/90-db

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm_3mpivKYV7T7XFJmXL-GA