Donate to Brett's Path to Stability and Hope

My mental health journey started May 5th of 2015. My morning started as per usual but shortly after arriving at work an overwhelming feeling came over me causing me to just leave work. It was the beginning of a crippling mental health crisis. My attempt at initial help was fruitless. It took several months before I received the help I do desperately needed. Subsequently, I lost everything. I lost my significant other, my job at Carter Bloocare, my car, my home, and what finances I had accumulated. When I exited the hospital after 26 days I was homeless and hopeless. I persevered. I used resources available to me and it took two years but I found a new career at the very hospital that saved me, JPS. It wasn't what I envisioned myself doing at that point in my life but I was once again part of someone bigger than me and it was progress. I found an apartment and life started coming together again. I stayed to myself for the most part, I never shared my experience for fear of the stigma associated with mental health issues. My one friend who knew everything about me and helped me through it all died from COVID in 2021. I found myself alone in the world. At least I was working, stable, and had life's most basic necessities met. I was doing everything I was supposed to taking meds, making my appointments and practicing self care. I took on more responsibility at work, things were decent again. Fast forward 6 years and it happened again. I saw some signs but my efforts to address them weren't enough, again I was hit with a crippling mental crisis. It happens so quick and little signs snowball into someone more. I couldn't share with my superiors or coworkers. My diagnosis is complicated. I was afraid of the very place that provided me with so much. Again I would lose everything. My job, my apartment, accumulated finances, my ability to enjoy life. Hindsight seemed so simple just tell people what's going on and save yourself. Again, my mental illness would not allow me to do that. Months passed. I was on the precipice of being homeless again but I was stuck. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't move. I had reached out to an old Keller alumni friend who happened to be in the field of work helping women and children who suffer from similar diagnoses. Thanks Brent. He endured entertained my crazy messages and thoughts. He encouraged me to call the MHMR crisis hotline. He even had a wellness check done at some point. I was to that extent I felt I couldn't do this again. I called, they sent someone out. This go around I was in the hospital for 90 days. These last several years have been so surreal. I keep hoping I'll wake up from this bad dream. This time I was discharged to a helpful program with MHMR. As part of it I was placed in a group home where I still reside. I was blessed to end up in the one I did. The program has since ended along with that the rental assistance they provided. I applied for disability but I don't feel disabled and the road to attain it is long and arduous. My circumstance will not allow me to wait. I've since found a part time job with Family Dollar. Again not what I envisioned myself doing but it's progress and about all I can handle right now. This plea is two fold. One is to raise awareness about mental health letting people know how I'm doing. The second is a plea for financial help. I'm seeking help to raise rent money for August. It's like the beetles song I get by with a little help from my friends. I hesitate to do this because I have to share my experience with mental illness, my current lot in life and I'm basically begging. I look at everyone who have established families and themselves in life have resigned myself to the idea that mine will look different. My ultimate goal is self sufficiency and restoring some semblance of a normal life again. I don't feel I can do with a little help and leg up. So I ask you if I ever made some positive impact on your life please help make one in mine. Bless you either way, even if you just read a small message from a chapter in my life. I hope this finds you and yours doing well. Thank you for your time and consideration. Brett