JerseyJoe

Open Autism / Autism Spectrum

My son James was diagnosed with autism at around age 2. He has suffered with some serious developmental delays in the past. He now seems to be a part of the extremely small percentage of children whose symptoms have disappeared almost completely. He serves as a symbol of hope to others that there is a possibility of one day being able to experience a normal childhood.

Treatments

Behavior Management Working / Worked

Early Intervention Working / Worked

Occupational Therapy Working / Worked

Patience Working / Worked

Love Working / Worked

Faith Working / Worked

Never stop believing.

Open Depression
Type: Clinical (Major) Depression

I have experienced several events which have brought me down to the lowest of the lows. I lost my father when I was 10, I lost my girlfriend in a tragic accident at 16, I lost a son to SIDS at 21, which led to my first divorce. Then things got better, my whole life got easier, and then my daughter was killed in 2004, and my ex-wife, my best friend died of cancer last year. My family is finally recognizing how bad it is becoming and has convinced me to seek professional help.

Treatments

Positive Thinking Working / Worked

Thinking of the good times tend to bring up my mood, depending on how bad I am feeling.

Psychotherapy Considering

My family has convinced me to get professional help, since I have been having an especially hard time lately, and it is becoming tougher for me to hide.

Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked

My family have been the ones that are keeping me going, without them I honestly wouldn't be able to handle the problems that led me into depression.

Writing Working / Worked

I will write down certain events that anger me or make me especially depressed. It has proven to be effective. I even write letters to the people that are bothering me, on the intention to send them out, but I never do and keep them saved, which really alleviates the anger that I was feeling.

Open Families & Friends Affected By Suicide

My brother-in-law chose suicide 3 years ago in November. He had a rough life filled with gang violence and unhappiness, and eventually chose to end it by hanging himself at his father's home. He left behind a young daughter and son. It seems that as time goes on, the whole family just gets angrier at him for choosing to leave in a way that he probably knew would devastate everyone.

Treatments

Talking Somewhat Helpful

This is something that everyone involved has trouble with, no one even wants to talk about it, but when we do, it gets so much better.

Open Prescription Drug Abuse

I developed a severe addiction to prescription pain killers after my daughter passed away 3 years ago. My family feared for my life and eventually invervened and told me to clean up or I would be on my own. I chose my life and family. I have been drug-free for three years now and even though it is hard (I suffer from chronic back pain), it is do-able. I appreciate everything in life, even the pain as it seems to be making me mentally stronger.

Treatments

Support Groups Somewhat Helpful

I attended meetings with other people with similar addictions. Some people there told of how their family abandoned them, and that made it click right away, I had to stop, for my biggest fear was and still is, to lose my family.

Open Twins, Triplets & More

I have a twin sister and also have 4 y/o b/g twins, Madison (Maddie) and Joseph(Joey).

Open Career Changes

I'm doing what I need to get out of my current career path. I want to eventually teach at the college level.

Treatments

Education (School) Working / Worked

I am working on my Masters degree. I began last fall and am taking courses every semester to try to get it done in 2 years keeping my fingeres crossed!

Open Infidelity

Open Adoption
Type: Open Adoption

I was adopted by my "step" father at the age of 15 after my biological father. Also, my parents adopted my younger sister when I was 19.

Open Families & Friends Of Addicts

My younger siblings have both dealt with their fair share of narcotic addictions. Both of them were able to get help and get better, but my brother has recently gone back to his old ways.

Treatments

Patience Working / Worked

It has been a long hard road. My brother has been an addict since high school. It started with marijuana and it slowly got worse from there as he started to try out new things. For my sister, marijuana is all we know about. Some of her more unusual side effects didn't match up with those of pot though.

Talking Working / Worked