After being diagnosed with bipolar at the age of 22, Andy tried every possible medication to manage it. He finally found one that worked—sort of. It brought serious side effects, and he ended up hospitalized 5 times. Today, Truehope has provided him with a new sense of purpose and helped recognized the innate love he has for others.
This is the story of a miracle— my miracle.
Ever since I was young, I always knew I was different from my friends and family. How was I different? I had absolutely no patience, didn’t like myself, and felt extremely insecure. I’d get depressed even when things were going great. I had anger problems, which got me into many fights, and the list goes on and on. I thought I was just weak-minded or too sensitive about things. All of this, yet I had the most wonderful family, so there was no reason for me to feel this way.
I went on with life and dug down deep and started to create a life in a sleepy little town. I was working, doing well, had a special person in my life, and things seemed great. But little did I know everything was about to be turned upside down.
At about 19 years old, I found it hard to sleep and concentrate on work or anything else. This went on for a long time, and I was hanging on by a thread. My relationship failed and my life fell apart in the worst way.
It wasn’t until I was about 22 that I was diagnosed with bipolar. I tried every drug imaginable to level me out. I finally did get leveled out somewhat and things got better, but I developed many side-effects from the drugs and was always getting infections and building up tolerances to the medications.
I was in a total of 5 different mental health hospitals to get me on something that’d work right. While in one, my parents were told, “Prepare yourself. He may never leave the hospital.”
I couldn’t believe the lack of belief in me by this doctor. Well, I did leave the hospital and went on with my life as best I could. In the course of the next 9 years, I completely lost my personality due to the drugs I had to be on. I was just a shell of a person who lived only from my past experiences. I was so miserable.
Things went on this way until I found Truehope and started EMPowerplus. Now, after almost two years of being on the program and being completely off medications, my life is being turned right side up. I feel better now than I ever have in my entire life. For the first time, I know who I am as a person, and I’m finding that I’m not the person I thought I was.
I actually love the person I am. I have a ton of compassion, understanding, love, and forgiveness for myself and for others. My life actually has a positive affect on the people around me now. I have such a feeling of joy in me that I realize this is what it’s like to actually live!
I’m living happier than ever and have nothing but excitement for my future. Things just get better every month on the EMPowerplus program. I’d never have been in this place in my life had it not been for Truehope and all the very special people there who have nothing but love in their heart and a relentless desire to see me get well. They never gave up on me.
How do you thank someone for such a selfless act? I guess beyond a sincere thank you, the best way is to make my life count and be the best person I can be.
Thank you so much Truehope. Thank you for giving me the chance to pull my life out of the darkness.
God bless you!
—Andy Chandler