written and shared by Brenda Lawrence
Good morning, my name is Brenda Lawrence.
I was born with an unbalanced brain.
My mother didn’t recognize it until I was 16 years old. She began taking me to the Shreveport Mental Health Center. She did that until she passed.
I was 21 years old and still living at home when my mother died. When she passed, I took it really hard. I got involved with some people I did not know.
They told me if I do drugs that I would not feel the pain anymore. I did that for over 27 years.
Then, I became homeless.
I could have gone to live with one of my four daughters, but I did not want to live with them. I knew I could not do the things I wanted to do. Meaning I wanted to do drugs.
I did not ever want to feel that pain of losing my mom again. I was a very sad, sad person.
Then one day, I hit rock bottom.
A lady gave me information about Volunteers of America. That one phone call changed my life.
I moved into my own apartment with assistance from Volunteers of America in 2011. When they opened that door, I could not believe how beautiful it was. I could not believe it was my new place.
Part of the agreement to be housed was that I had to take classes at Visions of Hope.
That’s how I learned about my mental illness.
At the age of 50 years old, no one had ever taught me anything about my illness.
I learned I was born with bipolar.
So, I began taking medication for it. I would do it for a while and then I thought I was all right. So, I would stop taking my medicine. It took me a long time to realize I needed medication every day to stay healthy.
I lived in Volunteers of America supportive housing for 7 years.
I have fond memories of those days. Especially on Sundays when the Volunteers of America van and Mr. Marvin would pick us up for church.
Seven years later, I am on my own now. I have been drug free and taking my medicine for over 10 years.
God spared my life and Volunteer of America helped save my life.
I have learned so much from Volunteers of America and the people who work for them. They never left me. They kept believing in me. They knew I could do this on my own. They used to tell me that all the time. They taught me 3 things.
I know my worth.
I know who I am.
I love me for me.
You have helped save my life. I will never forget it.
Thank you!