Eric – Men’s Resident

“The Warren Family Mission helped me in the darkest time of my life.”

I grew up having a great childhood. I had four siblings who were all much older than I was and moved out when I was very young. I got to have the best of two worlds; having siblings that loved me and growing up as the only child in the house.

However, as far back as I can remember, I had always felt that there was always something wrong with me. I felt that I was not good enough. I went through periods where I had too much energy. I always found ways to make the wrong decision. I did not know it at that time, but I was dealing with mental illness.

In my teen years, things got worse. Self-harm became a way of life. I became a cutter as a way to have a physical pain that could match my pain on the inside. As a young adult, some of my symptoms were discovered by some friends and family. I was urged to seek medical help. My family physician put me on some antidepressants, and I saw a counselor.

In 2010, I tried to end my life. I spent a week or so in a mental hospital and was put on some more potent medications. I was taught coping skills to deal with my depression and suicidal thoughts; however, I was never taught why I should be happier or why I should want to live. Again, this became my routine: medications, counseling, depression, and wanting to die.

In 2018, I attempted suicide again. My heart had stopped, and I wasn’t breathing. Luckily, I was found quickly, and paramedics arrived quickly, and they performed CPR and used a defibrillator, and I was brought back to life. I spent three and a half weeks in a coma. At that time, my doctor had me sectioned to the state mental hospital for a prolonged stay.

During my nine months’ stay in the hospital, I was cut off from the outside world. Since I could not pay my bills, I lost the house I lived in and my car. Since I could not be there when I was evicted, I couldn’t get any of my possessions. I lost EVERYTHING I owned.

When I was released from the hospital I had nothing and nowhere to go. I came to the Warren Family mission in February of 2019 with a pair of shorts, a T-shirt and a pair of sandals. The mission immediately started helping me. They gave me a warm bed, three meals a day, clothing and everything I needed.

I also got something I did not expect. I was introduced to GOD! During my stays at hospitals and time in counseling, I was given the tools to battle my mental illness, but I was never given a reason as to why I should. Now with God, I had a reason.

I realize that it was God who saved me from my attempts at suicide. It was God who got me the treatment I needed. It is God who gives me the reason to keep fighting my illness every day. Without God I would not be here today, but because of God I will continue to fight every day.

The Warren Family Mission helped me during the darkest time of my life. They housed me, fed me and clothed me. They gave me the greatest gift in my life, a relationship with Christ. Nothing I could ever do could ever be enough to repay them for what they have done for me.