Brandon's Story

 

I grew up in an abusive household. I was raised by a mother who had many addictions and didn’t know how to be a mother, but she tried to raise us to the best of her ability, which unfortunately wasn’t enough. Unfortunately, me and my brother and sisters were put in the foster care system. We bounced around the system for a couple of years and we were separated from each other at one point.

 

After our mother lost her rights to us, I felt like all hope was lost. When I was fourteen we were adopted into a family of very loving, sound, religious individuals. After years of having people not being there for us it was hard for me, personally, to trust them. I felt like they could abandon us at any day, any time. So I pushed my limits with them.

 

As the years went on, I still had a hard time trusting them, despite the fact that they had been loving, kind, and extremely patient with my outrageous behavior. They never gave up on me. They tried any and every method that they knew of personally, but still it wasn’t enough. I had so much emotional trauma from my childhood, I wouldn’t let myself trust anyone. I had fallen into drug and alcohol abuse, doing anything and everything I could to keep myself far from a sober state so I couldn’t feel. I didn’t want to feel. Feelings meant pain and I’m going to be honest, I’m not a big fan of pain.

 

They discovered this thing called the Post Institute. It specialized in dealing with childhood trauma. That was at a point in my life where I wanted to fix myself. I wanted to get to a point where I could be independent, get rid of this baggage that I had been dragging and carrying on my back for years. So I gave it a shot.

 

Time went on. It was difficult. It was hard. There were points when I didn’t want to do it. But I stuck with it and I could slowly feel the baggage falling off, one memory at a time. Some were more difficult than others, but I stuck to it despite the fact that it wasn’t easy fighting this. I wavered a lot.

 

I feel because of these efforts, I was actually able to make something of myself. Despite the fact that I still have many things I need to work on, I’m able to be a strong, stable individual. This road isn’t an easy one, but I guarantee you the Post methods did work. If it weren’t for these methods I would be dead or in jail. I want you to know that because of these methods there is hope for people like me.

 

                                                                                Brandon Jossie, 22, US Navy