We recently connected with Tim Lodgen and have shared our conversation below.

Tim, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

My defining moment in my life was when i found the courage to finally get the help i needed to save my life. After a 27 yearlong battle with bi-polar disorder, drug/alcohol addiction and surviving multiple suicide attempts. i finally found the courage to get the help i so desperately needed to save my life. i surrendered to the fact that i needed professional help and i went into a rehabilitation facility to change my life forever.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am 46 years old born and raised in Baltimore Md. I was raised by my mother who went above and beyond to make sure i had a great childhood. She kept me involved in many sports and always raised me to be a polite and courteous young man. My Senior year of high school i started drinking and doing drugs and was lost. I went into the U.S Marine Corps after high school and that’s when my drinking got out of control. this lasted 27 years with times of extreme drug abuse and suicidal attempts. Finally at the age of 44 i went into treatment and it has changed my life forever. After i left treatment from Banyan Treatment center in West Palm Beach Florida i wanted to give back what was so freely given to me which was hope and the confidence to become the person, we were all meant to become. i have now shared my story on 57 Mental Health and Addiction Podcasts around the world. I have spoken in several different states with many more booked bringing my message to those still suffering so people know they’re not alone, there is help out there and we can recover to live the life we were always meant to live.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I had to understand that i have a disease and that it wasn’t my fault. For so long i blamed myself for becoming an addict and having bi-polar disorder like i had a choice. I didn’t love myself for most of my life because of this and i thought i deserved to be punished because of my thoughts, actions and choices. When i finally got clean and sober and started to work on myself and understand that i was born this way i finally was able to let go of myself doubt and destructive thinking. i was able to start to forgive myself for my past and understand that i wasn’t cursed or broken but unique. I was able to learn that i had been chosen to have this in my life because i was strong enough to overcome and i could make a change within myself and to the world. That i could bring awareness and stop the stigma of Mental Health and Addiction to as many people as possible.

Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?

Having Personal Experience! You can go to school and get a degree in Mental illness and Addiction but i don’t think you can ever truly understand it the way that people who actually live with and suffer from them do .

Contact Info:

• Website: RockstarTestimony.com Empower2Empower.com
• Instagram: @tlodgen
• Facebook: Timothy Lodgen