2025 May #1
By a Joy Junction Staff Member (JBF)
Have you seen a noticeable change in someone you know? Whether good or bad, is the person displaying characteristics that are not the same as before?
When someone’s personality makes a big change, it is usually a sign that indicates something major has occurred in their life.
We always hope and want the changes to be the result of a good choice. That makes our hearts sing.
But, sometimes, the changes are not good, and our hearts are saddened. Those changes could mean the person has chosen a negative path…and are making a habit of involving themselves in an unfavorable situation or are partaking of a harmful substance.
It could be an addiction.
Addiction is not something to ignore. It takes over a person’s life. It becomes the driving factor to all a person may think about.
One of our guests, Tom (not his real name), is an example of how addiction can cause problems. With his wife by his side, he explains how addiction played a part in their lives.
Here’s their story:
It was a hard situation for us. I had been homeless before, but my wife hadn’t. I felt like a loser because I could not take care of her, and hopelessness was beginning to take over my mind and attitude.
We both struggled with alcohol, so that didn’t help matters. It had cost me my job before, and it did again. Something needed to change. I looked back at my life and remembered that I had been sober before. So, I knew I could do it again. Addiction is strong, though, and I knew if we were ever going to completely get free of that addiction, we would need help.
I had heard about Joy Junction so I started trying to convince my wife to go to a shelter with programs that could help us. But, she was scared. She was afraid of the unknown that came with being at a shelter. I kept working on her, though, and eventually, she came around to thinking it might be a good idea because I would be right there with her.
I knew that staying here [Joy Junction] would allow us to get off the streets and that was my main concern. I knew it would be hard work to go through the program, but it would be worth it in the long run.
Choosing to come to Joy Junction was the best decision we could have made.
It’s an everyday battle to stay sober…
But, we are both working hard to make that happen.
Tom and his wife, like so many others, work daily to overcome the strong pull toward an addiction. We want them to know that there really IS freedom from any addiction a person can have.
To remove/treat an addiction, though, it takes focused, intentional steps and perseverance to stick with those steps. It’s not a one-time, one-step process.
It also takes committed effort and concentrated support from teachers, mentors, or those who have been down that road before. But, it is possible and we are pleased to be a part of the recovery process for each homeless person who comes to us for help.
Our program has quite a few steps and they are very intentional. There is purpose behind each one. Part of the 12-step process is to talk about their situation, their struggles, and their accomplishments.
During the daily classes, our programmers begin to feel more comfortable with their surroundings, and start opening up to share their story. It usually takes a while for that to happen, but once it does, they begin to build a bond with those in the same learning environment.
Sometimes, the choice to trust other people becomes real for the first time in a long time. Being able to talk to someone who has been down the same path, or one similar, makes a huge difference. Some class members have even stated that they have made a “family” out of their fellow program participants.
We have found that trusting others helps with the process of learning to trust God – which is what our Bible-based program teaches, among other things.
Once a person has gotten to the point of being able to move through their day without giving in to an addiction, one of the main things they need to do is stay in contact with those who encourage them. Making trustworthy friends is vital. Dependable family members who will lovingly help hold them accountable are just as important.
As well, they need to remember the new habits they have learned and adopt them as their own. Habits like reading the Bible and praying are good, solid habits that can go with them for the rest of their lives…no matter the situation.
Choosing to have a positive outlook on life is another good habit to form. We encourage our guests to build a lifestyle of balance and think about life in a positive way. We want them to make wise decisions as they move through their future.
We hope all that they have learned will become a normal way of life and will help stop stressful situations from growing out of control…triggering a relapse.
Freedom is a real possibility with a transformed life.
