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Mental health awareness month: Finding renewed sense of purpose in life

Republican & Herald (Pottsville, PA) - 5/9/2016

May 09--Editor's note: As part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, The Republican-Herald interviewed Schuylkill County residents affected by mental illnesses and is publishing a series of articles detailing their struggles and how they manage each day. The goal is to raise awareness about mental health.

Although he did not know it, Thomas W. Young has been dealing with a bipolar disorder for most of his life. The 50-year-old Pottsville man said he always had mood swings, but he went into a major depression after the death of his wife and foster parents.

Since then, he has been homeless and tried to commit suicide twice. But now he said he has a renewed sense of purpose in life.

"It's time for me to open up," Young said Friday. "If someone hears what I went through, maybe they will go out and get some help."

Young lived with his wife near Hazleton for six years before she passed away in 1997 from an aneurysm in her neck. It was only about two years after his foster father died.

"A lot of people don't realize when you lose a spouse, it is totally different," he said. "She was my life."

Young said he was unable to keep a job, quitting before having an outburst. He worked various jobs, like driving a cab and tow truck.

"All the jobs I had, I had to deal with the public," Young said. "I like to stay to myself."

Young said he was homeless until about six months ago. He spent most nights at truck stops and got food from truck drivers.

"That's how I got by a lot," he said.

It was only after being in and out of psychiatric wards at several hospitals and attempting suicide twice before Young decided to get help.

"It was either get help or end up in the middle of Route 61 or at the end of a rope," he said.

"Right now, that is the furthest thing from my mind," Young said. "I have a roof over my head, food, SSI (supplemental security income). Every time I tried to commit suicide, I didn't know why I was still here. I finally found out why I am here. I am here to share my knowledge with other people. We are all teachers and students in life."

Young has been receiving counseling at Service Access and Management Inc,, Pottsville, and other agencies for about two years. With his medication, Young said he can better manage his bipolar disorder.

"That agency did a lot for me," Young said. "Now I got my own place and I am slowly doing what I'm supposed to. I came a long way."

He said help is available, but people have to want it. Agencies like SAM often take walk-in appointments on certain days during the week.

"There are a lot of resources out there, but they have to make the first move," Young said. "They have to ask for help. If you want help, you just have to ask for it."

Counseling has gotten Young to open up about his experiences. Young said that has gotten him to realize when things took a turn for a worse. He said it took some time to trust his counselors and offered advice to help other counselors build similar relationships with their clients.

"Take the time and listen," he said.

"I used to have a short fuse. Now, a lot doesn't bother me anymore. When the man wants you, he takes you. I just take it day by day anymore and I can see what my downfall was. She's always going to be here (pointing to his heart)," he said, referring to his wife.

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(c)2016 the Republican & Herald (Pottsville, Pa.)

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