For those of you who remember me you know that my trauma happened because of an explosion at my job. For those of you who don't well that sort of sums things up for you. For the longest time my fear has prevented me from going back to work. I have worked with My service dog Abby for almost 3 years. I made such huge strides working with Abby in that time that my therapist suggested I try things without her for a few times. I started tapering off of using Abby since February of 2013. I worked with her on and off all through out 2013 until the beginning of October. At which point I started a job on the 21st. My therapist, Wife, and Brother Dennis suggested that I go to work at my brother's job.
So I started working on the loading dock at the trucking company my brother works for driving forklift part time. At first I was very very nervous about working again thinking I might have a flashback or something. But even by Christmas I hadn't even been startled at work. So I took the next step and enrolled in the driver program. They will train me to drive a semi truck. I am now 4 months or so into the program and still doing wonderfully. In fact I feel much like my old self. I have my drive and ambition back. I feel almost like everything that happened was just a very bad dream. I feel as though my life got an entire reset. I am confident again and even have something to look forward to. I completed all of the written portion of the program and have started driving the truck. I have all the shifting down and I can even back the truck up in a straight line for almost 1/4 of a mile. I still have to practice my angled backing which I will be working on again this weekend.
All in all I feel like a new man and I owe it all to a little dog nobody wanted. Without her I know I wouldn't be where I am today. She is still my best friend and always will be. I cannot thank her enough or the trainer who trained her. I know the road forward will not be perfect and I may have a set back or two but I am confident that I am on the right path in my life and I can handle whatever may come. I have support from all of my family and friends. In fact I might have over heard something about a surprise party in my near future after getting my commercial drivers license.
I still have my doubts about my future and I am still suffering from depression. Even through this driver program I have slipped into depression but I always seem to come back a little stronger each time.
I wanted to take this moment to thank all of you for all of your support through my most troubled times. I cherish the friendships I have made along the way and I always will. I take heart in the fact that if I begin to slip again I have support here and everywhere else in my life. Thank you all. Don't worry this is not good bye it's just an update and possibly a little inspiration for others.
So I started working on the loading dock at the trucking company my brother works for driving forklift part time. At first I was very very nervous about working again thinking I might have a flashback or something. But even by Christmas I hadn't even been startled at work. So I took the next step and enrolled in the driver program. They will train me to drive a semi truck. I am now 4 months or so into the program and still doing wonderfully. In fact I feel much like my old self. I have my drive and ambition back. I feel almost like everything that happened was just a very bad dream. I feel as though my life got an entire reset. I am confident again and even have something to look forward to. I completed all of the written portion of the program and have started driving the truck. I have all the shifting down and I can even back the truck up in a straight line for almost 1/4 of a mile. I still have to practice my angled backing which I will be working on again this weekend.
All in all I feel like a new man and I owe it all to a little dog nobody wanted. Without her I know I wouldn't be where I am today. She is still my best friend and always will be. I cannot thank her enough or the trainer who trained her. I know the road forward will not be perfect and I may have a set back or two but I am confident that I am on the right path in my life and I can handle whatever may come. I have support from all of my family and friends. In fact I might have over heard something about a surprise party in my near future after getting my commercial drivers license.
I still have my doubts about my future and I am still suffering from depression. Even through this driver program I have slipped into depression but I always seem to come back a little stronger each time.
I wanted to take this moment to thank all of you for all of your support through my most troubled times. I cherish the friendships I have made along the way and I always will. I take heart in the fact that if I begin to slip again I have support here and everywhere else in my life. Thank you all. Don't worry this is not good bye it's just an update and possibly a little inspiration for others.
