My life became difficult at age eight. I was filled with fear and feelings of inadequacy. School and being around people got tough; however, I finished high school, got a job and was drafted into the U.S. Army for two years.

After discharge, I worked for an oil company for eight years and then became self-employed. Within weeks, I was overcome with fatigue, depression, no spontaneity, fear of being in crowds, fear of being alone, and other nervous symptoms. With help from my pastor and psychiatrist, I returned to my former job, but I struggled every day to go to work and finally quit. For two years, my nervous symptoms continued and I was hospitalized for six weeks.

Fortunately, my pastor introduced me to Recovery International and I started to attend three meetings a week. I was back to work in eight months while continuing to attend Recovery International meetings. In the past 20 years, I’ve had only one serious setback but, even then, my symptoms were less severe than they originally were.

Ted Litzner