(By: Mona S.)

I was suffering from a life resulting from a lot of bad choices I made as a messed up person  I was addicted to work and pleasing others.  

A couple weeks after 9/11 happened I went to a doctor because my heart was racing and I thought I was having a heart attack. I had stopped treating my sleep problems (I had insomnia my whole life) with natural products like vitamins and herbal teas and was drinking lots of coffee at work -- doing stuff that made me worse, including working 6 days a week and long hours. What I needed was to just let go and let GOD and a vacation.

The doc probably thought it was stress due to all going on in the country at the time. She put me on a medication (I knew better than to do this!). It was called Paxil. In 2 weeks I called her and told her I was worse. She increased the dose. This led to a nightmare for me. In the 6 weeks I was on this drug I went what you call "MANIC". In all my years I had never gotten to this place before, even back many years ago when I did illegal drugs. 

I was an outstanding employee; right arm to the president - helping doing various responsibilities of cleaning up a company they purchased. 

During this time I stole thousands of dollars from my employer and spent it all in 6 weeks! Yes, me, who never stole a pencil from work. I also did some other crazy things. None of the money could be accounted for because I was out of my mind. Fortunately I or nobody else lost their life during those 6 weeks.

I stopped the drug and crashed. I told them what I did. I got arrested and ended up in a 3 day stay at a mental hospital because I was afraid I would kill myself over what I had done.

These psychiatric doctors said I was bipolar. Well who wouldn't be after being on that drug. Anyway, these doctors wanted me to sue the medical doc who put me on that drug because she should have taken me off it when I called at 2 weeks with worse symptoms. Instead she had increased it. They kept telling me I had a great case. I didn't want to sue anyone.

I had to go to court proceedings. I should have been put in prison. BUT, THE LORD TOOK CARE OF ME THROUGH THIS. Even though I did not plead insanity like the doctors told me to do (because I felt I should own up to the consequences of my actions), I pled guilty and did not present my medical issues. By the grace of God I got off with just probation and to make monthly payments for 10 years.

I was such a mess. I let the doctors put me on drugs.  I believed the lie I was bipolar. After going through a lot of drugs, this is what I ended up on daily for a few years: (enough to put down an elephant): 900 mg Seroquel, 300 mg Topamax, 3 mg Ativan, 3 mg Klonopin and more that I forgot the names of. Also, for my fibromyalgia: 3 different drugs daily. I forgot what they were but they were muscle relaxers and pain meds.

So I was for sure not in my right mind. I could not function. I went on disability and gained a ton of weight. One of my daughters had to do my checkbook. I was a zombie.

It took some years of living like this before the Lord could break through the wall. But thanks to HIM I was delivered from all these very very addictive meds and HE HEALED me.

I had pain for 20 years. I had insomnia my whole life, and was addicted to lots of medications. Now I am pain free and drug free and I sleep. Also, I am more 'balanced' than ever before, due to looking to Jesus for my everything - not others, nor constant drugs.

Also - instead of this legal mess going on for 10 years, in just 4 years for no reason at all every legal issue was all dropped and my record was wiped clean and I no longer had to repay the monthly payments. It was if it never happened. Who could do this?? JESUS of course!!!!

I have walked many paths but that was a very dark, scary one. Still - HE REMEMBERED ME! The Lord just keeps restoring all that the enemy stole from me. No matter what path you are currently on, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Light!

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU SHARE THE BEST NEWS GOD HAS FOR EVERY PERSON BECAUSE...

JESUS DID IT! and...

YOU ARE SO GREATLY NEEDED!

Remember: All that we do in this life comes back to our God-given purpose which is to serve and glorify God. The money and assets we accumulate, the fame and power we've attained or seek to attain - all of the things of this nature will one day pass away, but those lives of others we impact for Jesus Christ will last for eternity, and we will be rewarded for the part we helped play by impacting those lives ... for eternity. (Matthew 6:19-21 is our assurance)