Please note that this article is not written by me, however is published to this site with the authors consent. All comments will be directly forwarded to the author.
Brenda is a 27 year-old woman from Arizona. She moved to Colorado about 10 years ago with her common-law husband and 4 children. Initially, Brenda had a great attitude about moving to Grand Junction. Her husband had a new job, her kids were happy, and all seemed well. On the contrary, Brenda's mental illness and uncontrolled drinking were taking over her life and ruining her family. Two years ago, her children were taken into custody by Social Services, and then adopted by her husband's relatives.
Not knowing how to cope with Brenda's alcoholism and their kids being gone, her husband had turned to another woman for support. Eight months ago, the woman moved into their home, but her husband was not able to throw Brenda out onto the streets. Thanksgiving morning, however, Brenda left her husband's house. She stated that his new girlfriend was so "sick and tired of me drinking and passing out on the sofa," that she beat her senseless while Brenda was asleep. "I have to be safe when I'm passed out," Brenda claimed when asked why she ultimately left.
Brenda suffers from schizophrenia coupled with a family history of mental illness and alcoholism. She drinks excessively to self-medicate, and it's not hard to see why. I asked her what the happiest and saddest moments of her life were, and she told me that her saddest memory was finding her father's body after he committed suicide when she was 13 (she had no relationship with her mother). Her happiest were the births of her children.
Brenda is completely candid about her alcohol abuse, and about everything she has lost due to her mental illness. She admitted that she did not take her medication when it was available to her (typical of the mentally ill), and that she lost every job she'd had as soon as her first paycheck arrived. She immediately headed to the liquor store with it, and made sure she spent every dime on booze. In turn, she'd binge for days afterward, and not show up to work.
When she is not too drunk, Brenda is able to bunk at the homeless shelter. If she can't stay at the shelter, she passes out in the park, in cars, or can sometimes stay at a friend's. She has a couple friends, but they only allow her to stay for the night. She says she's luckier than most, however, because she has these friends as well as John, another homeless person who looks after her when she's on the streets. She says she also feels lucky to still have the memories of her children.
Brenda had court Tuesday, Feb. 5, for stealing from her "favorite liquor store" on 1st ...I hope things turn out okay for her. If she spends time in jail at least she'll be warm and sober.
Edited by Kristin N.
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