Instagram: @tlodgen

My Name is Tim Lodgen and my drug of choice was anything that was at the party after I had alcohol in me! Nothing was off limits at that point. Once I drank alcohol I wanted to try whatever was available. So I would say my main problem was alcohol because that open the flood gates to everything. 

My Sober date is March 5th, 2021. I am 20 months sober after a 27 year long battle with alcohol and drugs. 

I am from Baltimore, MD; born and raised, and have lived here my whole life except for when I was in the U.S Marine Corps where I lived in North Carolina for a couple years. 

I have been a carpenter by trade for over 20 years now and I love my job, but my true passion in life now is helping those who suffer with addiction and Mental illness so that they know they are not alone, there is help out there and we can recover! 

My experience as an addict was the same thing over and over like groundhogs day! I’d get up get high go to work get off stop at the liquor store, and get drunk until I fell asleep every single day for 27 years. It was living hell to be honest. I finally realized my life was unmanageable after I wrecked my truck twice within 24 hrs, my wife kicked me out of our house and I had to sleep in my truck for 2 days in the cold weather drunk, hungry, tired and alone. 

I didn’t want this anymore—it became real to me that I had hit my bottom (when) I went home and tried to hang myself. After my wife found me in the basement I knew I needed help before this disease took my life. I was done. I was finally ready for help. 

For me, my Recovery was wanted and needed so it came east for me because I was finally ready and willing do to whatever it took to save my life. I wanted nothing more than to live and change my life for good. 

My life today is beyond anything I could of imagined. My life is absolutely a miracle and I am truly amazed at the opportunities that have been presented to me. I get to travel across the country to speak and share my story to those who suffer and give them hope. 

I have been on 68 podcasts sharing, I have been interviewed by newspapers and tv. It’s been a gift from my higher power. 

To maintain my sobriety I stay active in my home group. I host an online zoom meeting every Thursday for mens mental health and addiction. I am a Partner with two 501c3 non profit organizations that bring awareness about mental health and addiction all over the country. I go to the gym 6 days a week to stay mentally and physically balanced and I pray every day to stay grounded. 

I am grateful to have a 2nd chance in life. A chance to share my story to those still suffering in hopes that they know that they are not alone and that there is help out there. I am grateful for a chance to wake up everyday and experience this gift we call life to its fullest and give back what was so freely given to be which is hope! 

My advice to anyone new to sobriety would be to never give up. Understand this takes time and be patient. Know that we must trust the process and understand life still happens on life’s terms, but if we practice the steps in our daily lives we can overcome anything and become a better human being. We can become the person our higher power has always wanted us to be. 

Just have Hope! You are stronger than you think and I believe in you! If you find yourself in the darkness and the demons arrive you can call on me and I will come fight them with you. We will fight them together. 

Trigger warning: This is a fundraising video for the general public and does contain alcoholic beverages being served.