Since this great Louisiana flood, I've lost everything. . . Our home was under 7ft of water, both my truck and wife's SUV were destroyed. And to top it all off, I was laid off from my job due to missing too many days. Sorry, but after we lost EVERYTHING, I was just trying to get my life back together. Stressed and depressed is an understatement. Want to give up so bad but can't let my family see me getting down so I have to hold it in till after they go to sleep. Any advice and help getting back on track would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

I recently lost my job due to a relapse. I won't get my license back until Nov. 2017. I have been making great strides on improving myself, then I messed up. Any help I can get in obtaining a position in this small quiet community I live in would be a real blessing. It may not be easy because of the past, but I know people have seen the changes in me over the past eight years. I don't have any real experience in searching for work. I've only had the one job in the past 14 years. Next March would have been 10 years there, if I hadn't been fired and re-hired twice. Who gets fired from the same company three times?

You are lucky. At least you are young. I finally admitted to my boss and HR that I had an alcohol problem and wanted/needed to go to rehab. They were all supportive at the time but when I came back 6 weeks later I was told I didn't have a job! Now what? Almost 61! Where will I ever find a job? I hate to say pointless .... But is it?

My name is Ronald Caudle. I have spent most of my life in prison. Due to being a alcoholic. Grew up the black sheep of a Foster family. Self esteem was hardly there in a positive way. Turned to drugs and alcohol to boost it. Then making stupid decisions that put me in prison numerous of times. Now self esteem is pretty low. Too low that it is causing really bad anxiety problems with me and everyone around me. I'm tired.... I really am tired. I quit pretty much every negative behavior in my life.. turned myself over to God.. put myself through welding school. Graduated top of my class. I have nothing but a but a girlfriend and her 2 kid's in my life. She supports us why I try and re-entry myself into society in s positive way. I really admire her faith she has in me. No one has ever given me s chance like that... Want to be the man she wants me to be. But I think I'm letting everyone down, including myself. People don't want to hire a convicted criminal. I have no car to drive outside of where we reside. I JUST WANT SOMEONE TO GIVE ME A CHANCE. I m finding myself loosing hope and it hurts. Is there any kind of help for someone like myself?

If someone has had an addiction and lost everything and is trying to recover their lives. Working in a residential female-specific alcohol and drug treatment center would be excellent for you to begin.

Many of these agencies and organizations seek out people who are in recovery today. People are out there who can help to save the lives of hurting individuals who have gone through similar situations. The pay is decent and there are benefits for health care coverage.

You can seek out places you are interested in and they have shifts that are either full time days, afternoons and overnight staffing. They need residential specialists who keep an eye on the residents and make sure they get up; make their rooms up, etc. You should speak directly to Program Managers who sometimes do the hiring.

If you did nursing and lost your license. I am sorry to hear that. Sometimes we have to fall flat on our faces and hit a wall before we begin to surrender and change for ourselves.

Anyone today can get back up again. You can use your faith in your higher power and pray and surround yourself with advocates in the field of drug and alcohol addiction programs. They are plentiful and your nursing background can be highly useful.

I know women who had warrants against them; they were in jeapardy of going to prison for their drug and alcohol addictions and did criminal activities to support their habit. Then, they got an opportunity to work in the very arena they understood to help others. You can start as a helper, then climb up to Case Worker or Manager, and many of these places do on the job training for their staff.

I've seen people who lost everything and their children; come back up and got their children back, live in clean and sober housing; have a good support system, and a great sponsor to help them when they feel weak or are triggered.

Don't think its over for you. Today is a new day. This is the year for great miracles happening in the lives of people who have failed, fallen down and have lost everything. There is a higher source that loves each of us and wants to see people recover.

Once you believe you can....this is the beginning of healing. Seek groups out of work places with others who have had trauma and have had to battle with dark thoughts and experiences. Change the way you think and you can recover and heal over time.

One foot in front of the other is your beginning. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a great source of treatment and keeping a personal journal to see how you are doing is also helpful.

Don't go back to old haunts and people of the past that you failed with. Look at today, and go forward. Cut loose things and environments that are not healthy for you. Love yourself and see all the wonderful and unique gifts you are given that still is inside you.

Be blessed and think "yes i can" and "yes I will" when you look up, not down.