Jordan's Story

I share my story not for attention or sympathy, but to offer hope. My life has been shaped by addiction, profound internal struggles, and a near-death experience that radically shifted my understanding of purpose and grace. Through the darkest valleys, I discovered healing, resilience, and a calling to serve others. If my story encourages even one person to keep going, then every hardship has been worth it.

My challenges began early. As a child, I carried the emotional weight of my parents’ divorce, trying to navigate the tension of being pulled between two homes. When I later moved to a new town, the transition intensified existing social anxiety. Bullying and isolation left lasting marks and quietly set the stage for years of mental, emotional, and spiritual turmoil.

In my teens, I gravitated toward music festivals and the PLUR culture, searching for a sense of belonging and escape. What began as innocent exploration became something much darker. Drugs I once considered harmless opened the door to instability and fear. My first experience with what doctors described as drug-induced psychosis shattered my sense of reality. Terrified of being stigmatized, I stayed silent for months, wrestling alone with paranoia and confusion.

Seeking professional help was essential, but it was also complicated. I encountered approaches that didn’t always acknowledge the full complexity of what I was experiencing. At least one psychiatrist insisted I needed lifelong medication, even as I raised concerns about severe side effects, including a compulsive gambling problem that appeared only after starting treatment. When I asked for a gradual, safe tapering plan, my concerns were dismissed. The message I heard was clear: compliance over conversation. When my symptoms returned, it was framed not as a learning opportunity but as proof that my perspective didn’t matter. These experiences opened my eyes to broader systemic issues faced by many people seeking mental health support.

Before my first hospitalization, I reached a breaking point and attempted suicide by jumping into the Niagara River above the Falls. As the rapids pulled me under, I surrendered to what I believed would be my final moments. Then something happened that no words can fully capture. I experienced what I can only describe as a blinding white light and felt my soul pulled from my body. I saw myself from outside myself, tumbling through the water. In that moment, I encountered what I firmly believe was God. A calm, unmistakable voice... like my own thoughts, yet not my own... said, “It’s not your time to die.” I was suddenly thrown from the rapids and managed to cling to a rock roughly 400 meters from the edge of the Falls, where I held on for over eight hours until rescue crews reached me.

That moment became a turning point. Surviving what should have been the end of my life forced me to confront the reality that I was still here for a reason. I began to understand my struggles not only in medical terms but also through a spiritual lens. As I rebuilt my life, I turned fully to my faith in Jesus Christ. Through surrender, discipline, and a lifestyle grounded in prayer and community, I found a path toward stability, clarity, and peace.

Today, I do not meet any criteria for the diagnosis once attached to me, nor do I require medication. I experience my life as healed… physically, mentally, and spiritually.

My experiences now fuel my work. I advocate for individuals navigating a mental health system that can be overwhelming, under-resourced, and often misunderstood by the public. People living with mental health challenges are far more likely to be vulnerable than dangerous, and they deserve dignity, compassion, and holistic care that includes medical, social, and spiritual dimensions… not coercion or fear-based approaches.

This journey has led me into community work, including local partnerships, and into leadership roles through One True Love and Light. My goal is simple: to help build a system and a society where no one falls through the cracks, where people feel seen and supported, and where hope is always within reach.

To those who are still struggling: you are not alone. Healing is possible. Purpose is possible. And for those who share my faith, I believe true freedom is ultimately found in Christ.