Growing up I was an overweight kid, I struggled with my weight all of my life and still do to this day. I was picked on a lot about it and it affected me mentally. I also struggled with depression and anxiety, I tried to cope with it the best I could and its always took a toll on me. It's mentally draining. When I was a teenager, I turned to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. 

My addiction carried on into my adult life and not only had an impact on me, but everyone around me. I was trying to fill a void that could only be filled by Jesus. After turning my life over to him, He brought me out of addiction and by seeking Him and staying in His word (the Bible) I have learned how to deal with my anxiety. My wife Candace(who is also a recovering addict) and I along with our friends Jeff and Kenya Holifield, started a ministry for recovering addicts called Restoring the Broken. 

Over time it has grown into much more than that, it's not only for addicts. It is for anyone! Everyone struggles with something, and we are just trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus and help them recover from whatever it is they struggle with. I say all that to say this, be careful how you treat people, be mindful of what you say, you never know what kind of affect it can have on them mentally and on their life in general. 

- Brent Gilbert of Restoring the Broken