Tony
Tony
I don’t want people to go through what I went through
Stressors come from everyday life.
We’re all human beings, and if we can’t talk to anyone about the things that are bothering us, things could go the wrong way.
For Tony, the stress of everyday life got a lot more stressful when he was diagnosed with cancer.
A trip to the hospital about five years ago revealed cancerous tumors, which caused an appendicitis attack.
He has since had multiple procedures and hospitalizations.
And although he “never experienced depression or anxiety before,” he believes his cancer diagnosis may have brought back a terrible memory from his past.
While I was in the Navy, I saw one of my best friends die by suicide because he was an alcoholic and his marriage proposal was rejected. After 30 years, that still bothers me.
I don’t know for sure if my experience with cancer reminded me of that incident, but I started thinking a lot about it since I was diagnosed.
His fight with cancer, the memory of his friend, and what he goes through day to day working with inmates with mental health issues at the Maine State Prison have all contributed to Tony’s stress.
“My philosophy is that if I can help someone who’s going through what I went through, I want to help.”
Fortunately, he has strong support from his family and his co-workers to help him through.
I talk to my wife, people at work who have gone through what I’m going through, other people with cancer. That’s helped.
I also talk to people who are having problems of their own. My philosophy is that if I can help someone who’s going through what I went through, I want to help.
Tony uses his experiences as a cancer patient and his 23 years of professional service in the prison system to help coworkers and inmates alike deal with their issues.
I’ve seen people become alcoholics because of anxiety issues. I’ve seen people become addicted to drugs because of anxiety issues.
So, I teach classes, and I talk to people all over the prison. They know my story, and I think that helps them with their health issues and stress.
Tony believes speaking openly about stress and anxiety is valuable—for his colleagues at work, for the inmates he works with, and for everyone else.
There are a lot of people who will clam up and not say a word if they’re having a problem. I was one of them, but I don’t want people to go through what I went through.
