Finding purpose again: one teacher’s journey through addiction, depression, and recovery

It's been nearly two years since Terry Lobato relied on alcohol to get through the day.

What began as an occasional drink to manage stress and the loneliness of COVID-19 escalated into a life-threatening alcohol addiction.

"At first I would drink because it was fun and relieved stress," said Lobato. "Then, I started planning everything around when I could have my next drink."

The grip of addiction, burdened by a severe lack of mental health care, led to several hospitalizations, including a binge drinking episode that ended with Lobato being placed in a medically induced coma for nine days.

After waking up, Lobato joined the substance recovery program at Loma Linda University Behavioral Health, an experience that brought him freedom from alcohol and healing from years of unaddressed trauma.

A childhood shaped by challenges

When Lobato was just six months old, his mother abandoned him. Raised by his aunt, Lobato overcame several obstacles, including a challenging learning disability that made it difficult to sit still in class and complete readings.

Despite never finishing high school, Lobato persevered and earned a college associate degree, which motivated him to continue his education, where he ultimately received a master's degree in education.

For the next three decades, Lobato worked as a teacher, spending 15 years in special education.

How everything changed

Before COVID, Lobato kept busy teaching, exercising, playing basketball several times a week, and caring for his wife and children. Alcohol was largely absent from his life.

Then COVID came, and shortly after, retirement.

With so much free time, Lobato started drinking more often while neglecting his mental health.

"I was drinking just to feel normal," he said. "I remember being at a gas station at six in the morning just to have a drink so my hands would stop shaking."

The drinking highlighted years of neglected depression and childhood trauma, which made Lobato want to drink even more. Along with severe depression, he also suffered falls, blackouts, and multiple hospitalizations.

"Alcohol had such a grip on me. I didn't think I could beat it," he said.

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Asking for help

Determined to overcome his alcoholism, Lobato thought he could get his drinking under control on his own. But one drink always seemed to turn into another, and then another. He admitted he didn't know when to stop and needed help.

"I never accepted help before," he said. "But I really wanted help. I needed help."

Entering the Substance Use Recovery and Wellness program at Loma Linda University Behavioral Health helped him realize his first lesson: he wasn't in control.

From there, Lobato accepted that he needed to address both his substance use and his mental health.

"Terry came from a lot of trauma," said Paola Vidauri Luna, LMFT and Clinical Therapist II. "He had to learn to trust himself in order to do treatment for himself and not just his family."

Through counseling, group therapy, education, and recovery-focused medical support, Lobato began working through his addiction and unresolved trauma. Vidauri Lunda also introduced techniques that continue to help him today, including meditation, self-reflection, healthier self-talk, and strategies for processing painful memories.

"I saw a turning point in Terry when he stopped engaging in people-pleasing techniques that he learned as a child," said Vidauri Luna.

Most importantly, Lobato learned how to implement "guardrails" to protect his recovery.

"I protect my sobriety like no other," he said.

Rediscovering purpose

Today, Lobato is open about both his struggles and his recovery. He knows firsthand how difficult addiction can be and how overwhelming it can feel when alcohol seems impossible to escape.

For him, recovery wasn't just about stopping drinking. It was about addressing the pain he had carried since childhood, accepting support from others, and learning to value himself.

"You have to want help," he said. "That's where it starts."

Looking back, he hopes his children won't remember him as someone defined by addiction.

"I don't want them to say, 'My dad was an alcoholic,'" he said. "I'd rather they say, 'My dad had a drinking problem, but he quit.'"

If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, our team of experienced professionals provides compassionate, personalized care to help you overcome your challenges and achieve lasting recovery. Call us today at 909-558-9275 or visit our website.