Tim Lodgen | Alcoholism, Skateboarding, Brandon Novak, Marines, Bipolar, Homelessness, MMA & Rehab

<p>Growing up in Maryland, Tim Lodgen started skateboarding with the local up & coming pros like Brandon Novak & Bucky Lasek. He started drinking often in high school, and eventually, it went down the road of alcoholism & drug use. When Tim joined the marines, it really made the drinking worse. Tim thought he had it under control, he would drink while holding down a job, and this justified it in his mind.</p> <p>He was trained in MMA, karate & other martial arts. He never made it pro, but he was a local accomplished athlete that still had the respect of his peers at this time. His drinking started to take over his life though, and Tim noticed a difference. His friend Brandon Novak went over to his house one night and tried to convince him to get help and get into rehab, but Tim wasn't ready.</p> <p>A couple of nights later, he went to the local liquor store after drinking, crashed into something, and made it home. His wife was upset and concerned, but let it slide.</p> <p>The next morning, he woke up & realized the whole side of his truck was smashed, and he had no memory of what happened. The next day he went out drinking again and smashed into another car, this time damaging the front of his truck. This was the last straw for his wife, who kicked him out of their house at this point. He was homeless, sleeping in his car drinking whiskey when Brandon Novak called him. They had arranged for him to get on a plane & into the Banyan Treatment Center, and this started his road to recovery.</p> <p>The next morning, he woke up & realized the whole side of his truck was smashed, and he had no memory of what happened. The next day he went out drinking again and smashed into another car, this time damaging the front of his truck. This was the last straw for his wife, who kicked him out of their house at this point. He was homeless, sleeping in his car drinking whiskey when Brandon Novak called him. They had arranged for him to get on a plane & into the Banyan Treatment Center, and this started his road to recovery.</p