Dustin Dandliker moved to Portland at age 10 to escape an abusive home. By age 14, he developed major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder that went undiagnosed for years. He sought escape through drugs and alcohol, eventually ending up in and out of jail and homelessness. He also managed to get his GED, graduate college and work in mental health for eight years.
This column is a first-hand account of the struggles and successes of overcoming trauma, mental illness, addiction, homelessness and more.
A Crooked Path Forward
Opinion | The last turn of my crooked path
A CROOKED PATH FORWARD | In his final column, Dustin reflects on small acts of kindness and their place along the paths that move us forward
Opinion | My first gay roommate helped me address my homophobia
A CROOKED PATH FORWARD | We must take action to save LGBTQ+ lives
I will challenge my fear with generosity — and peach cobbler
A CROOKED PATH FORWARD | The pandemic has tested my interpersonal skills, but I’m rising to the challenge
The world ended as I knew it, but people live on
COMMENTARY | I choose to stumble onward no matter what the terrain
Dreaming of getting back home
COMMENTARY | Home is more than housing, but housing is the first step to healing
Will privilege become extinct? Or will humanity?
COMMENTARY | In a culture that favors me for positions of power just because of my skin color and gender, I am ready to be a follower instead
I found my way, thanks to my mentors
COMMENTARY | Because of the support and guidance I received since childhood, I see a higher purpose
Writing unlocks the door: Realizing a childhood dream
COMMENTARY | Don’t let anyone crush your creativity. Tell your story.
To make it on the streets, I had to look like you: not homeless
COMMENTARY | We try everything to look “not homeless” to humanize our struggle
Under the shadow of Vista Bridge: There is hope in the face of suicidal thoughts
COMMENTARY | Proper access to mental health care saved my life
Virgo and Pisces: A bond between father and son
COMMENTARY | As different as water and earth, but we belong together
Recovery: Individual results may vary
COMMENTARY | Change cannot be mandated; support and motivation are required
Confessions of a misogynist
COMMENTARY | I wasn’t born hating women. No one is. I developed a sense of entitlement after years of privilege.
Velvet Elvis: A tribute to my matriarchs
COMMENTARY | Four generations of women in my family have sacrificed, struggled, made mistakes and endured. I owe my existence and determination to them.
A crooked path forward: I carry you all with me
COMMENTARY | Dustin Dandliker reflects on people who touched his life in meaningful ways
A Crooked Path Forward: My life defies logic
COMMENTARY | One man’s course to a better life after trauma, depression, addiction, homelessness