HOW HAS GC CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Please read <3

[Becca]

I went through a lot as a child and suffered from horrible depression and anxiety. My parents divorced when I was 11. My mom was physically abused and decided it was finally time to leave. I was devastated. We moved from our Florida home and went back to Maine..where I was born originally. It had been a few years since I was back and everything changed greatly..My best friend from forever ago who I was keeping in touch with those few years was growing apart from me. I had to deal with sexual abuse from my moms boyfriend at the time as well..Everything Just seemed to keep getting worse. I was always an outcast in school as well and never really seemed to get along with many people. I started to hurt myself and didn't care about my own well being. Slowly the depression was getting more and more extreme....

One day I was sitting at my house..I was watching MTV and saw Good Charlotte's hold on music video. That changed my perspective on everything. I than had a sense of hope. For once I felt that I was not alone.

"But we all bleed the same way as you do
And we all have the same things to go through"

Ever since that moment I had attached myself to them. They have been my heroes and my salvation ever since than. I have a tattoo devoted to them on my right forearm and I would never have it any other way. They saved my life. Ive been through a lot. and I owe so much to them. I really hope benji, joel, billy, paul, or deano read this. It would be really great. I just want them to know what theyve done for me...I'll never forget it. I want them to know that they mean the world to me... I just want to say thank you for everything. I love you all so much.

I'm starting a sleeve here too (:

<3

[Becca]

Thanks for whoever read this..I appreciate it (:

[Elizabeth]

i kno exacly what u mean...i was going thru the same type of depression and stuff
but i had found them b4 hold on...i was already hooked and when this song blared out of my stereo i was like "this is whom im going to dedicate myself to, not anybody else who wants to do me harm"

[Becca]

haha nice. yea (: theyre such good people

[Beverly]

I can't say GC has changed my life to the extent it has yours. I can say that when I first started listening to GC, I was taking my daughter to school. She put in this cd she had gotten for Christmas and said to listen. I did. I fell in love with GC. I went out and bought TYATH and their first cd. Then one day my dad ended up in the hospital fighting for life..a battle he didn't win. Going to the hospital and visiting him during this time was very depressing. I would come out of the hospital and get in my Ford Escape and turn up GC music and blast away my depression. I was thankful for GC's music. Not too many people know why I love GC the way I do. How can I explain it? I just do. I am an older fan. People have prejudices based on a person's age. I do know that the guys of GC are awesome. I've had the best time being their fan. I've met them all, gotten hugs and they are genuinely nice and they've never made me feel like I was too old! :) I love being a GC fan. And most of the GC fans have been very accepting as well. The GC shows I've been to were fun and GC is one of the best performers I have ever seen on stage..and I have been to a lot of concerts and watched a lot of performers. Some people may talk smack about them and don't think they are good..but I love their music and have never been dissapointed. So.. GC never really saved me..but their music did help me cope at one point and they also have given me lots of enjoyment and I love them. :)

[SueRiotG]

I know what you mean about the whole GC thing.
Their music has got me through a lot of hard times, some which I won't go into here, due to young eyes reading.
The worst bit was, losing a baby after I found out my fiance was sleeping with a 15 year old. I was 19, and I tried to kill myself. I drank a lot, and ended up in serious problems with drugs. I drunk myself into oblivion one night, and tried to hang myself off the climbing frame in the garden. My mum found me. By the time I had been taken to hospital, the baby (I was supposed to be at 31 weeks) was already dead. I had managed to kill my own baby after being out my face, that is the one thing in my whole life that still haunts me, 6 years later. I was sent to a hospital to get help, and the only thing I was allowed, was my music. And GCs first two albums were in my pile of 10 CDs my mum brought for me.

Listening to music became my coping mechanism, with me being able to relate to Benji and Joel's writing, making those albums always on the shoddy stereo i had. It was worse than being in prision, but GCs music were my release. I wasn't allowed a guitar, so I had a £5 keyboard and I wrote poems and songs.

The one angel, which was my turnaround was Joe Adams, a guy I met waiting in the queue for GC in 2004. Me and Joe had loads in common and he was so easy to talk to. He had been dealing with depression since he was 11, and he was able to give me advice. We lived at other sides of the country, but that didn't matter, he'd still answer my calls when i needed him, and I did the same for him. 2 years ago Joe was killed, after being beat up by a group of goths. I got a phone call saying that he had been jumped, and he was inm hospital. Then at after 2am I got a call from a friend, Ryan, who said that he had passed on. I swear it was like everything I had got through with him, had been wasted. That the only person I felt 'one' with was gone. I have never been so alone, and the video of Joe singing me Hold On with an Accoustic guitar, is almost played out.

I am at the stage where I am trying to get things back on track. And a while ago, I decided to start a #GCFam trending topic attempt, in memory of Joe, as they were his favourite band. The thing that Benji tweeted #GCfam made me so happy, Benji was Joe's hero, and I can't say thank you enough to him. GC let me meet the guy who saved me.

I want to let them know how much I thank them for everything, but I know I will never get that one-on-one time with them, to tell show my thanks. But I will never stop trying, for Joe, tell Benji, Joel, Billy, Paul, Dean, Chris and Aaron, how no matter how long they were in the band, that they are the reasons i am still here.

[Beverly]

Awe. That made me teary.

[reetz]

it made me teary too. losing ppl you love is hateful.

[Bessie]

I really love how GC helps so many people with just their music. To think that something so little as just a band making music can help someone to that great extent is amazing. (:

For me its never been that extreme, but I do know GC has changed my life. They're unlike most bands in the way they help fans, whether its with a song or just something they say. In school there were two girls who hurt me really bad. Going to a very small school there were only 2 girls in my class. They hurt my confidence really bad..to the point where I was making hits at myself. I'd beat them to the punch by making fun of myself. I remember listening to GC after school.."Little Things" as small as it was really made me feel better..I'd sing it and be like "Yeah". Those little things (as big as they were to me) didnt matter. I listened to GC my whole time at that school (I moved recently). One time those same girls were making me really uncomfortable and when I went out to my locker I saw a picture of GC. I dont know what it was but honestly, that just lifted me up. Now at this new place, I'm much happier. But, GC still means a lot to me.

They're really sweet people, and even though they didnt "save me", I know that they've honestly saved so many people, and I thank them for that (:

[Becca]

You all have been through a lot as well. hopefully Benji at least will see this with all his little appearances lately..


Beverly your right...Age doesn't matter for what music you listen to.

(:

some people are just ignorant. ya kno?

[Beverly]

Some people have asked me why I love GC. How can I explain it? :) I think of them as friends. :) They have been with me during some rough times. I'm older..some think its just wierd! :D lol But like you said, some people are ignorant. :)

[GCdudette]

Ye i totally no what u mean bout 'little things'. Ever since i moved sch's in Year 3 i've been bullied, onece i was for 2 years non stop in primary! Then when i went 2 high sch @ the start of Y7 everything was great, then all of a sudden around christmas things started to change. Me and mmy friend were being left out, in the morings we used to go into the dinner hall and would cry beacuse we felt so bad.we got it sorted out but in the group it still felt like i didnt belong,In Y8 & 9 this gurl intoduced me to GC, when i listen to little things it makes me feel good about myself and more confident. I had a new attitude, that i could fight back by just ignorein them.so when i feel bad about myself i listen to GC and it lifts my mood and feel happy again!!

So thanx 2 GC and Lydia you helped me through the harder times!!! :)

[Tanya]

As I've said before, it isn't weird and you don't have to explain it. I feel like GC are old friends too. They are always there for me. I may be 46 years old but music has always been really important in my life.

I've always been an introvert and never had a lot of friends. I've been the fan of many bands over the years and that has occupied my time but after discovering Good Charlotte through my daughter and her friend, they have become my very favorite all time band. I love their music, their style, their different personalities. I appreciate that they recognize that their fans are the ones who got them to where they are now because how long would a band last without fans?? I also love how I've been able to connect with some many other fans and feel like part of something special.

Having problems with depression my whole life, I can get really down but GC music lifts me up like no other music. I just love them for all they do for us.