From the book:

“When people are ignorant about themselves, which from what I have seen most are, there are all kinds of problems in the world. Every problem that we have with human behavior is because we don’t know who we are. I don’t believe in bad people. I believe in ignorant people. It was my ego that drove me, and I have seen that same ego in other people’s behavior to varying degrees. The qualities of my ego manifest and are driven by three different motivations: validation, gratification, and justification.”

A vignette from A Vicious Cycle

Right as he sat down next to me the dog started to sniff me. “Would you sit somewhere else with that dog? It’s starting to sniff me and I don’t appreciate it.” I said this in an intense snarl so I could get my message across.

“Hey, I get to sit anywhere on this bus that I like. It’s a service animal.”

“Listen something stinks, and I actually can’t tell which one of you it is, so can you at least scoot over?” I said raising my voice!

Then Stephany sat down on his other side and took the seat I wanted him to move to, so I raised my voice even louder and said, “I can see you stroke that furry thing just like you do the pecker which is under that dress!” As I was staring him directly in the eyes.

“Hey, don’t talk about my wife that way you prick!” I guess he’d seen me in the rooms of AA before so he asked, “Who is your sponsor? Does he know that you talk to people like that?”

about transformation and perseverance

“I ran from life hiding in my imagination as a small child. That was the first time, which continued for about twenty years, a life of depression, drugs, and countless suicide attempts. My imagination was my first drug It was my first means of escaping. I escaped so I could feel good. Drinking and drugs are all about escaping, and if people are addicted to one thing it is just their emotions. That’s all drugs do, they boost pleasure centers in the brain, and all kinds of things do that, so I don’t take alcoholics and addicts as any more unique than anyone else. It is with the acknowledgement of a higher power that I began to live in what I now call reality.”

…read more here:

“I’m a passionate writer who loves exploring new topics in an intellectual way that will apply to all readers. I love to write about all our human conditions of ego, selfishness, and the solution: love. I have a very amazing life experience to make all of this come true in myself and my writing.”

“I have written a book: A Vicious Cycle which is a memoir about how the only person that needs to change is one’s self, I do ghost writing, with this I sit done, get information from the individual by spending quality time together. I have written academic papers that brake new headway and cover new ground. I have had creative poetry that has been published, and am always looking to explore all types of creativity by leaving no corner of my mind in a shadow.” — Justin Witte

Justin speaks from his experience with eight different physical and mental disorders and along with addiction issues. Justin, originally from Oregon, lives in San Francisco and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Philosophy at San Francisco State University. This memoir is his first book.

about the cover photo:

“Since the book is set in San Francisco and deals with mental health and recovery issues, I was inspired to use an image I’d taken during a particularly dramatic sunset with San Francisco’s signature Sutro Tower and pink clouds. Mental health issues can feel like moving through rough weather and active addiction can distort reality. These concepts are represented in the photo illustration in several ways. The image is backwards from it’s true perspective, there’s an overlay of other clouds, and you may notice waves or ripples, as if the tower is sending a signal.” — Michael Kerner, photographer

Motivational Speaker

Justin speaks to nonprofits for people that are struggling with mental illness, as well as other disabilities, to show how people can live better lives and function with a purpose.

Justin on being a Life Coach:

I am someone who has overcome a lot. I was on SSDI for 15 years. Since then I got one degree in business and I do accounting. I am going for another degree in philosophy. I have always wanted to be a writer, and I wrote about that was a memoir about how the only person that needs to change for the better is myself. It doesn’t matter what anyone else does. This is a message and a way of life I want to take to others to help them achieve their goals. I have always enjoyed being there for others, and with the philosophy degree I see how the mind works and am working on helping others to fulfill their dreams. This is why I am a life Coach.

Life Coach review from Yelp:

“I am someone who has wanted to be a lawyer for a very long time. I went to Justin to get this dream fulfilled and it is happening. Justin has given me guidance, sat with me to study, and has given me lot of emotional and intellectual support. I would recommend Justin for anyone who has a dream that they want to accomplish!” — J. V. from San Francisco

Check out his Yelp reviews!

Justin is available for speaking engagements and coaching! Contact him here: