I’m a veteran living with the challenges of CPTSD, MST, and PTSD—things I’ve been working through since the late ’90s. It took years before I began to truly understand how my past had shaped my present. Through CBT therapy, peer support, and deep personal growth, I’ve come to see how trauma affected my relationships—especially the breakdowns with people I once held close, including my children, who I’ve been estranged from for over 25 years. For a long time, I struggled with trust, especially in intimate relationships. My ex was emotionally abusive and manipulative, and that left scars I’ve worked hard to heal. It hasn’t been easy. I’ve had to make difficult decisions—like going no contact with certain family and friends—to protect my peace. But through all of it, peer support became the missing piece in my recovery. It gave me space to speak, to listen, and to be heard.