In 2015, I went on a vacation that changed everything. I thought I was traveling with someone I could trust, my partner, but instead, I was set up and betrayed in a way I still struggle to put into words. That experience nearly cost me my life and shattered the way I viewed people, relationships, and even myself. After I came home, I tried to bury the trauma, but it followed me. I spiraled into a 10-year battle with alcohol, ending up homeless, in and out of hospitals, and feeling completely alone. For a long time, I didn’t just lose trust in other, I lost trust in my own ability to make decisions. It felt like I would never feel safe again. But after hitting rock bottom and finally entering detox in 2022, I started slowly climbing back. I’ve now been sober for two years. I still deal with mental health struggles, but I no longer let them define me. I’ve learned how to rebuild trust in myself first, which has opened the door to trusting others again too.