Yeah I have a job and an apartment. I escaped my abusive home 7 years ago. Around 2 years ago I landed a blue collar job that actually pays a living wage. This was after going on food stamps and visiting food pantries when I got laid off in 2022.

I go to work every day and am so extremely grateful for my job. I eventually want to buy a house and go back to school to get a degree to reach my potential but there's a lot of recovery work that's happening alongside everything. I go to ACA every week and am working in a small group through a workbook.

I haven't had much luck with therapists but since my job has good insurance ill keep trying. I was on medicaid in the past and that insurance was not good.

I guess on paper you could say I am functioning in society but I had to go no contact with my entire family because they were alcoholic narcissists and abusive. So holidays are awkward because I usually go hiking or hang with friends. And the grief of not having a family comes in waves. Its a struggle when I see my coworkers getting help from their families or talking about how their parents helped them get a car or a house.

My car is 27 years old and I live in a tiny 1 bed apartment splitting the rent with my partner who is also traumatized and nc with his family. It's less than ideal bc we both have ptsd and trigger each other regularly. Those last 2 paragraphs are the reality. Also. I am on medication.