Page 767 - Total War on PTSD

I married at age 18 and moved to Texas to attend Universal Technical Institute where I graduated with a degree in Collision Repair and Refinish. During my time in Texas, I was introduced to drugs. I tried basically anything except for Heroin and I never used a needle. That does not make things any better but I can at least be proud of that. I abused drugs from 2004 to 2005 and again in early 2007 after I had returned to Arkansas. In the later part of 2007, my family moved back with my ex-husband's mother. My daughter was one and a half years old when my ex-mother-in-law drunkenly charged into our bedroom at us because we would not stay in the living room to listen to her slurred speech and impulsive actions. Once she charged at me, I reacted and punched her in her eye. Since it was her home, I was charged with Domestic Violence and Battery. The Deputies stood around waiting for the red marks to show up on me from where she charged. That was my first trip to jail. I was placed in C Block behind secure doors. The other ladies in the block had access to roam around, watch TV and smoke cigarettes. I was treated like a murderer in a separated area.
Thankfully, my case was dismissed after attending 11 out of 14 anger management classes. My ex-husband and I divorced in 2009. Between the drugs and family issues, we could not hang on to the marriage any longer. Due to living in her home, obviously, I was the one that had to go. I was literally homeless. I lived out of my truck and in hotel rooms. Because of that, my ex won custody of my daughter. I lived like that for about six weeks until I was no longer allowed to stay in motel rooms. My banking account was in the negative, I was not able to buy food and my truck ended up being repossessed. I moved to an apartment that was notoriously known for gang violence because the rooms were affordable. The first night there, I was greeted with acceptance and was broken into. My friend was with me and they stole her car. Welcome to the
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