#022 Ana‘s Story of Taking Back Her Life

The Now What Pod

CW: Sexual Assault, Drug Abuse

Episode Description:

Ana shares the story of how she decided to change her life using small tangible steps after years of struggling following an 18 month deployment in Iraq. Ana talks about the effect that PTSD had on her and her relationships, the dissolution of her first marriage, a second marriage to someone in active opiate addiction, becoming a mother, and how she decided to take back control of her life.

Topics Discussed:

(0:00) Introductions

(2:50) Military Life: Ana talks about joining the US military, and her deployment in Iraq for 18 months. As somebody in a leadership role, Ana felt a huge responsibility for others. She began to compartmentalize her feelings, including those around a sexual assault that occurred while she was deployed.

(11:23) Coming home: Ana tells us what life was like when she returned home. She shared the impact of PTSD on her life and the dissolution of her first marriage.

(20:30) Second Marriage: Ana talks about what life was like being married to somebody in active opiate addiction, and how becoming a mother made her realize that something had to change.

(23:53) Making a plan: Ana decided to sketch out a plan for her future, taking control of her health and money, and deciding to leave her husband.

(28:32) Brain Dump: we discuss the concept of putting things down on paper to help clear your mind, and get the full picture.

(34:34) Feeling Safe: Ana talks about setting herself up to feel safe, and we each discuss the role feeling safe plays for us post-trauma.

(41:56) Where is she now: Ana talks about what she is doing now, being in a healthy relationship, and using what she’s learned to help others.

Quotes:

“ I felt very much out of control, and so I started writing down the things I could control”

“ I never want to feel like that again”

Guest Bio:

Mother, Partner, Soldier, Dreamer, Planner, Educator

I’m a US Army veteran, an entrepreneur and trainer. I’ve owned several brick and mortar businesses alongside my military service, and in 2012, I became a mom to my beautiful son.

At the time of my son’s birth, I was really struggling. Still serving in the Army, I was married to someone in the absolute throes of opiate addiction. I commuted three hours a day to work a job that didn’t pay me nearly what I was worth, and my bank account was drained as soon as my paycheck hit it. I knew something had to change, and fast.

Fast-forward a year later, and I was well on my way to freedom and fulfillment. I no longer felt trapped, anxious and stuck. In my search to get my life really on track, I decided I needed to find or create the tools- the real, tangible steps- to square away what I knew my best life could be.

I made the decision that I was going to change it all up. For me, and most importantly, for my son. I was going to make the life I wanted for myself.

So, I Began.

Ana can be followed on IG @anamckennaofficial

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