In this special episode of Unwritten Chapters, I’m sharing a powerful conversation from the archives — my guest interview on The Last Show with David Cooper. As I take some time off to recover from illness, I wanted to bring you a previously aired episode that explores themes central to this podcast: mental health, PTSD, addiction recovery, grief, trauma, healing, and life after service.

We talk candidly about post-traumatic stress, the challenges of living with anxiety and depression, and how storytelling has become a tool for connection, reflection, and survival. Whether you’re a veteran, first responder, or someone navigating personal loss, this conversation offers insight, support, and shared experience.

If you're looking for a podcast about mental health journeys, recovery after trauma, or simply need to hear an honest, human story — this episode is for you. Please consider sharing it with someone who might benefit from these words.

🎧 Topics covered: PTSD, trauma recovery, mental health awareness, addiction, grief, anxiety, veteran stories, podcast interview, emotional resilience, therapy, sobriety, storytelling

📚 Love whatyou heard? There’s more.
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a former military and civilian medic, now a sober writersharing raw stories about trauma, grief, addiction, and healing.

🎙 Listento the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hmuMofDnEkc8Ec9MqGHmC
📰 Subscribe to my newsletter for reflectionsI don’t share anywhere else: https://substack.com/@unwrittenchapterspodcast?utm_source=user-menu

📚 Read my books:

A Medic’sMind: https://a.co/d/fyBwpo1

Woven inWar: https://a.co/d/6DlWdg6

Life AfterLoss: Reflections on Moments of Grace and Courage in Grief: https://a.co/d/2U4zSG4

Dream:Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers: https://a.co/d/cbi7A9n

BrainstormRevolution: True mental health stories of love, personal evolution, andcultural revolution: https://a.co/d/gatLrby

A Versionof Me: Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology 2024: https://a.co/d/iEON2Rw

🌐 Visit: www.amedicsmind.com
📸 Follow me: @UnwrittenChaptersPodcaston Instagram

Because thenext chapter is still unwritten — and you don’t have to write it alone.

You don't have to follow the 12 steps to stay sober — sometimes, you have to create your own.
In this episode of Unwritten Chapters, I reveal the 12 real-world strategies that helped me stay sober after rehab — without ever attending an AA meeting again.

This is for anyone who feels lost outside the traditional recovery system.
It's not about rejecting AA — it's about finding YOUR path to healing.

Inside this episode:
– Why AA didn't fit my story after rehab
– The daily habits that kept me grounded
– How trauma recovery shaped my sobriety journey
– Building resilience without a sponsor or steps
– The power of community, creativity, and self-forgiveness

#Sobriety #AlcoholFreeLife #RecoveryJourney #UnwrittenChapters #AddictionRecovery #MentalHealthAwareness #SelfHealing #PTSDRecovery

Follow for raw, honest reflections from a former medic finding healing one unwritten chapter at a time.

📚 Love whatyou heard? There’s more.
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a former military and civilian medic, now a sober writersharing raw stories about trauma, grief, addiction, and healing.

🎙 Listento the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hmuMofDnEkc8Ec9MqGHmC
📰 Subscribe to my newsletter for reflectionsI don’t share anywhere else: https://substack.com/@unwrittenchapterspodcast?utm_source=user-menu

📚 Read my books:

A Medic’sMind: https://a.co/d/fyBwpo1

Woven inWar: https://a.co/d/6DlWdg6

Life AfterLoss: Reflections on Moments of Grace and Courage in Grief: https://a.co/d/2U4zSG4

Dream:Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers: https://a.co/d/cbi7A9n

BrainstormRevolution: True mental health stories of love, personal evolution, andcultural revolution: https://a.co/d/gatLrby

A Versionof Me: Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology 2024: https://a.co/d/iEON2Rw

🌐 Visit: www.amedicsmind.com
📸 Follow me: @UnwrittenChaptersPodcaston Instagram

Because the next chapter is still unwritten — and you don’t have to write it alone.

Episode Summary:

In this raw and reflective episode of Unwritten Chapters, I open up about the complicated trauma that comes not from the battlefield, but from the living room. From family. From silence.

As a veteran, former paramedic, and survivor of PTSD, I share a personal account of emotional abuse, gaslighting, and betrayal—specifically the kind that occurs within family systems. This isn’t a story about enemies; it’s about the pain of being invalidated by those who were supposed to protect you. It’s about choosing to walk away from family members who refuse accountability. About setting boundaries for your mental health and your recovery.

Whether you’re in addiction recovery, navigating complex PTSD, or struggling with toxic family relationships, this episode offers solidarity and insight. If you've ever felt unseen, unheard, or unworthy in the eyes of the people you should’ve been able to trust, this one's for you.

🔑 Keywords:

• PTSD and family trauma

• Toxic family dynamics

• Emotional abuse recovery

• Addiction and sobriety podcast

• Veteran mental health

• Gaslighting and narcissistic abuse

• Setting boundaries in recovery

• When to cut off toxic family

• First responder mental health

• Surviving trauma and finding peace

• Complex PTSD podcast

• Male trauma survivors

• Forgiveness vs self-preservation

• Podcast about resilience and healing

🎧 What You’ll Hear About:

• The emotional aftermath of being betrayed by family

• Why silence can hurt more than violence

• Being gaslit and invalidated after disclosing abuse

• The role of sobriety in finding clarity and strength

• How to decide when it’s time to walk away

• Why healing sometimes means letting go

🎤 Takeaway:
You can’t heal in a place where your truth is denied. And sometimes, walking away from family isn’t bitterness—it’s bravery. You don’t owe anyone access to your life if they haven’t earned it through love, respect, and accountability.

📚 Love whatyou heard? There’s more.
I’m Matthew Heneghan — a former military and civilian medic, now a sober writersharing raw stories about trauma, grief, addiction, and healing.

🎙 Listento the full podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/5hmuMofDnEkc8Ec9MqGHmC
📰 Subscribe to my newsletter for reflectionsI don’t share anywhere else: https://substack.com/@unwrittenchapterspodcast?utm_source=user-menu

📚 Read my books:

A Medic’sMind: https://a.co/d/fyBwpo1

Woven inWar: https://a.co/d/6DlWdg6

Life AfterLoss: Reflections on Moments of Grace and Courage in Grief: https://a.co/d/2U4zSG4

Dream:Tales from the Pikes Peak Writers: https://a.co/d/cbi7A9n

BrainstormRevolution: True mental health stories of love, personal evolution, andcultural revolution: https://a.co/d/gatLrby

A Versionof Me: Askew's Word on the Lake Anthology 2024: https://a.co/d/iEON2Rw

🌐 Visit: www.amedicsmind.com
📸 Follow me: @UnwrittenChaptersPodcaston Instagram

Because thenext chapter is still unwritten — and you don’t have to write it alone.