Survival and Starting Over with Matt Williams
In this episode of How to Deal When the Sht Gets Real*, Matt Williams shares what it was like growing up in chaos and learning how to rebuild his life after trauma. From surviving a rough childhood to working on a shrimp boat surrounded by addiction — while being allergic to shrimp — Matt’s story is one of resilience, survival, and ultimately finding his voice.
This is Part I of our conversation, where we explore what instability does to a person and how rebuilding begins.
Growing Up in Chaos
Childhood shapes everything — especially when that childhood is unstable.
Matt opens up about what it was like growing up in a chaotic environment and how dysfunction becomes normal when it’s all you’ve ever known. We talk about how children adapt to survive, how coping mechanisms form early, and how trauma can quietly shape adulthood.
Growing up in chaos often means learning to be hyper-aware, independent, and emotionally guarded. It builds strength — but it also leaves scars.
Surrounded by Addiction and Survival Mode
At one point, Matt found himself working on a shrimp boat surrounded by addiction — an environment that could easily consume someone already shaped by instability.
We discuss:
Living in environments where addiction is normalized
Survival mode vs. healing
How external chaos reinforces internal coping mechanisms
The long-term impact of unstable surroundings
Survival teaches you how to endure. Healing teaches you how to live.
Military Service and Identity
Matt also shares how his time in the military shaped his identity. Structure, discipline, and brotherhood offered something very different from the chaos he grew up with.
But even structured environments can’t erase the effects of early trauma.
We talk about:
How military life impacts personal growth
The difference between strength and suppression
Rebuilding identity after instability
Reinvention isn’t instant. It’s layered.
Rebuilding and Finding Your Voice
Starting over isn’t a single decision — it’s a series of small, courageous choices.
Matt explains how he began rebuilding his life, why finding his voice mattered, and how sharing his story became part of his growth. What once felt like weakness became perspective. What once felt like survival became purpose.
This episode is about resilience — not the polished kind, but the earned kind.
If you’ve ever had to start over, rebuild after trauma, or redefine who you are outside of your past, this conversation will resonate.
Part I of a Deeper Conversation
This is the first half of our conversation with Matt Williams. In Part II, we dive into the power of difficult conversations, navigating controversial topics, and why respectful dialogue still matters in a divided world.
👉 Read Part II: https://www.cosmiccreeator.com/blog/courage-and-conversation-with-matt-williams
