Jenna Smith* swiped through her phone, absentmindedly scrolling TikTok during her lunch break. As a 32-year-old waitress in the small town of New Lebanon, New York, her life was a cycle of workdays punctuated by nights of binge drinking to numb her lingering pain.

That's when the video caught her eye - TikToker Tianna Robillard, makeup streaked and voice cracking, confirming her split from NFL fiancé Cody Ford*. 'My world has been turned upside down,' Robillard said through tears. Those words struck a chord deep within Jenna.

Memories flooded back of her own tumultuous relationships, the fights and betrayals amplified by her substance abuse issues. She thought of the fateful night when her ex had shoved her against the wall, her head slamming into the drywall as he raged at her in an alcohol-fueled frenzy.

Jenna knew she couldn't go on like this. She had tried counseling before, but her progress always stalled. This time, she committed to the Stepping Into Action online program, determined to confront her traumas head-on.

Over the next few months, she immersed herself in the materials, practicing mindfulness and reframing her negative thought patterns. 'The past doesn't define me,' she learned to remind herself. 'I'm worthy of healthy love.'

'I finally feel like I'm breaking free from that cycle of hurt,' Jenna confided during one of her check-ins. 'All because some random TikTok video made me realize I can't keep living this way.'

While some experts praised Jenna's use of an online program for its accessibility and flexibility, others cautioned about the lack of in-person support. 'Virtual programs can be a great first step, but trauma work requires human connection,' said one psychologist. 'Be wary of trying to go it completely alone.'

For Jenna, however, her virtual journey was worth it to escape the shadows of her past. As she looked back on the long road traveled, she knew that while healing is never easy, taking that first step - even when inspired by an unexpected source - can lead to profound positive change.

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