100% Success Rate: Kim Lengling’s Journey Through PTSD and Purpose
For Kim Lengling, the battle with PTSD began over 30 years ago, rooted in a traumatic experience during her time in the military. For years, she buried the pain, convinced that strength meant silence. She kept herself busy, fiercely independent, and determined never to need help from anyone.
But life has a way of bringing unhealed wounds to the surface. Years later, Kim’s world seemed to collapse all at once. Within a short span of time, she lost her grandmother, went through a painful divorce, and grieved the suicide of a close friend.
“I remember falling to my knees on the living room floor,” Kim recalls. “I couldn’t function. I just sobbed and cried out, ‘Please… please,’ to a God I’d spent years insisting I didn’t believe in.”
That moment, raw and breaking, became a turning point.
Finding Help and Brotherhood
Healing began slowly. Kim started attending church, though she admits she did so “with a chip on my shoulder.” Still, she kept going week after week.
Around the same time, two Vietnam veterans, old friends who recognized the signs of trauma, stepped in.
“They told me, ‘We don’t know what’s going on with you, but we recognize the signs. You need to talk to someone. If you don’t go to the VA, we’ll drag you there ourselves.’”
And they did.
Kim laughs now, remembering how her friends literally took her “kicking and screaming” to seek help. But what started as resistance became gratitude. That intervention was the beginning of her recovery.
Building a Toolbox for Healing
Self-care didn’t come naturally at first. It was something Kim had to learn, one step at a time. Over the years, she’s built what she calls her “toolbox,” simple but powerful tools that help her manage PTSD when it surfaces.
Her favorites include:
Deep breathing and grounding exercises
Taking walks outdoors with her rescue dog, Dexter
Noticing her surroundings, what she can see, hear, feel, or touch to pull herself back from flashbacks
Listening to music and reading to soothe her soul
“I’ve learned to use all my senses to bring myself back to the present,” she explains. “It took me years to recognize when I needed to do that, but I’m thankful I can now.”
From Survivor to Giver
PTSD is a part of Kim’s life, but it no longer defines it.
“An event that lasted hours changed the course of my life,” she says. “But it does not define me. How I embrace it and use what I’ve learned to help others is what matters now.”
Her faith, family, and veteran community have been pillars of strength. Through them, Kim has found a new purpose, becoming a beacon of hope for others struggling in silence.
She began creating and sharing “Nuggets of Hope,” small, tangible reminders of kindness and resilience. This movement inspired her book Nuggets of Hope: Cultivate Kindness, which combines personal stories with practical ways to uplift others.
“As a Christian, I feel called to be a spark of light,” Kim shares. “To remind others that no matter how dark it feels, they’re not alone.”
A Message of Hope
Kim knows firsthand that the path from survival to peace isn’t linear; it’s full of stumbles, tears, and small wins that matter deeply.
“To anyone sitting in a dark space right now,” she says gently, “know this: you may be there now, but you don’t have to stay there.”
She encourages others to recognize every small victory:
“Maybe the only thing you accomplish today is getting out of bed or taking a shower, that’s a win! You have a 100% success rate for surviving every hard thing you’ve ever faced. You’re still here. You’re still breathing. That’s incredible.”
Kim also reminds others not to let pride stand in the way of getting help.
“If you’re struggling, please reach out. Call the crisis hotline. In the U.S., dial 988. If you’re a veteran, press 1. You do not have to face the darkness alone.”
Reframing the Journey
Today, Kim Lengling continues to use her voice, writing, and advocacy to bring hope to others living with PTSD. Her story is one of courage, faith, and community, proof that healing doesn’t mean erasing the past, but transforming it into purpose.
She lives by one powerful truth:
“You are here for a reason. You have a purpose. Don’t let the darkness win.”
For more about Kim’s work and her book Nuggets of Hope: Cultivate Kindness, visit KimLenglingAuthor.com or connect with her on social media @KimLenglingAuthor
