As a teenager, Ramzi had already endured more emotional turmoil than many adults face in a lifetime. Growing up in a home shaped by a mentally and verbally abusive figure, Ramzi didn’t realize how deeply the trauma had taken root. “I didn’t realize how much mental abuse he had given me—PTSD,” he shared.

As life piled on more loss—his grandmother’s passing, his parents’ divorce and growing tension at home—Ramzi found himself coping the only way he thought he could. “Anytime I had a chance, I would drink. I started smoking and vaping. I couldn’t handle the stress without it.”

Everything shifted when a family member suggested counseling, which led Ramzi and his mom to Lakeview Center’s Community Action Team (CAT). At first, he wasn’t convinced. “I didn’t think they would do much to help. I felt like that for a few months.”

But change came slowly, then all at once. “I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel… When I saw I could change myself, I realized I didn’t have to be stuck.”

Family counseling through CAT offered a space between Ramzi and his mom to work through any long-standing tension. “Talking things through in sessions helped us understand where the other was coming from,” he said.

Beyond therapy, Lakeview Center’s CAT team helped Ramzi recognize the influence of the people around him. “They helped me stay away from the wrong crowds… they made me understand that the people around me can mold me into something I didn’t want to become.”

Today, the changes are clear and lasting. Ramzi stopped drinking entirely in June of 2025. Nicotine, once a habit, now holds little appeal. Most importantly, the connection with his mom has transformed. “Now, even if I screw up, I’ll tell her the truth. There isn’t a single thing I’d lie to her about—and vice versa.”

Reflecting on the team who walked alongside him, he puts it simply, “Lexi and the team were amazing, understanding and willing to help.”

To anyone unsure about reaching out for support, he offers this, “There’s nothing to lose from it. I didn’t love it at first, but I stuck with it, and I only ever gained from going.”

Ramzi’s story is about resilience, family and the power of choosing a different future. And through Lakeview Center, he found not only support, but hope.

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