oops sorry to reply again, but I realised I forgot the most important thing that does help me, and that was realising that although some may and do judge, there are others that will draw inspiration from your story. People so often say such hope defying things, "once a ------ always a -----" etc etc
You may have caused harm in the past, but by doing what you're doing you will also be doing a lot of good whether you know it or not, and giving hope to others still stuck in the mire that it is possible to get out and stay out!
And also for the people that have loved ones caught up in that cycle, you are giving hope.
The winds that blow in from the past get less and less as time goes by, and the more distance you have from it all the better. Stay strong, and many hugs for a great achievement xxx