Why She Stayed

Ep. 73: How Did I Get Here (Again)? : A Story of Two Abusive Relationships

In this episode, I sit down with Alissa to talk through the painful reality of surviving not one, but two abusive relationships, and the patterns that emerged between them.

We dive into the emotional and financial toll of being made to feel responsible for the very people who were hurting us. Alissa shares how she was expected to take care of her abusers- emotionally, financially, and even physically, all while her own needs were ignored or weaponized against her.

We talk about:

  • The quiet, creeping signs of financial abuse
  • How abusers make us feel like the caretaker or the problem-solver
  • The excuses they give for physical abuse and how we learn to rationalize them
  • Early signs of stalking and how they’re often misread as “love” or obsession
  • The red flags that were different in each relationship- and the ones that felt eerily familiar

If you’ve ever asked yourself “How did I end up here again?”, this episode is for you.

Content warning: This episode discusses abuse, stalking, and physical violence. Please listen with care.

Alissa's Instagram Pages:

@makeituncomfortable

@absolute_gray_media

Other creator (Kimya) mentioned in the episode:

@kimyamotley

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