Surviving Abuse, Addiction, And Starting Over nickies story part 2

Send us Fan MailThe story opens with gratitude and purpose, then drops you into the messy middle of a life lived at full volume. We talk candidly about toxic love, gaslighting, and the kind of chaos that can feel like romance when you’re starved for safety. From early internet personals and awkward food-court meetups to partners who limit clothes and rewrite history, this is a field guide to red flags we wish we had named sooner.As school and work collide with anxiety and ADHD, weed feels like relief and becomes a trap that steals focus and momentum. The timeline pivots through a tender but unstable relationship with Dave and a leap into Moncton, where another whirlwind arrives: love bombing, PCP, and a Montreal run that ends with arrests, a hospital bed, a blizzard, and a car flipped in the woods. The notebook left behind—and later exposed—turns into a symbol of truth we try to tell ourselves when denial gets loud.Pregnancy shatters illusions and forces hard choices. There’s job loss, a long dark season of sleep and counting days, and family stepping in with rides, meals, and childcare when the world feels too heavy to lift. We don’t sanitize the impact on our kids, either: the distance from Devin, the weight Ben carried, and how overlooking ADHD needs can happen when addiction narrows your view. What emerges is not a tidy redemption arc but a real one—moving back to Dartmouth, finding work, dropping the performance of “I’m fine,” and learning the difference between intensity and care.If you’ve ever confused drama for love, numbed pain to keep moving, or rebuilt after a collapse, you’ll hear your own heartbeat in these moments. We focus on practical insight: how to spot gaslighting early, why love bombing feels so convincing, how ADHD and anxiety shape coping, and which supports actually help you climb out—therapy, structure, honest friends, and family who hold the line when you can’t. Subscribe, share with someone who needs a mirror more than a lecture, and leave a review with the one red flag you’ll never ignore again.We'd like to thank our sponsor...The Big Bears Podcast is sponsored by ADDvocacy ADHD & Executive Function Coaching and TrainingDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show