1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:01,240 Speaker 1: Hey guys. 2 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 2: Before we get into the episode, a quick note. We're 3 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 2: looking for news stories of betrayal for our weekly Betrayal series, 4 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 2: which returns in August. If you've experienced betrayal and feel 5 00:00:11,280 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 2: ready to share your story, now is a great time 6 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 2: to reach out. Email us at Betrayal Pod at gmail 7 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: dot com. That's Betrayal Pod at gmail dot com. 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: It is not to your detriment that you have loved 9 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: and made yourself willing to be vulnerable to another person. You, 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: unfortunately just got an unhealthy, really sick person who was 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 1: so invested in keeping you out of his whole double 12 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: life that he was living and used every tactic in 13 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: the world to keep you blind to that. 14 00:01:03,680 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: I'm Andrea Gunning, and this is Betrayal, Season four, Episode 15 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: eight Solace. Caroline Brega has been dealing with the fallout 16 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 2: of her husband's betrayal for more than three years. When 17 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,400 Speaker 2: you've been married for half your life, the recovery is long, unpredictable. 18 00:01:27,240 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: At the beginning, it's just about getting through the next hour, 19 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 2: the next twenty four hours, being able to get yourself 20 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:38,480 Speaker 2: to work or show up for your kids. Now, Caroline 21 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 2: is reaching the point where she can start to truly 22 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:45,039 Speaker 2: process and heal from that experience. We connected Caroline with 23 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: Kristen Snowden, an expert in betrayal, trauma, and infidelity. She's 24 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: a licensed marriage and Family therapist in the state of 25 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 2: California and a certified life coach. 26 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 1: My specialty is helping couples and individuals navigate relationship crises 27 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 1: that have been brought upon by uncovering an unknown addiction 28 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:10,360 Speaker 1: or infidelity, and that's either chemical addictions or process addictions 29 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:12,400 Speaker 1: such as sex, peorn love addiction. 30 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 2: Addiction is a loaded term and one we want to 31 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 2: use carefully. Most of us know someone who struggled with 32 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: a chemical addiction, like one to alcohol or opioids. Process 33 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:32,240 Speaker 2: addictions are different. They involve compulsive behaviors that activate the 34 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,800 Speaker 2: brain's reward system. The DSM five, the official manual clinicians 35 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 2: used to diagnose mental health disorders, only recognizes one process 36 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 2: addiction that's gambling disorder. Others, like sex addiction, remain controversial 37 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 2: and are not officially classified as mental health diagnoses. This 38 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 2: is not to say the experience of sex addiction isn't 39 00:02:55,400 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 2: real and valid, but without a diagnostic criteria can be misunderstood. 40 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 2: Misused or even abused. Joel began using the word addiction 41 00:03:07,240 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 2: to describe his behavior, but only after he was caught. 42 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: You'll remember the text he sent Caroline from rehab. 43 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: Low self esteem, self hatred, depression, anxiety, addiction all contributed 44 00:03:21,480 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 3: to my behavior and actions, saying people would not do 45 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 3: what I did, but I literally was not in my 46 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 3: right mind. 47 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:31,800 Speaker 2: We don't know if Joel has been diagnosed with any 48 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 2: addictions to substances, but because Joel referred to himself as 49 00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 2: an addict, you'll hear Kristen and Caroline use that term 50 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: in this conversation. They're also using it as a shorthand 51 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:49,080 Speaker 2: for his compulsive and destructive behavior. Kristen started one of 52 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:52,880 Speaker 2: the first dual diagnosis treatment programs for people with both 53 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: chemical addictions and sexual acting out behaviors, but in the 54 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: last ten years, her focus has shifted to helping betrayed partners. 55 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: She runs groups for those that have been betrayed, and 56 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: she has a YouTube channel where she shares free resources 57 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: for those navigating relationship crises. 58 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 1: I want betrayed partners to have that specialty training and 59 00:04:17,080 --> 00:04:20,000 Speaker 1: education that they deserve that I think is going to 60 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,440 Speaker 1: help launch them into the ability to heal from these traumas. 61 00:04:24,400 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 2: When Kristen first meets with new clients, she often begins 62 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 2: with this metaphor. 63 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:33,040 Speaker 1: Something that we do all day, every day is we drive. 64 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: And what we do is we're essentially taking for granted 65 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: that everybody else around us is going to follow the 66 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,559 Speaker 1: rules of the road, and that is what we're doing. 67 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 1: When we're in these long term relationships with our partners, 68 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: we have very direct, spoken rules but also unspoken rules 69 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: that we're going to give each other the benefit of doubt, 70 00:04:52,400 --> 00:04:54,400 Speaker 1: We're going to do our best to do no harm. 71 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: We're going to follow the rules and move along in 72 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:02,840 Speaker 1: the correct way together. And then all of a sudden, 73 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 1: when you uncover that your partner is capable of lying, 74 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,680 Speaker 1: sneaking around. It is as if someone is asking you 75 00:05:09,839 --> 00:05:12,840 Speaker 1: every day to just go do the basic things like 76 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: just go drive with the grocery store, just go drop 77 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: your kids off. But oh, by the way, no one's 78 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: going to follow the rules of the road. Hope you 79 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: make it there. 80 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:21,040 Speaker 4: Okay. 81 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: Suddenly the drive, the simple drive that you took for 82 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:33,880 Speaker 1: granted every single day, becomes the most terrifying, hypervigilant, soul 83 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: sucking experience because you don't know what's coming at you, 84 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 1: and that is like the best metaphor I have to 85 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:43,799 Speaker 1: help people understand what these betrayed partners are going through 86 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: from the minute they find out what their partner's done 87 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,920 Speaker 1: and onward. 88 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 2: Kristin often works with people like Caroline, people who've been 89 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 2: left to pick up the pieces in the wake of 90 00:05:57,440 --> 00:05:58,640 Speaker 2: their partner's betrayal. 91 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:04,840 Speaker 1: She's my qui essential client. Unfortunately, I've seen hundreds of her, 92 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: if not thousands. 93 00:06:07,240 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 2: Kristin met with Caroline several times over the course of 94 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 2: this season. With their permission, we'd like to share excerpts 95 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: from those sessions with you. Caroline started with the problem 96 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 2: she confronts often in her life, feeling on edge. In 97 00:06:21,320 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 2: the city she calls home, all she sees are places 98 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: where Joel arranged his meetups. These are landmarks that memorialize 99 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 2: her husband's affairs. 100 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 4: There's really only one way to drive to our local airport, 101 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 4: and I hate the drive. I hate it. All I 102 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 4: can do is think about this is where he did 103 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 4: this at, This is where he did this at. How 104 00:06:42,680 --> 00:06:44,520 Speaker 4: many people did he meet in this area? How many 105 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,080 Speaker 4: times did this occur? Like it is just repetitive in 106 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 4: me how do you. 107 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:51,359 Speaker 1: Feel in your body when you're driving to the airport 108 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:55,000 Speaker 1: and you're crossing all those triggering places and spaces. What 109 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:55,800 Speaker 1: does it feel like. 110 00:06:56,200 --> 00:07:01,280 Speaker 4: It could be the coldest morning in Colorado, and I 111 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 4: will start sweating when I reach that area of town. 112 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 4: I will have my heat completely turned off. I'll need 113 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 4: to crack the window, and the nausea starts, and my 114 00:07:14,720 --> 00:07:18,400 Speaker 4: brain just starts churning. This is the area where he 115 00:07:18,440 --> 00:07:21,000 Speaker 4: did this? How many times did he meet someone? It 116 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,600 Speaker 4: will just continuously churn and I'll keep playing it and 117 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 4: replaying it and replaying it even after I park, when 118 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,800 Speaker 4: I'm bringing my luggage up, when I'm checking in, it 119 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 4: just continuously plays in me. The piece of it that 120 00:07:35,240 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 4: is so aggravating is that I have no control over it. 121 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:47,560 Speaker 4: I'm still reliving it every time I drive that route. 122 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 4: I think that I am a strong female, but I 123 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:53,120 Speaker 4: will tell you that if you want to test someone's 124 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 4: ability to stay strong, go through this and have to 125 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:57,960 Speaker 4: live it every day. 126 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:02,400 Speaker 1: Right. That's why I always think it's interesting. But there's 127 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:06,560 Speaker 1: really no such thing in the diagnostic manuals that categorizes 128 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:12,120 Speaker 1: betrayal as a form of TRAUMADTSD, doesn't really fall in 129 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: that because you know, it has to be life threatening event, 130 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 1: and people don't consider these things to be life threatening. 131 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: But I mean, I can imagine you feel like you 132 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: have PTSD symptoms. 133 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,800 Speaker 4: I know I do, and I think it's evidenced by 134 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 4: the fact that my kids and I say, unless it 135 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,240 Speaker 4: was an absolute life threatening event, we will never call 136 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:36,040 Speaker 4: law enforcement. 137 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: M I'm sorry. It's like a systemic betrayal, similar to 138 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: people who've been betrayed to by the like religious organizations 139 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: like abused by the people in charge, and then shunned 140 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:54,599 Speaker 1: and ignored and never validated or supported by their community. 141 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 4: You know, I pride myself in being someone who can 142 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:03,080 Speaker 4: compartmentalize and keep myself together, but it is a struggle 143 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:06,400 Speaker 4: to keep every emotion in and keep my shoulders back 144 00:09:06,400 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 4: and my head high. Constantly running into his colleagues. 145 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,600 Speaker 1: What's the story you're telling yourself about what they are 146 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: experiencing when they see you. 147 00:09:17,280 --> 00:09:22,040 Speaker 4: When life blew up. Initially to me and my kids, 148 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:25,000 Speaker 4: Joel said it was my fault. It was my fault 149 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 4: because we weren't having sex as much as he wanted to. 150 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 4: I wasn't doing things that he wanted to sexually like 151 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:34,280 Speaker 4: he pointed the finger at me. And this is also 152 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,720 Speaker 4: the narrative that he started telling all of his employment. 153 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:41,600 Speaker 4: They're thinking to their selves, we know what Joel did. 154 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 4: We've been told that you're the reason why this happened. 155 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 4: He had to go seek sex elsewhere because he wasn't 156 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 4: getting it at home. He needed to go find it 157 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 4: around the community. This is all your fault. You caused 158 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,439 Speaker 4: him to lose his job. In one of his disciplinary 159 00:09:55,520 --> 00:10:00,560 Speaker 4: write ups, it actually says Joel disc us that he 160 00:10:00,679 --> 00:10:04,480 Speaker 4: was having problems with his wife at home. It's like 161 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 4: everyone heard this narrative, but me. I didn't know this. 162 00:10:09,400 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 4: In my world, we were living this really blessed, utopian life. 163 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,319 Speaker 4: I didn't know that this was being put on blast 164 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:18,760 Speaker 4: about me. 165 00:10:19,440 --> 00:10:23,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, what is that like? On top of the shame 166 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: that you just generally experienced from being betrayed by your 167 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 1: intimate partner and finding out that he's led this whole 168 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: double life, what is that like to have this community 169 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: where they're blaming you or using your parent marital life 170 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: to justify his behavior. 171 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 4: It just continued to involve this constant nausea and chaos 172 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:53,920 Speaker 4: in my life. And to have to have this pretend 173 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 4: face and this very low affect to not show emotion 174 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 4: was miserable, and it definitely doesn't feel sustainable to continue 175 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 4: to try to have this pretend normal at work. It 176 00:11:08,440 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 4: doesn't feel good to have this pretend normal at community 177 00:11:11,160 --> 00:11:14,760 Speaker 4: events where I see police officers who stare at me 178 00:11:14,800 --> 00:11:18,040 Speaker 4: and my kids when we're together. My daughter was in 179 00:11:18,080 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 4: a car accident her junior year, shortly after he blew 180 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 4: up our lives. About a month and a week later, 181 00:11:24,200 --> 00:11:30,360 Speaker 4: she was te boned and hit by a driver. And 182 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:33,199 Speaker 4: when I went out to the scene to see her, 183 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 4: thank god, she was okay. But even in that moment, 184 00:11:38,559 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 4: cops were pulling up to the scene, and I could 185 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,120 Speaker 4: hear them. They didn't even care that we were there, 186 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,880 Speaker 4: what we had just gone through. I could hear them, 187 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 4: Oh my god, there's Kern's wife and his kid. Oh 188 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 4: my god, can you believe that he's in rehab right now? 189 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 4: I could hear them. 190 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:58,400 Speaker 1: In like your moment of raw vulnerability. 191 00:11:58,960 --> 00:12:02,199 Speaker 4: Yes, I am for my daughter. I am terrified seeing 192 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 4: how she looks. She's just an absolute shock. Even in 193 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 4: that moment it's thrown in my face. 194 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: It must be overwhelming, especially when part of your trauma 195 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 1: has been being lied to. I can imagine it being 196 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 1: just even more frustrating, to say the least, that you 197 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: continue to be surrounded by a community that keeps telling 198 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:29,560 Speaker 1: you that you're to blame. There is such a healing 199 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:33,640 Speaker 1: and release of trauma that happens when a community can 200 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: share in validating that what happened was not okay, and 201 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: that was scary and that rocked our world. And I 202 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:44,440 Speaker 1: just I'm so sad that you've been denied. I'm hearing 203 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,400 Speaker 1: that you live in a community where there's just a 204 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 1: lack of empathy for what you and the kids have 205 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: gone through. 206 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 4: I think it's not only a lack of empathy. I 207 00:12:55,679 --> 00:12:58,080 Speaker 4: think it is the belief of a false narrative. 208 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 1: What do you tell you about why they can kind 209 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:06,280 Speaker 1: of be so non empathetic, why they're so invested in 210 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:08,240 Speaker 1: holding on to Joel's story. 211 00:13:09,800 --> 00:13:12,800 Speaker 4: Hear me out because I'm going to sound very self 212 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 4: loathing while I say this. I did it. I believe Joel. 213 00:13:19,960 --> 00:13:23,720 Speaker 4: I mean I initially carried this guilt when he looked 214 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 4: at me and he said, well, we weren't having sex enough. 215 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:27,880 Speaker 4: You were paying more attention to the kids than you 216 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:30,640 Speaker 4: did to me. I didn't feel like you loved me, 217 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 4: And in the moments of it, I doubted myself. I thought, 218 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:36,520 Speaker 4: oh my god, were we having sex enough? Did I 219 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 4: show you that I loved you? Did I pay more 220 00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 4: attention to the kids than you? I mean, he got 221 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 4: in my head when he was excusing his behaviors until 222 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,320 Speaker 4: I know the extent of what he did. When it 223 00:13:47,360 --> 00:13:50,839 Speaker 4: became reality, I was able to let go some of 224 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 4: that guilt and that burden. But this was someone who 225 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,560 Speaker 4: was extremely well liked within the department. You know, he 226 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 4: was friendly and got along with people, and he supported 227 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:04,000 Speaker 4: his own and all of these things. My husband lived 228 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:08,520 Speaker 4: a double life. And in my gut, I believe that 229 00:14:09,640 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 4: he is an extremely intelligent man, and I do think 230 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:16,120 Speaker 4: that he knew as things were progressing he was about 231 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,120 Speaker 4: ready to be caught and he needed to start shifting 232 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 4: the blame or provide excuses and people believe him. 233 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:29,360 Speaker 1: When betrayal happens in a relationship, in a marriage, the 234 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:32,200 Speaker 1: vulnerability of the fact that that can happen to anybody, 235 00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: that you can be blindsided by someone you trust in 236 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,840 Speaker 1: love and they can hurt you the most. I think 237 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,000 Speaker 1: that hits too close to home for most people. So 238 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:44,480 Speaker 1: they have to package it up in a way that 239 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:49,560 Speaker 1: makes you different than them. You know, it's scary to 240 00:14:49,600 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: think that my partner can just go out have a 241 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 1: bunch of sex with somebody else, lie sninak around, keep 242 00:14:56,440 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: doing it. If I really sat with the vulnerability of 243 00:15:00,480 --> 00:15:04,680 Speaker 1: that would just lock me up, Like the powerlessness of 244 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:08,720 Speaker 1: that is just too scary. As a defense mechanism, I 245 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: have to make your story different so I can go 246 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: back and carry on in my life. So the story 247 00:15:15,160 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: has to be Caroline didn't give him enough sex. Well, 248 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,400 Speaker 1: I give my partner enough sex, and that just others 249 00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: her in a way where it allows me to just 250 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: not feel the vulnerability. Do you get what I'm trying 251 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 1: to say? 252 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:29,160 Speaker 4: It makes sense, like a lot of sense. 253 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:38,400 Speaker 1: It's just in this realm of infidelities where there seems 254 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: to be this really strong focus on the betrayed partner. 255 00:15:45,280 --> 00:15:47,360 Speaker 1: No one blames the wife or the spouse or a 256 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:51,160 Speaker 1: partner for someone's heroin addiction, except for someone's gambling addiction. 257 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 1: There's just something about the fact that in people's brains 258 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: they want to make it a relational problem when it 259 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: is not a relational problem. What I always say is 260 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:11,000 Speaker 1: it's like this additional trauma and abuse that happens, that will, 261 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: as you're saying, shut a betrayed partner down, stop them 262 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: from wanting to share their story, cause them to feel 263 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:20,240 Speaker 1: even more isolated after they've already been betrayed by the 264 00:16:20,280 --> 00:16:24,360 Speaker 1: person they've made themselves most exposed to. Why are we 265 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: talking about, like, well, did you have sex with them enough? 266 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:41,360 Speaker 1: Were you nagging? I mean it does nothing but harm. 267 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:52,840 Speaker 2: Caroline is talking to Kristen Snowden, a licensed therapist and 268 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,560 Speaker 2: life coach who specializes in betrayal trauma. 269 00:16:56,200 --> 00:17:01,280 Speaker 4: The other night, I was at a very popular brewery 270 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:04,160 Speaker 4: and I walk in and I'm standing in line, and 271 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:07,280 Speaker 4: I hear Caroline, and I turn and I look and 272 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:11,920 Speaker 4: it's one of Joel's best friends. When Joel got in trouble, 273 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 4: he turned to this person and he goes over, opens 274 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 4: his arm, gives me a hug. I did like one 275 00:17:18,400 --> 00:17:20,359 Speaker 4: of these where I just kept my arms straight down, 276 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 4: you know, like I don't want you to physically touch me. 277 00:17:23,800 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: Like you had a physiological response to him. 278 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,560 Speaker 4: Yes, we don't need to have physical contact. I do 279 00:17:29,640 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 4: not want to hug you. We are not friends. I 280 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 4: know what you have said about me. 281 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 3: You know. 282 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,479 Speaker 4: I just kept my arms straight down, very stiff, and 283 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 4: he was like, how are you And I just stopped 284 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 4: him and I said, you know what, I know all 285 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 4: of the horrible things you have said about me and 286 00:17:44,160 --> 00:17:47,960 Speaker 4: the blame you have placed on me, there's no need 287 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 4: for us to talk. And he looked at me and 288 00:17:52,440 --> 00:17:54,760 Speaker 4: he kind of got this smirk and he said, okay. 289 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,399 Speaker 4: But for the first time in a long time, it 290 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 4: felt empowering to not take it, to not engage in it. 291 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:08,600 Speaker 1: What do you think the difference was? Why now? 292 00:18:09,920 --> 00:18:11,919 Speaker 4: I think the difference at this point is that I 293 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 4: know I'm not alone. For a long time, I felt 294 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 4: like this could never happen to anyone else, and this 295 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:24,800 Speaker 4: almost shame and guilt and the personification of Joel's actions 296 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 4: onto me and my kids just filled me with embarrassment. 297 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:31,200 Speaker 4: You know, that was one of the things that drew 298 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:33,919 Speaker 4: me in with the podcast, as hearing, oh my god, 299 00:18:34,200 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 4: like this happened to someone else. Since everything happened, I 300 00:18:37,800 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 4: feel like in my past life I was this pretty 301 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:45,800 Speaker 4: confident person, but since my ex husband's secret life had 302 00:18:45,840 --> 00:18:49,360 Speaker 4: been revealed to me, I mean, it just really put 303 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:53,840 Speaker 4: a weight of constant insecurity on me. Just constant and 304 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:57,879 Speaker 4: it's been a really long time since I have been 305 00:18:57,920 --> 00:19:00,920 Speaker 4: able to keep my head up really long time. 306 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:06,800 Speaker 1: It's common for us to feel less confident and standing 307 00:19:06,840 --> 00:19:09,000 Speaker 1: in our own reality when we're surrounded by people who 308 00:19:09,040 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 1: are questioning our reality. There was so many elements where 309 00:19:15,680 --> 00:19:18,200 Speaker 1: you were saying, look, this is you're in a different location. 310 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:21,359 Speaker 1: Where are you? No, you're crazy, No, I don't know 311 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,520 Speaker 1: what's wrong with you. So you were in a constant 312 00:19:24,600 --> 00:19:29,880 Speaker 1: environment with him where he was questioning your reality, and 313 00:19:29,920 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: then after he left, you were living in this world 314 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:38,240 Speaker 1: where everyone was kind of validating his narrative and not 315 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: extending grace and empathy towards you in a very very 316 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:47,520 Speaker 1: painful way. So I could completely understand why you've struggled 317 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:53,080 Speaker 1: so much to stand in your confidence. It's so traumatizing 318 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: to have someone dismantle your instincts and intuition and question 319 00:19:57,920 --> 00:20:02,359 Speaker 1: your reality, question your sanity. It is a huge casualty 320 00:20:02,520 --> 00:20:03,160 Speaker 1: of betrayal. 321 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 4: Yes, spot on. 322 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: I always say like, you've been traumatized, and now you're 323 00:20:09,440 --> 00:20:15,000 Speaker 1: responsible for trying your best to mitigate those unfortunate circumstances. 324 00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:17,280 Speaker 1: Right that you now have a traumatized body, you're gonna 325 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:21,439 Speaker 1: have trauma triggers, trauma responses. It gets really confusing, like 326 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: is this a red flag or is this like a 327 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:26,080 Speaker 1: trauma response, a trauma trigger that's coming up for me. 328 00:20:26,920 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 1: And so it's just really important to have a couple 329 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: people in your community where you can bounce this off 330 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: of and validate. Am I crazy? Because it's just the 331 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: most benign things you find yourself questioning. That is one 332 00:20:43,160 --> 00:20:48,119 Speaker 1: of the healing pathways after being betrayed. You can't do 333 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:53,480 Speaker 1: it on your own, no, And so it's this counterintuitive thing, right. 334 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: People come to me because their lives have been devastated 335 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:58,920 Speaker 1: and turn upside down because they have opened their heart 336 00:20:58,920 --> 00:21:01,879 Speaker 1: and their life to a person and they have just 337 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: been lied to and their whole lives destroy their families 338 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: destroyed because of it. And one of my treatment processes 339 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: is to say, well, and now you need to go 340 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:17,040 Speaker 1: to a group, and most understandably so they say, hell, no, 341 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:20,280 Speaker 1: I've exposed myself enough. 342 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 2: I'm popping in here for just a second. Caroline, like 343 00:21:25,240 --> 00:21:29,679 Speaker 2: many people who've been betrayed, was initially resistant to group workshops, 344 00:21:30,240 --> 00:21:33,159 Speaker 2: but eventually she decided to give them a shot and 345 00:21:33,200 --> 00:21:36,240 Speaker 2: she joined a group. Kristin runs for betrayed partners. 346 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 4: One of the big pieces of why I fell in 347 00:21:39,240 --> 00:21:46,960 Speaker 4: that category was because it's hard to believe there are 348 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:50,520 Speaker 4: evil humans out there that would do the same thing 349 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 4: to other innocent people. And then being in that group hearing, 350 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 4: oh my god, this happened to all of you. Yeah, 351 00:22:02,280 --> 00:22:05,680 Speaker 4: and replace my name with your name, and our stories 352 00:22:05,720 --> 00:22:08,680 Speaker 4: are almost parallel to each other. I mean, we walked 353 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:12,959 Speaker 4: a very similar path. You feel so alone though at 354 00:22:13,000 --> 00:22:16,000 Speaker 4: the beginning when it happens, like this could not happen 355 00:22:16,040 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 4: to anyone else, especially when you're surrounded with friends and 356 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:24,600 Speaker 4: family members who assumedly are living these very healthy marriages 357 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 4: and healthy relationships, and like you're just on this little 358 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,200 Speaker 4: island by yourself that no one else would really understand. 359 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,160 Speaker 1: Yeah, and what has it been like to be in 360 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:41,520 Speaker 1: a group where you're around several women who are betrayed 361 00:22:41,560 --> 00:22:45,280 Speaker 1: partners of sex addicts, And I mean, what's that been 362 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: like to hear all those stories? 363 00:22:47,560 --> 00:22:51,240 Speaker 4: There's been I mean a great sense of camaraderie, definitely 364 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:53,320 Speaker 4: some validation. 365 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:57,280 Speaker 1: And I always think it's very interesting. One of the 366 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,240 Speaker 1: miss about betrayal trauma is we think that this the 367 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: person that got betrayed, the person that got bamboozled and 368 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:06,119 Speaker 1: lied to is this passive person that just kind of 369 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 1: gets fooled. But so often I run into betrayed partners, 370 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:14,159 Speaker 1: and in every other facet of their life, they're extremely 371 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:16,879 Speaker 1: clear about what they want, what they need, and it 372 00:23:17,040 --> 00:23:22,639 Speaker 1: just shows the manipulation power that their attic partners. 373 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 4: Use one hundred percent accurate. 374 00:23:26,880 --> 00:23:30,160 Speaker 1: You've seen in these groups, these phenomenal women who are 375 00:23:30,200 --> 00:23:33,880 Speaker 1: just so smart, have these careers, had these lives, had 376 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 1: these great children, and then just got side swiped and 377 00:23:37,040 --> 00:23:41,879 Speaker 1: blindsided by their partner's behavior that they had no idea. 378 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:46,920 Speaker 1: And these betrayed partners often are so busy, in fact, 379 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: living their lives, trying to be the best parents they 380 00:23:50,040 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: can be, be the best partners that they can be, 381 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:56,640 Speaker 1: and don't even realize that people can lie and deceive 382 00:23:56,920 --> 00:23:59,960 Speaker 1: and commit illegal acts. All of those are so far 383 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: off their radar. That is why they are kind of 384 00:24:04,880 --> 00:24:08,399 Speaker 1: victimized over such a long period of time. That is 385 00:24:08,640 --> 00:24:13,360 Speaker 1: why they are often so primed to let their partners 386 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:18,320 Speaker 1: lies kind of trump their own instincts and intuition. Yes, yes, 387 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: And I'm just gonna say, you're a beautiful woman, you're 388 00:24:21,800 --> 00:24:24,560 Speaker 1: well spoken, you're educated, you have this career, you have 389 00:24:24,640 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 1: these kids, and it just starts taking stories off of 390 00:24:29,800 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 1: people's lists, Like they can't write the story that you 391 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:35,880 Speaker 1: were unattractive, or you were crazy, or you were money hungry. 392 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,400 Speaker 1: I mean, because you're just You're none of those things. 393 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:44,640 Speaker 1: You're a high functioning, attractive, loving, stable human being that 394 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:51,760 Speaker 1: happen to marry an unhealthy person and you are still 395 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:53,320 Speaker 1: suffering the consequences. 396 00:24:54,600 --> 00:25:00,000 Speaker 4: Thank you for saying that. That makes me like, thank you, 397 00:25:01,680 --> 00:25:04,640 Speaker 4: thank you. Yeah, I know. 398 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:10,720 Speaker 1: It is not to your detriment that you have loved 399 00:25:10,720 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: and made yourself willing to be vulnerable to another person. 400 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:19,960 Speaker 1: You unfortunately just got the person who was so invested 401 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: in keeping you out of his whole double life that 402 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:28,679 Speaker 1: he was living and used every tactic in the world 403 00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:30,199 Speaker 1: to keep you blind to that. 404 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:35,399 Speaker 4: I heard from multiple family members and then some of 405 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:41,199 Speaker 4: his subsequent online paramours. He actually used me filing the 406 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 4: divorce as a tool to garner sympathy. His comment to 407 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 4: people was, I was sick and Caroline wouldn't work with me. 408 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,119 Speaker 4: You know, Caroline wouldn't stay with me and see me 409 00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,760 Speaker 4: through getting the therapy I needed. You know, she just 410 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 4: wanted to run right away. That was one of the 411 00:25:59,240 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 4: things that he had told people, and it had been 412 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,080 Speaker 4: used against me. Of well, if you really loved him, 413 00:26:05,080 --> 00:26:06,360 Speaker 4: you would have stuck it out with him. 414 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:10,480 Speaker 1: Well and better. Yet, someone in recovery who's really reckoned 415 00:26:10,800 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 1: with the fact that there are consequences to every action 416 00:26:13,560 --> 00:26:18,600 Speaker 1: is understanding that these are the typical consequences that come 417 00:26:18,640 --> 00:26:22,800 Speaker 1: with that behavior. I've made bad choices, and I lied, 418 00:26:23,240 --> 00:26:25,879 Speaker 1: and I snuck around, and I broke my vows, and 419 00:26:25,920 --> 00:26:30,960 Speaker 1: I exposed my family to a lot of uncertainty and unsafety. 420 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:34,200 Speaker 1: And it's heartbreaking and horrible, and I wish that wasn't 421 00:26:34,240 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 1: the case. I wish I'd changed sooner. I mean, those 422 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: are words of someone who's moving through recovery. His words 423 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,439 Speaker 1: are more reflective somebody who's just always constantly building that 424 00:26:44,520 --> 00:26:47,919 Speaker 1: wall of entitlement. I work so hard. I'm entitled to 425 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,920 Speaker 1: go do this. She's always nagging me. I'm entitled to 426 00:26:50,960 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 1: go do this. I didn't get that promotion. I'm entitled 427 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 1: to go do this. It's my birthday. I'm titled to 428 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:59,520 Speaker 1: go do this. I had childhood trauma. I'm entitled to 429 00:26:59,560 --> 00:27:03,480 Speaker 1: go do this. Those are dangerous, dangerous people That is 430 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:05,880 Speaker 1: not a sign of someone who is, as we say 431 00:27:05,880 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 1: in the twelve step world, who's humbled and surrendered. The 432 00:27:09,119 --> 00:27:12,879 Speaker 1: sign of someone who's always setting up justification, rationale and 433 00:27:13,040 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 1: entitlement to go out and do what they want to 434 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: do because I get to and they are not thinking 435 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:21,639 Speaker 1: about the family system, they are not thinking about their 436 00:27:21,680 --> 00:27:25,960 Speaker 1: values and goals, they're not definitely not thinking about the 437 00:27:26,040 --> 00:27:30,280 Speaker 1: true consequences to their behaviors, and those are all things 438 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,240 Speaker 1: required for someone to live in recovery. 439 00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:35,840 Speaker 4: It was funny because you actually said this to me 440 00:27:36,240 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 4: last week. I had this moment of like a mind fuck, 441 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,879 Speaker 4: of like did I give it my all? Should I 442 00:27:42,920 --> 00:27:46,560 Speaker 4: have stayed in? You know, I made a vow to 443 00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:48,720 Speaker 4: stay with him in sickness and in health. 444 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,399 Speaker 2: As a reminder. Caroline made the decision to leave the 445 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:55,960 Speaker 2: marriage after she got a call from a case manager 446 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 2: at Joel's rehab facility. The case manager told Cane that 447 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:02,919 Speaker 2: Joel was one of the worst cases of sex addiction 448 00:28:03,320 --> 00:28:07,720 Speaker 2: she'd ever seen. He wasn't taking the treatment seriously, and 449 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:11,760 Speaker 2: when Caroline realized he wasn't doing the work, she decided 450 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:13,320 Speaker 2: their marriage was irreparable. 451 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:17,159 Speaker 4: And that's why I tried to separate our lives as 452 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 4: quick as I could. 453 00:28:19,320 --> 00:28:22,600 Speaker 2: Caroline reflected back on this moment after hearing the stories 454 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:26,640 Speaker 2: of other women in Kristen's group, some of whom were 455 00:28:26,680 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 2: trying to repair their marriages. 456 00:28:30,040 --> 00:28:32,320 Speaker 4: I took pause for a second of seeing these women 457 00:28:32,400 --> 00:28:36,480 Speaker 4: really try and then saying, you know, I think I'm 458 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:38,040 Speaker 4: to the point now where I can walk away because 459 00:28:38,040 --> 00:28:41,600 Speaker 4: I've really done everything. I've exhausted all efforts. And I 460 00:28:41,640 --> 00:28:44,040 Speaker 4: had a moment of I should have exhausted all efforts. 461 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:47,720 Speaker 4: Why didn't I do that? So this past week, two 462 00:28:47,800 --> 00:28:50,320 Speaker 4: of them did say it, I wish I would have 463 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:54,640 Speaker 4: left right away, And like after we hung up, I 464 00:28:54,760 --> 00:28:59,040 Speaker 4: just I don't know, I just like cried and cried 465 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:04,360 Speaker 4: and cried just because because it was validating. There's so 466 00:29:04,480 --> 00:29:07,960 Speaker 4: many things that just you replan your head, like did 467 00:29:07,960 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 4: I should I could I even though I know I 468 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:17,920 Speaker 4: did the right thing, but hearing someone say I wish 469 00:29:17,960 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 4: I did that, it just felt validating. 470 00:29:22,960 --> 00:29:25,560 Speaker 1: And like we said that, in any given group, there's 471 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:27,560 Speaker 1: always a story in your head that should I have 472 00:29:27,760 --> 00:29:34,600 Speaker 1: tried harder, should I have left sooner? It is the conundrum. Yeah, 473 00:29:34,640 --> 00:29:40,400 Speaker 1: for sure, you know, having hope that they'll change, and 474 00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,600 Speaker 1: then it's the painful coming to that hard conclusion when 475 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:47,600 Speaker 1: you're just like, I don't think this person's ever going 476 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:51,720 Speaker 1: to change. It's not always the case. I obviously do 477 00:29:51,800 --> 00:29:55,200 Speaker 1: work with couples and addicts in recovery who do pivot 478 00:29:55,400 --> 00:29:59,400 Speaker 1: and change, so I always say it's okay to leave, 479 00:29:59,440 --> 00:30:03,920 Speaker 1: and it's okay stay. But especially the betrayed partners who 480 00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:09,200 Speaker 1: don't get the closure, the full disclosure of what really happened, 481 00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:12,520 Speaker 1: a full understanding of why they did what they did, 482 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: with a newfound understanding because they've done all this work 483 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:19,720 Speaker 1: to understand their poor coping skills and what led them 484 00:30:19,760 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 1: to do these behaviors and what was really going on 485 00:30:22,200 --> 00:30:26,280 Speaker 1: in their head. It is so hard for betrayed partners 486 00:30:26,360 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 1: to move through and heal without that closure. 487 00:30:50,760 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 2: We've been listening to Caroline talk with Kristen Snowden about 488 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 2: healing after betrayal. One of the things Caroline addressed in 489 00:30:57,720 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 2: her sessions was how to have healthy relationships going forward. 490 00:31:03,160 --> 00:31:05,760 Speaker 4: Every Sunday, a group of friends and I get together 491 00:31:05,960 --> 00:31:08,960 Speaker 4: and we do something called Separate Club. I mean, they're 492 00:31:09,040 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 4: kind of my core group of people, like my trusted circle, 493 00:31:12,440 --> 00:31:16,600 Speaker 4: the ones who know the full story. But one of 494 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:20,760 Speaker 4: the things about being in that circle is that they've 495 00:31:20,760 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 4: seen me on this journey of attempting to move forward, 496 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:30,320 Speaker 4: attempting to garner some semblance of normalcy, and they've seen 497 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,600 Speaker 4: me go from very very scared to start dating to 498 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:34,200 Speaker 4: I'm going to rip the band aid off and go 499 00:31:34,280 --> 00:31:36,360 Speaker 4: on my first date, or I think I'll hang out 500 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,040 Speaker 4: with this person for a little bit. This person is 501 00:31:39,040 --> 00:31:41,280 Speaker 4: not healthier. These qualities are things that I don't want 502 00:31:41,320 --> 00:31:48,560 Speaker 4: around me, and I will make excuses very quick to 503 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:53,760 Speaker 4: not let things be serious or feel vulnerable in any way. 504 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 4: And then there's been times where I have thought, I 505 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,000 Speaker 4: just am starting to feel too close and I'd rather 506 00:32:01,640 --> 00:32:06,960 Speaker 4: run before I feel hurt. Well, for the first time, 507 00:32:08,680 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 4: maybe ever, since this happened, I have been around someone 508 00:32:13,880 --> 00:32:18,160 Speaker 4: who is just if you just saw this person. My 509 00:32:18,680 --> 00:32:21,880 Speaker 4: joke is that this is like a mother's dream. I mean, 510 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:26,959 Speaker 4: this is someone who is personable and handsome and amazing, 511 00:32:27,680 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 4: has done good service for the community and to his country. 512 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:34,160 Speaker 4: And there are times where I have been getting ready 513 00:32:34,200 --> 00:32:36,360 Speaker 4: to hang out with him and I will literally be 514 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:38,720 Speaker 4: putting them on my makeup and think to myself, you 515 00:32:38,760 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 4: should run tonight. Tonight's the night you should just go 516 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 4: to dinner and then ghost him, never speak to him again. 517 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:49,520 Speaker 4: And I can't really tell you why. It's just this 518 00:32:49,640 --> 00:32:54,560 Speaker 4: feeling of protect yourself now before you feel any more vulnerable. Run. 519 00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:00,640 Speaker 4: Nothing has gone wrong, there's been no red flag. There's 520 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:07,200 Speaker 4: nothing except this internal voice in me that says you're 521 00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:10,240 Speaker 4: starting to let your guard down, protect yourself, go go now. 522 00:33:11,000 --> 00:33:12,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, and. 523 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,760 Speaker 4: You know this supper club that I do. I took 524 00:33:16,760 --> 00:33:20,480 Speaker 4: a chance and invited him to supper club. He walked 525 00:33:20,520 --> 00:33:23,480 Speaker 4: in just a little bit late. Now, the excuse for 526 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:26,440 Speaker 4: being late. Something came up with his kids. He was 527 00:33:26,480 --> 00:33:29,640 Speaker 4: just running a little bit late. Was it two hours late? No, 528 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:33,080 Speaker 4: an hour late, not even close, nothing like that. But 529 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:35,320 Speaker 4: in that moment, I thought, there it is, there's your reason. 530 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:36,120 Speaker 1: Do it. 531 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:41,840 Speaker 4: Do it now? Just ridiculous. And one of my friends 532 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:45,360 Speaker 4: in supper club actually said, do not let this be 533 00:33:45,480 --> 00:33:49,200 Speaker 4: this reason that you let something good go. Don't do it. 534 00:33:50,600 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 4: So I know people see it and I know it, 535 00:33:54,440 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 4: but I don't know how to let go of that feeling. 536 00:33:58,000 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 1: Well, honestly, because because once you've had your instincts and 537 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:07,320 Speaker 1: intuition totally destroyed and dismantled and being told, oh, it's 538 00:34:07,480 --> 00:34:10,160 Speaker 1: night outside, when the sun is beaming in your eyes. 539 00:34:11,160 --> 00:34:15,760 Speaker 1: It's so common to constantly struggle with the inner compass 540 00:34:15,760 --> 00:34:19,439 Speaker 1: of what's safe and what's not safe when we have 541 00:34:19,560 --> 00:34:24,640 Speaker 1: these wounded parts in us, these really hurt parts because 542 00:34:24,719 --> 00:34:29,520 Speaker 1: understandably so, you have been victimized. We often want to 543 00:34:29,520 --> 00:34:31,719 Speaker 1: push them away because we're sitting there getting ready for 544 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:34,120 Speaker 1: the date. We should be happy. We tell ourselves what 545 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,799 Speaker 1: we should be right. This is a good person, it's 546 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:39,880 Speaker 1: great that we're dating. As you said, all the moms 547 00:34:39,880 --> 00:34:43,839 Speaker 1: of the world would love him. So we instinctively want 548 00:34:43,880 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 1: to push out that scared part that's screaming out. But 549 00:34:48,239 --> 00:34:51,040 Speaker 1: you have to do kind of something that is counterintuitive, 550 00:34:51,040 --> 00:34:54,160 Speaker 1: which is go into that part and learn more and 551 00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:57,560 Speaker 1: it actually is pretty amazing, like the stories that scared 552 00:34:57,600 --> 00:34:58,359 Speaker 1: part will tell you. 553 00:35:00,239 --> 00:35:05,360 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that's a really good challenge. 554 00:35:05,560 --> 00:35:08,560 Speaker 1: And for a woman, let's say, especially a nurturing mom 555 00:35:08,640 --> 00:35:12,440 Speaker 1: like you, it helps with our paradigm shift if we 556 00:35:12,560 --> 00:35:14,840 Speaker 1: view it as like a scared child or even a 557 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:18,279 Speaker 1: scared teenager, and you listen to it like a mom 558 00:35:19,480 --> 00:35:22,080 Speaker 1: because you're not judging it, you're not saying, oh, what's 559 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:25,759 Speaker 1: wrong with you? This guy's great, Like stop it, shut up. 560 00:35:26,280 --> 00:35:29,000 Speaker 1: Instead you can say, like, what's scary? All right? How 561 00:35:29,040 --> 00:35:31,719 Speaker 1: can I help you feel safe? What do we know 562 00:35:31,880 --> 00:35:35,680 Speaker 1: now versus what we're feeling inside? And can we get 563 00:35:35,680 --> 00:35:40,160 Speaker 1: through this? And then you and I talked about this before. 564 00:35:40,760 --> 00:35:47,320 Speaker 1: But it's also all about the repair attempt that happens 565 00:35:47,480 --> 00:35:52,000 Speaker 1: once you bring this to the person you're dating. You 566 00:35:52,120 --> 00:35:54,840 Speaker 1: now have taken the minute to be like, this triggered 567 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:58,520 Speaker 1: the heck out of me. I feel really unsafe. Lateness 568 00:35:58,680 --> 00:36:02,200 Speaker 1: does not just mean being to me. There's this amazing 569 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:06,840 Speaker 1: repair attempt that can happen in a future relationship where 570 00:36:06,920 --> 00:36:11,200 Speaker 1: this time your partner doesn't invalidate you. They don't tell 571 00:36:11,200 --> 00:36:14,240 Speaker 1: you you're crazy. They can say, you know, I'm sorry 572 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:17,000 Speaker 1: this made you feel scared or upset. I'm sorry this 573 00:36:17,080 --> 00:36:21,959 Speaker 1: triggered a history, but let me help you feel safe 574 00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:22,520 Speaker 1: for this time. 575 00:36:23,840 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 4: So it's interesting that you bring that last part up 576 00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:30,520 Speaker 4: because I wanted to be fair and I actually told 577 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:34,120 Speaker 4: him about the podcast, and so telling him about the 578 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:41,680 Speaker 4: podcast meant that I had to tell him about my history. 579 00:36:42,520 --> 00:36:44,719 Speaker 4: And I admit that I not only told him to 580 00:36:44,760 --> 00:36:48,000 Speaker 4: be fair, but I also told him, because there was 581 00:36:48,040 --> 00:36:51,360 Speaker 4: this piece of me that was like, so you're going 582 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:53,799 Speaker 4: to hear this and you're going to see just the 583 00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:57,120 Speaker 4: insanity that I've had to experience. Let me see if 584 00:36:57,160 --> 00:37:01,839 Speaker 4: I can get you to run. And his response was 585 00:37:04,080 --> 00:37:05,160 Speaker 4: I think you're really brave. 586 00:37:07,800 --> 00:37:11,400 Speaker 1: Wow. And how healing was that sentence. 587 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:18,240 Speaker 4: It was just like oh my god, oh my God, 588 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:22,560 Speaker 4: like thank you. It had been a really long time 589 00:37:22,640 --> 00:37:26,000 Speaker 4: to hear someone. I mean, of course, my friends, my 590 00:37:26,080 --> 00:37:30,680 Speaker 4: friends have seen and heard and they know the insanity 591 00:37:30,920 --> 00:37:33,320 Speaker 4: and the wheel of insanity that I was locked into 592 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:36,680 Speaker 4: and what I was going through. But for him to 593 00:37:36,719 --> 00:37:41,719 Speaker 4: have taken pause, listened to me, asked relevant clarifying questions, 594 00:37:41,840 --> 00:37:44,760 Speaker 4: and then ended it with I think you're really brave. 595 00:37:46,800 --> 00:37:53,040 Speaker 4: It took this weight off of me and to have 596 00:37:53,200 --> 00:37:59,760 Speaker 4: just this pause for wait, there is some humanity in this. 597 00:38:03,080 --> 00:38:05,040 Speaker 1: That is so healing. I mean, that's why I also 598 00:38:05,080 --> 00:38:08,560 Speaker 1: say why betrayal trauma can never be healed on your own, 599 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:14,279 Speaker 1: because these are severe attachment wounds. These are wounds that 600 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:20,399 Speaker 1: came due to others breaking your heart and betraying you. 601 00:38:21,400 --> 00:38:24,040 Speaker 1: So a lot of the healing and rewiring has to 602 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:30,440 Speaker 1: occur in a relationship setting and as you mentioned, good friends, family, 603 00:38:31,280 --> 00:38:36,360 Speaker 1: But your brain has to find new evidence that your 604 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:41,319 Speaker 1: ex's behaviors were more unique and an anomaly that you 605 00:38:41,320 --> 00:38:45,440 Speaker 1: can avoid by taking healthy steps and setting up boundaries 606 00:38:45,520 --> 00:38:47,839 Speaker 1: and keeping other safe people around you for a checks 607 00:38:47,840 --> 00:38:51,719 Speaker 1: and balance system. But these are the rule. He was 608 00:38:51,760 --> 00:38:55,680 Speaker 1: the exception. These are the rule, and you can still 609 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:58,000 Speaker 1: feel safe and vulnerable with these people. 610 00:38:59,239 --> 00:39:01,840 Speaker 4: It's tough, though, Oh it's scary. 611 00:39:02,440 --> 00:39:04,640 Speaker 1: Well, and let's like talk to those scared parts for 612 00:39:04,680 --> 00:39:08,600 Speaker 1: a second. What is different, you know, update those scared 613 00:39:08,640 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 1: parts that were betrayed and blindsided. What is different now? 614 00:39:14,920 --> 00:39:19,000 Speaker 4: Well, one of the biggest things is that I'm not married, 615 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:25,839 Speaker 4: and I'm not locked into this need to believe or 616 00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:32,320 Speaker 4: feel like I needed to have blind trust in someone. 617 00:39:32,520 --> 00:39:35,200 Speaker 4: That I am my own authority. I can make my 618 00:39:35,239 --> 00:39:37,920 Speaker 4: own decisions on this and don't need to believe anyone 619 00:39:38,080 --> 00:39:38,680 Speaker 4: for anything. 620 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:42,279 Speaker 1: Yeah, I always say I never let someone tell me 621 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:46,640 Speaker 1: what my reality in my experience is. You never get 622 00:39:46,640 --> 00:39:50,680 Speaker 1: to tell me that. And even if even if I 623 00:39:50,719 --> 00:39:55,040 Speaker 1: am inaccurate with like thinking that you're somewhere or that 624 00:39:55,120 --> 00:39:58,240 Speaker 1: you were cheating and you're not cheating, the bottom line 625 00:39:58,280 --> 00:40:04,280 Speaker 1: is my experiences, I'm questioning your choices. I'm not feeling 626 00:40:04,360 --> 00:40:09,400 Speaker 1: safe in this relationship. I'm experiencing in congruencies that are 627 00:40:09,480 --> 00:40:12,400 Speaker 1: making me want to pull away. I don't feel respected, 628 00:40:12,440 --> 00:40:15,640 Speaker 1: I don't feel like you're hearing me, And those are 629 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:20,640 Speaker 1: all important things to be relentless about. I'm supposed to 630 00:40:20,640 --> 00:40:23,120 Speaker 1: feel safe with other people, and so when I don't, 631 00:40:23,880 --> 00:40:27,800 Speaker 1: it's my job, my responsibility to really go inside and say, Okay, 632 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:30,600 Speaker 1: what is happening that's making me not feel safe. A 633 00:40:30,640 --> 00:40:35,239 Speaker 1: partner who loves you, who considers you a partner guy, 634 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 1: should both be invested in helping the other person feel safe, 635 00:40:39,440 --> 00:40:43,680 Speaker 1: be able to talk it out, negotiate, validate, change the 636 00:40:43,719 --> 00:40:47,520 Speaker 1: way you approach issues that aren't working. But from the 637 00:40:47,560 --> 00:40:50,040 Speaker 1: part's work, I would say, don't ignore those parts. They're 638 00:40:50,080 --> 00:40:54,440 Speaker 1: not bad, but you have to dive deeper into that 639 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:57,640 Speaker 1: part and understand what's it trying to tell you. And 640 00:40:57,680 --> 00:41:01,200 Speaker 1: then the other piece is to let them know this 641 00:41:01,239 --> 00:41:03,839 Speaker 1: is an updated information. I didn't know how to keep 642 00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 1: myself safe in the past. I was completely bamboozled. I 643 00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: was deprived of all the information I needed to keep 644 00:41:11,000 --> 00:41:13,319 Speaker 1: myself safe. I didn't even know what I didn't even know, 645 00:41:14,719 --> 00:41:16,399 Speaker 1: but look how much more I know now. 646 00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:21,719 Speaker 4: Thank you, Kristen. You have no idea. This means so 647 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:24,920 Speaker 4: much to me. The fact that I have this clarity 648 00:41:24,920 --> 00:41:27,399 Speaker 4: and insight now, I just I can't thank you enough. 649 00:41:28,880 --> 00:41:29,720 Speaker 4: A quick note. 650 00:41:29,640 --> 00:41:33,520 Speaker 2: Before we end, Caroline and Kristen discussed attachment wounds and 651 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:36,680 Speaker 2: parts work, which are just two approaches to dealing with 652 00:41:36,719 --> 00:41:41,840 Speaker 2: trauma responses. Kristin recommended that Caroline seek out further evidence 653 00:41:41,880 --> 00:41:47,880 Speaker 2: based trauma therapy practices such as EMDR, neurofeedback, brainspotting, and 654 00:41:48,040 --> 00:41:52,759 Speaker 2: internal family systems work. It's critical for anyone seeking therapeutic 655 00:41:52,840 --> 00:41:56,359 Speaker 2: care to work with a license professional. If you want 656 00:41:56,400 --> 00:42:00,720 Speaker 2: more from Kristen, go to her website Kristensnowden dot com. 657 00:42:01,000 --> 00:42:05,840 Speaker 2: We've linked in the show notes. On the next episode 658 00:42:05,840 --> 00:42:09,440 Speaker 2: of Betrayal, we discuss how grief is a marathon. 659 00:42:10,200 --> 00:42:12,120 Speaker 4: Well, this is the first year that we have actually 660 00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:15,240 Speaker 4: gotten into steak my brother just across the finish line. 661 00:42:15,080 --> 00:42:24,560 Speaker 2: On Thank you for listening to Betrayal season four. If 662 00:42:24,560 --> 00:42:26,399 Speaker 2: you would like to reach out to the Betrayal team, 663 00:42:26,520 --> 00:42:30,360 Speaker 2: email us at Betrayalpod at gmail dot com. That's Betrayal 664 00:42:30,560 --> 00:42:34,920 Speaker 2: Pod at gmail dot com. Also, please be sure to 665 00:42:34,920 --> 00:42:39,080 Speaker 2: follow us on Instagram at Betrayal Pod and me Andrea H. 666 00:42:39,160 --> 00:42:41,799 Speaker 2: Gunning for all Betrayal content, news and updates. 667 00:42:42,080 --> 00:42:42,560 Speaker 1: One way to. 668 00:42:42,520 --> 00:42:44,880 Speaker 2: Support the series is by subscribing to our show on 669 00:42:44,920 --> 00:42:49,400 Speaker 2: Apple Podcasts. Please rate and review Betrayal five star reviews 670 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:53,320 Speaker 2: help us know you appreciate what we do. Betrayal is 671 00:42:53,320 --> 00:42:57,040 Speaker 2: a production of Glass Podcasts, a division of Glass Entertainment Group, 672 00:42:57,120 --> 00:43:01,320 Speaker 2: in partnership with iHeart Podcasts. The show is executive produced 673 00:43:01,320 --> 00:43:04,960 Speaker 2: by Nancy Glass and Jennifer Fason. Betrayal is hosted and 674 00:43:05,000 --> 00:43:08,840 Speaker 2: produced by me Andrea Gunning, written and produced by Caitlin Golden, 675 00:43:09,719 --> 00:43:13,600 Speaker 2: also produced by Carrie Hartman and Ben Fetterman. Our associate 676 00:43:13,600 --> 00:43:17,600 Speaker 2: producer is Kristin Melcurie. Our iHeart team is Ali Perry 677 00:43:17,680 --> 00:43:22,560 Speaker 2: and Jessica Crincheck. Story editing by Monique Leboard, Audio editing 678 00:43:22,560 --> 00:43:27,400 Speaker 2: and mixing by Matt Alvecchio, editing by Tanner Robbins, Special 679 00:43:27,400 --> 00:43:30,440 Speaker 2: thanks to voice actor John Blomo, and special thanks to 680 00:43:30,480 --> 00:43:34,560 Speaker 2: Caroline and her family. Betrayal's theme is composed by Oliver Baines. 681 00:43:35,360 --> 00:43:39,280 Speaker 2: Music library provided by my Music and For more podcasts 682 00:43:39,280 --> 00:43:42,960 Speaker 2: from iHeart, visit the iHeartRadio app Apple Podcasts or wherever 683 00:43:43,000 --> 00:43:44,080 Speaker 2: you get your podcasts