Hello, welcome to Emotional Badass where Moxie meets mindful. I'm your host, Nikki Eisenhower,

Life Coach and Psychotherapist. And on today's episode, I'm sharing a story about breaking

free from manipulation and abuse. Part 2. Hello, y'all. This is one of my most vulnerable

stories that I've never shared before now. If you haven't already, please stop here

and go listen to last week's part 1 before this one. And I want to thank you for holding

space for my story because it's not just my story. In some ways, my story is the same as

all abuse stories. And I hope I am offering hope in healing when I share it. It is in our

DNA to learn from the passing on of stories, from the connection with each other of deep,

real intimacy and vulnerability. Please take whatever you need and toss the rest from

my shares. Also, all of my episodes are to be used as you need, not as I intend, but

as you need to meet yourself where you are. Any of you struggling with codependency,

please use my story shares to help yourself empathize without carrying the weight of someone

else's story. This is a necessary life skill for highly sensitive people, empaths and

survivors. Please use what I'm offering to fit what you need when you need it. Light

and love and on to part 2. The white van chased me, hopped the curb,

and was on the grass speeding toward me. It all happened in a fraction of a second and

somehow over minutes too. And that's the brain having a traumatic response in real

time, adrenaline pumping, both slowing and speeding up, which is impossible and yet accurate

in moments of high, high stress and fear. Somehow I heard my name.

Nikki, Nikki, wait, wait. I was out of shape back then, y'all. I was about 30 pounds heavier

than I am now. I was still smoking cigarettes at that time and I just couldn't run far.

I was trying. But I heard a familiar voice that registered as not my abuser, as not

...