In this deeply moving and powerful episode, the Dating Detectives sit down in person with therapist and author Meredith Beardmore, who tells us her story of love, addiction, betrayal, coercive control, and ultimately, survival. Meredith shares how a seemingly stable, loving eight-year relationship unraveled during the pandemic as her husband spiraled into alcoholism, Adderall abuse, and frightening, unpredictable behavior that escalated into danger for both her and their young son. Meredith brings a raw and unfiltered honesty to the show as she unpacks the shame of being a therapist who “should have known,” the denial that kept her trapped, the rage that finally saved her, and the moment that shattered everything—a hidden Plan B receipt that confirmed the infidelity and manipulation she could no longer ignore. Meredith’s story is as heartbreaking as it is brave, navigating domestic violence, addiction, psych holds, identity-theft discoveries, a terrifying police intervention, and the devastating aftermath of her ex-husband’s eventual overdose. Through her insight, her humor, and her hard-won clarity, Meredith reminds listeners that abuse can happen to anyone, healing is nonlinear, and rage is sometimes the most honest tool we have. Her book, The Plan B Chronicles, will be featured in an upcoming Dating Detectives Book Club, and listeners can find more of her work on her YouTube channel, Mend With Mere.

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