Ep 674: How To Spot Red Flags and Break Trauma Bonds With Dr. Nadine Macaluso

Are you worried about your relationship?  Have you considered leaving and wasn’t sure how? In this episode I talk with Dr. Nadine Macaluso, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who was previously married to the infamous "Wolf of Wall Street", Jordan Belfort. Dr. Nadine shares her personal story of escaping a toxic, abusive relationship and the tactics her ex-husband used to control and manipulate her. She provides valuable insights into recognizing the warning signs of dark personalities and trauma bonds, as well as the challenges and fears that often prevent victims from leaving these harmful situations.

 

Questions I asked:

·      How did you end up getting hooked up with the Wolf of Wall Street?

·      When did you start to wonder what you got yourself into?

·      Did you notice any red flags at that point?

·      When did it start really like, when do you feel like you started wondering what you got yourself in for?

·      What would you consider love bombing?

·      How can we recognize when it's being done to us?

·      What were the areas that he wanted power and control in?

·      How did you find the courage, and when did you realize you needed to get out?

·      How did you plan your escape? How did you get out and start over?

·      I don't think people really understand the pull of the trauma bond and what it is, can you kind of sure explain that for the listener?

·      Can you tell us about the devaluation and discarding phase?

·      How can somebody spot the red flags today, if, if they are dating?

·      Where can people find you online?

 

Topics Discussed:

·      Recognizing and escaping toxic, abusive relationships and trauma bonds

·      The tactics used by abusive partners, such as love bombing, control, and intermittent reinforcement

·      The difficulty of leaving these relationships due to the trauma bond and fear of the abuser

·      The importance of therapy, support systems, and building resilience to heal and move forward

·      Educating others on the warning signs of abusive relationships to help prevent them

 

Quotes from the show:

·      “Having remorse to me was almost more painful than what had happened, We're done. And so I left.” @thedrrealnadine @SisterhoodSweat

·      “Resilience cannot be built in isolation. We have to reach out to others for help, and it's okay.” @thedrrealnadine @SisterhoodSweat

·      “If it feels too good to be true, it probably is. So trust your gut if it's too much adoration, too much intensity, or if it's happening at too fast of a pace.” @thedrrealnadine @SisterhoodSweat

·      “I got myself into therapy. And I would say therapy saved me.” @thedrrealnadine @SisterhoodSweat

 

How you can stay in touch with Nadine:

https://drnae.com/

https://www.instagram.com/therealdrnadine/

https://www.tiktok.com/@drnaelmft

https://www.facebook.com/drnaelmft

https://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealDrNadine

https://x.com/therealdrnadine

 

How you can stay in touch with Linda:

• Website
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• SoundCloud

 

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