Podcast Summary: RISK! – Create My Life (Jan 13, 2026)

Episode Theme & Overview

This episode of RISK!, hosted by Kevin Allison, features psychotherapist and content creator Ms. Aisha Grevenberg (“MyTherapistLife” on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube) in conversation with RISK! producer Cindy Freeman. The focus is Aisha’s deeply vulnerable, personal journey from surviving an abusive relationship through an emotionally manipulative entanglement, and ultimately to reclaiming her autonomy and building a joyful new life. The conversation provides insight not just into the mechanics of toxic, non-physical abuse, but also into profound personal growth, healing, and self-determination.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rebuilding After Abuse (04:48–07:30)

• Ms. Aisha begins by recounting her “rock bottom” after escaping a profoundly abusive relationship in 2016, which left her with nothing—her home, possessions, and even clothes were lost or destroyed.
• Intensive therapy and support group attendance are described as “doing the work” to recover, leading to a tentative return to dating in 2018.

Quote:
“I lost todos. Everything. Everything I own, I lost it... And I was living a high life, honey. Okay? ...Everything gone.”
— Ms. Aisha (04:51)

2. Meeting “David” and Early Red Flags (07:30–14:00)

• Aisha shares how she met “David” on Bumble, attracted by his physical traits and superficial compatibility.
• Immediate, constant communication begins—texts, FaceTimes, and sharing of personal details.
• Friends (and generational assumptions) normalize David's intensity (“millennials just communicate like that”), masking early signs of love bombing.

Notable Moment:

• Friends assure her over-communication is “just how millennials are.”
• David rapidly pushes for personal contact, shifting from “Good morning beautiful” to “Good morning, mama bear,” starting a dynamic built on praise and emotional attachment.

Quote:
“He was communicating back and forth ... He was just—this is my full name. You can do whatever research you want. So he was very engaged from the beginning.”
— Ms. Aisha (10:02)

3. Emotional Manipulation & Codependency (14:01–21:45)

• David frequently references his younger, attractive ex (“the bottle girl”), subtly undermining Aisha’s confidence while dangling visions of a glamorous shared future (e.g., Thailand trips).
• Despite the idealized fantasy (“future-tripping”), in person he’s distant—meetings are rare, contact stays overwhelmingly digital.
• The relationship is marked by exclusion, confusion, and unmet intimacy.
• Aisha vividly describes recognizing her “addiction” to the stream of attention once it’s abruptly withdrawn:

Quote:
“I was literally ... shaking and he hadn't messaged me. ... In that moment, I was like, oh my God. What has happened to me was I'm an addict. I'm a full blown addict.”
— Ms. Aisha (19:36)

4. Escalation: Moving In, Emotional Labor & Boundaries (27:16–40:25)

• Despite barely seeing each other physically, David moves in after losing his job and housing, capitalizing on Aisha’s codependence and desire for connection.
• Their cohabitation is marked by continued emotional support (for her professional struggles) but complete absence of physical intimacy. David frames this as “protecting” her.
• He contributes nothing financially or physically to the household; Aisha’s boundaries are routinely ignored.

Quote:
“He never offered a dime of financial assistance. Never. ... When I finally let that go, that was in 2020 ... and it created this huge vacuum in my life.”
— Ms. Aisha (39:14, 40:27)

5. The Turning Point: Choosing Herself, Not the Fantasy (42:21–47:47)

• With the end of the relationship, Aisha confronts the trauma bond and emotional addiction that kept her attached.
• She channels the “vacuum” into self-discovery: returning to Spanish, enrolling in a community college class, building new community.
• The realization: “I have to create a life I don’t want to escape from.” She takes her first solo trip to Mexico; it is transformational.
• She eventually moves to Mexico, builds a vibrant network of friends, and launches the social media presence that would become “MyTherapistLife.”

Quote:
“I want to create a life that I don’t want to escape from. I don’t want to fall into someone’s fantasy. ... I want to do this for me.”
— Ms. Aisha (46:13)

6. Life After & Broader Lessons (47:48–58:23)

• Aisha describes the flourishing of her personal and professional life in Mexico: new friends, community, creativity, and professional fulfillment.
• Through content creation and therapy practice, she now helps others recognize and overcome similar traps.
• The conversation closes with reflections on manipulation, the subtlety of emotional abuse, and the importance of moving from being “chosen” to making the empowered choice to create your own life.

Quote:
“I got to shift the focus from being chosen to choosing my own life. That was the shift.”
— Ms. Aisha (58:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “All this future tripping and all this fantastic future ... I was just totally, totally addicted to it.” (23:36)
• “He's the type of guy that's always like one deal away from the deal.” (23:05)
• “And I don't need that type of support that I had before ... It took time.” (50:43)
• “He was not malicious, just indifferent ... It's always about control. And controlling someone's emotions and being able to manipulate someone's mood is truly the ultimate form of power.” (55:15)

Important Timestamps

• 04:48 — Ms. Aisha begins her story post-abuse, new beginnings
• 10:02 — Meeting David; immediate, intense communication
• 14:01 — “Good morning, mama bear” and subtle emotional manipulation starts
• 19:36 — Realization of emotional addiction/codependency
• 27:12–28:07 — David moves in; no physical intimacy
• 39:14–40:27 — Financial exploitation; Aisha decides to end it
• 46:13 — The pivotal realization: “I want to create a life I don’t want to escape from.”
• 58:04 — The shift: “From being chosen to choosing my own life.”

Final Reflections

This episode is a powerful testament to the subtle and insidious nature of emotional abuse and the long, non-linear path to reclaiming one's autonomy. Ms. Aisha’s story is full of insight about codependence, trauma bonding, and the intoxicating pull of fantasy over reality. Ultimately, her experience becomes not one of defeat, but of re-invention and encouragement: a reminder that, no matter how far you’ve fallen, you can re-create your own life—on your own terms.

For more on Aisha’s work, find her as @MyTherapistLife on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.