
Love Is Blind’s Lydia Arleen shares a major life update with AD this week on What's The Reality.
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Host
You guys, what's up? And welcome to another episode of what's the Reality? Today I have one of my favorite people and an incredible guest from Love is Blind season five. Lydia is here.
Lydia
Hello. Hi.
Host
How are you? Surviving well, surviving beautifully, might I say.
Lydia
Thank you.
Host
So you reached out to us because you wanted to save space to kind of share your news and your updates. First of all, I'm so honored that you chose me. And what's the reality? To share your news and give us an update on your life. That means a lot that I can provide that safe space for you today.
Lydia
Yeah, of course. I'm like, I consider part of the Love is Blind family, and I was like, what a better safe space than this?
Host
Yeah. So can you catch me up on, like, what you've been up to since Love is Blind?
Lydia
Life since Love is Blind has been tumultuous.
Host
Tumultuous. Since Love is Blind season five.
Lydia
Yeah. Since season five, there's been a lot of grief, heartbreaks, a lot of growth.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
But I'm here, and I'm so proud of my strength and what it keeps proving to be my resilience in life. I feel like now is the time to actually, like, speak my truth and come here and be honest with my sister.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
So that's why I'm here, and I appreciate that.
Host
I know this is, like, a very vulnerable time for you. Do you feel ready to share with me and everyone else?
Lydia
Yes.
Host
Your idea. And what's going on, yes, I'm ready.
Lydia
To speak my truth. This is not to bash anybody. This is not a session to bash anybody. But I wanted to share with the world. I've been quiet for too long. Not necessarily because I didn't have anything to speak of, more because I wasn't ready for other people's opinions and judgment. And now I'm ready, and I have decided that I filed divorce against Milton.
Host
Okay. I'm sorry to hear that. Nobody ever wants to hear that. Ever, ever, ever. What? I mean, what made you come to this decision?
Lydia
It wasn't one thing.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
It was a layer of situations and things that just kept piling up. When I asked him or told him, I'll let you know when the divorce papers are ready, his response was, I'm not going to sign the papers unless there's an NDA. And that said enough for me to know that I needed to share my truth and my experience. Because what I've been suffering in silence has been too much for me to be quiet and keep quiet. I said a lot of your things because all started very early during our marriage. At the beginning, everything was beautiful. Everything was perfect. It was a fairy tale. And he showed me the kind of love that I've never received before. He loved me for who I was. And that was my premise of being on the show. Being in love for who I was and not be called too much. And now I am called too much. I got here today and I stepped in the same place I stepped in the airport three years ago before I filmed the show. And now I'm here three years after announcing my divorce. It's not easy. Again, this is not a badging session against anybody. This is just my chance to speak my truth for me and for other people that always reach out to me and tell me that I'm inspiration. I feel that it was very hypocritical of me not share this with the world when they have been so transparent with me and telling me, hey, Lydia, thank you for sharing your love story and for telling me that I'm not too much to stay in a marriage where I was cold too much. As I said, it has been a layer of things. Our first argument was because of a woman that he had dated in the past. And he wouldn't cut her off. She will be, like, very insistent and I consider very disrespectful towards our marriage. And he wouldn't cut her off. He kept giving me excuses. There was this one night that we were moving and he was already, like, very Uneasy with me. And I felt like, very, like he was being very mean towards me. I felt very, like, I don't know, sidetracked by his behavior that day. And I opened his computer up and I saw an exchange with his best. One of his best friends. And he was in those text messages, he said, his mess. He. He's best friend literally sent him a picture of this woman.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And then he says, oh, yeah, she's been all around this dick lately. She has me on sending messages.
Host
And.
Lydia
And the one that hurt the mouse. I want to that person. When I saw that, my heart went to the floor. I felt like, betrayed and disrespected. And then I remember calling him and telling him, how long has it been that you want to this person? And he was like, what? What are you talking about? And short. Long story short, he basically was the first. He was like, no, I would never jeopardize our marriage or anything like that. But then the next day, he switched up very quickly and said, oh, it's because you were going through my things.
Host
Blamed you.
Lydia
Yeah, he flipped it on me. And that's how boys talk. Yeah, that's how boys talk. I'm like, you're married.
Host
Right.
Lydia
What would happen if I would send a message like that?
Host
Right. I'm just trying to get a. Kind of like a play out of the timeline. When did that.
Lydia
Is this like six months after we said I did.
Host
Six months after your marriage?
Lydia
October 2022.
Host
Okay. So then you confront him, he switches it up on you, and then how do you get past that? Because that's what, three, two years we.
Lydia
Were doing couples therapy.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
And at the time, I just, like, I didn't feel like the therapy was working, but I was like, maybe it's me. Baby's like. And we had long conversations, very extensive conversation. He's like, well, he's an invasion of privacy and blah, blah, blah, blah. And I was like.
Host
And privacy is the last thing is that if that's what you're doing in your privacy, I'm here to invade it. What are we talking about exactly?
Lydia
That's like how you're behind. Behind my talking about if you're. If you're acting like this behind my back, like, of course I'm going to invade it. And at the same time, it's like, this is the same girl that he had, like, written a love letter to and ripped apart and kept in a shoebox in our apartment. And I've asked before, because I don't consider myself a jealous person unless you Give me motives to. Once you give me motives to, I'll become a detective. I don't care. Yeah, because, like, my gut instinct is so clever.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
I mean, it never fails me. And when it fails me is because I haven't trusted. Because I don't trust myself in that moment or that situation. I'm like, maybe I'm overreacting. Maybe I'm letting people's opinion more than anything tell me that I'm right or wrong.
Host
So how did couples therapy help get you to, like, get past that, or did you get past it?
Lydia
Really didn't get past that. I think it was more of, like, I tried to forgive and forget and see moving on. Like, hey, I made a commitment to this man, and I was telling myself, like, wait, it wasn't physical. Like, he didn't do anything physical. Like, maybe. Maybe he'll learn his lesson. Fast forward to our ceremony in Puerto Rico. This person reached out to him again, and he responded. And I was like, he was in the shower, and as soon as he came out, I was like, I looked through your phone because I had a guard instinct. And he's like, but I told you. I'm like, I'm telling you that I did. I'm not denying it. Why are you responding her text messages? Oh, you can see I didn't say anything wrong. I'm like, why you're not blocking her?
Host
Right.
Lydia
It took him like, a year later to block her, and it was like, this is insane. Later after that, his major complaints about me, because he had complaints about me, was that I was nagging him all the time, that. That I disrespected him by wearing my swimsuits, by. By sharing my. Like, I was looking for understanding and comprehension of who he is. Right. Beyond that, what I've seen and what I experienced through the show and our marriage, and I always recurred to his family because I was like, who better than them?
Host
Right.
Lydia
And he didn't like that. He didn't appreciate that.
Host
Right.
Lydia
Are these.
Host
Are these new problems that arose before? Like, he never mentioned this prior. After you became the detective, he started finding issues.
Lydia
Yes. And he's like, almost like, well, in front of you, I'm gonna act like this. And then behind you, this is. He has never. I don't believe and I don't feel he's as whole. He has hold himself accountable, and I.
Host
Can feel that on your season, you had some initial hesitations about your age gap. And then when we saw Milton's family and some of the fans expressed concerns as well. Did you think the age gap kind of played a role in the split?
Lydia
I don't believe it's the age gap. I don't think it was the numbers. I think it was a matter of emot. Availability and maturity, support and communication. The lack of that was not there. Maybe the Internet was right. Maybe he wasn't ready for marriage. I think he wanted to be ready for marriage but I don't really think that he was ready to be a husband.
Host
And that showed its face around the six month mark.
Lydia
Yeah, I'm assuming it started showing up little pieces and pieces and then after that because that was not the only instance unfortunately. I just started feeling like I was losing my spark myself. I remember him complaining about me cussing too much in front of his family. Like I'll say or something like that. And he will literally like scold me in front of everybody. Letty, watch your mouth. And I'm like, you're not my father.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And it was just things like that. It kept like making me feel small. And later on when it was my birthday last year, he was playing Halo. He was on his game all day. That's. I do not recommend that. I do not recommend that. Zero stars, Halo. I do not recommend you. I think it also like take out of our quality time.
Host
I can imagine.
Lydia
Yeah, he, he, he just immersed himself in playing the game and he would not care. He had no self control so it was like, it was very bad. And then that was your birthday? Yeah, that was my birthday weekend and I had didn't like I invited some friends over because I was going to do like a pool party situation and he didn't help me at all. He was just playing his game. He cleaned the guest bedroom, but that's it. And then my friend was actually helping me. She was like, okay, I'll go pick up the food, I'll do this, I'll do that. And he was just playing Halo and invited his friend over. He was just there. Then I went down downstairs to the pool and everybody's like well where's Milton? Where's Milton? And he's like I'm playing upstairs. I keep telling him to come downstairs but he finally did. And then he was like in this like attitude towards me, like very evasive, non affectionate. And I was like what's wrong? And there's alcohols on the system. Like we were drinking. I was trying to have a good time but I was feeling miserable. I was also struggling with my health. I didn't know what it was. I know I had depression and anxiety because I've been in therapy for five years. So I. I know that where my body is and when my lows are very lows. But I couldn't find what was causing it because I was like extremely fatigued and I had all of this range of symptoms that later on I got a diagnosis for, but at this moment I didn't have one. And I remember going upstairs after the pool party and I was like, hey, what's going on? I don't want to talk now. And he went to the guest bedroom to sleep. I'm like, milton, please just talk to me.
Host
No.
Lydia
And I just felt like so shut off and so alone. And I was like, and how. Full panic attack and meltdown. I was going to take a shower, so I was naked in the kitchen, literally crying. And he came out and it's like, if you keep doing that, I'm going to call the police because you're crying too loud or whatever. I'm like. I was like, this makes no sense. So I went to the shower and then I went back to him and he was like, well, I never want to imagine my woman as a promiscuous woman because of my swimsuit.
Host
Oh.
Lydia
So that was another whole fight. And I just, I was like, I tried to like meet him down the middle, like, you know, like, I was like, okay, it's not so cheeky. Like I tried to look for. I have a big butt.
Host
I know that's right.
Lydia
I'm a Latina.
Host
Is he like more conservative than he kind of gave off to be?
Lydia
Yes.
Host
Because I feel like on the show he was more like, relax. And I'm with, you know, like chill. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Lydia
Ad I ask him in the pod.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Hey, do you mind what your woman wears? Are you a yellow person? Like, I like my swimsuit. Like, you know how we always. Women have like my shoes and my purses. My thing is my swimsuits. Cuz I look good on them.
Host
Right.
Lydia
And you here are in my part of my culture, like as a Puerto Rican and a Boricua, we, we always love like wearing swimsuits or like, you look good.
Host
Yeah. Body and you want to wear a bikini. That should not be an.
Lydia
Exactly. And he was like. Because at first he presented as like, well, I want people to see you more as your. They want your body. So I stopped posting pictures in swimsuits.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
That's how it started. But then later.
Host
That's nice of you.
Lydia
Yeah. And he was like, well, the exchange was that he was Gonna stop liking women's pictures and.
Host
Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Lydia
Yeah.
Host
So I don't mean to laugh, girl.
Lydia
So this is.
Host
This is the deal. You stop. You stop posting in bikinis.
Lydia
Yes.
Host
And he will stop liking other women. Bikinis.
Lydia
Yes.
Host
And how'd that work out?
Lydia
It didn't.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
It didn't. Because I stopped and he didn't.
Host
Well, duh. No.
Lydia
Yeah, yeah. It was like. And like, you know what?
Host
Compromise.
Lydia
You know what? You know what? Stop him engaging with my pose.
Host
I'm like, bikinis.
Lydia
No, I wasn't.
Host
He had nothing to like.
Lydia
Exactly. So I was like, what is this? Like, Oh, I don't see the post. Put the notifications on.
Host
I don't see the post. Is insane.
Lydia
I'm like, how is that possible? The first person that.
Host
Everybody except your wife.
Lydia
Exactly.
Host
Making algorithm don't work like that. No.
Lydia
In the first week, you know how you see Cher and you're the first person. Probably your free answer.
Host
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Lydia
Mine was James Milton. And he goes, I don't see your pose. I'm like, this is insane. This is insane.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Not a compliment. He would never compliment me.
Host
I'm not going to lie. I did peep that.
Lydia
Yes.
Host
I would see on your social media. And I'm just like that. He should be in there drooling. He should be first.
Lydia
He should be like, that's my woman.
Host
That's why. Yeah. Yeah. And nothing. I did peep that.
Lydia
And like, you. You speak. You have shared the room with us. You've seen how he is towards me. It's not like, my girl, my woman.
Host
Not very pleasant. It's not very pleasant. I'm not.
Lydia
And everybody picked out.
Host
It's pretty awkward. Yeah. That dinner.
Lydia
Yes.
Host
That was very tough.
Lydia
That was a really rough dinner. So it was like, it's a lot. And then when people around you notice and you're like, well, maybe I can hold into, like, him being there. Right. But it just kept showing up and showing up later on. I got my diagnosis.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
On September 16th, 2024.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
And it kind of felt a relief, but at the same time, a life sentence.
Host
Ah.
Lydia
To say that fibromyalgia has ruined my life doesn't even come near to it. And instead of him being my support, he told me, you're not dying. You just have to eat healthy and work out. It would have been that simple. Nobody would suffer from fibro. I wanted a medical leave. I first requested. Tried to talk to him and request a medical leave back in October last year. He was like, fuck, no. I'm like. But I have to do what's best for me. I feel burnt out. I need to figure this out. I need to figure out what works with me. It takes an average of a year to figure out the medication. If we figure out a medication. And he would not budge.
Host
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. You wanted to ask him or your.
Lydia
Job or a job. A medical leave. Because I. I'm still work icon creator, but I'm also a project geologist full time.
Host
He said you couldn't request medical leave from your job.
Lydia
Exactly. He said no.
Host
And you were just like, okay.
Lydia
Or I'm like, no. I was like. I fight him on it. I was like. I was like, I have to do what's best for me.
Host
Why didn't he want you to take leave?
Lydia
He said that he was like. More like. I think he was thinking about the financial aspect of it, but at the same time, I was like, I'm still gonna have some pay.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And I'm doing content creation as well, so income is coming.
Host
Yeah. We're gonna be okay.
Lydia
And I'm not telling you, you're not taking. I'm probably not going to be splurging a lot, but. And at the time, he was not even paying my bills, so it was like. It was not him taking over my bills.
Host
No, he wasn't paying the bills and wouldn't let you rest. Yeah. So, okay. There was a time where he relocated to Long Beach.
Lydia
Yes.
Host
And then you became long distance. How did that. Like, how long did that last one? And how did that affect you?
Lydia
I want. I want to, like, really, like, thank God you asked me that, because, like, I was in an interview and the media really run with it.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
First of all, we lived together since we met. He was in Long beach for a period of three months.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
That's it.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
It ended up being just. It worked wonders for the show because it was exactly when the show aired. And I was there in Long beach every other week, and he was in Houston every other week. The most we got to not see each other was two weeks.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
So the long distance thing wasn't really a thing, actually, in those moments, even though with the fights and everything in between, he showed up. He was like the man that you saw at reunion. That's how he was. He will literally even put Halo down. And that's saying something.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
As soon as every day. You know how it is.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Every day there was something new about me. Lies. Because there were lies. And there was this Time that he was in south in Long beach and I was in Houston. I remember FaceTiming crying hysterically. I was like, I can't, I can't. This is too much. Like, this is not true. This is why people are being like this. Like I don't have a malicious bone in my body. Yeah, I'm a people pleaser. I'm working on it. I better than I was before as I'm as much. I love as much as offering. And he took his phone immediately in the FaceTime texted his mom, said, hey, run to Lydia. I don't want her to be alone tonight. And that was the kind of man that I fell in love with.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
That man used to tell me every night, I cannot wait to marry you. That man, he did something wrong. Baby, I'll. I'll treat you better. I have my text message there like from the beginning to now. It's like, wow, what change?
Host
So what is your relationship with him now? Are y' all friends? Do you talk anything?
Lydia
It's non existent.
Host
Non existent. For how long has it been that way?
Lydia
It's been that way for the past. Since March 31st, so about a month and a half. The reason being was I asked for the divorce. He wanted an NDA. And then after that he told me when I attempted and I was ready for having a conversation because he was like the minute of. Because there was something else that happened and he was like, you're too fucking stupid and you're an untrustworthy person.
Host
Time out. Something else happened. Is that something you can share?
Lydia
Yes. So along the period of we're gonna be three years married and where we're supposed to be in a 30 year anniversary, May 31st. And I have received in five different occasions messages from women allegedly saying that he's pursuing them at bars, paying for women's drinks, heavily heavy flirting to the extent that I went to a wedding and one of a girl that I used to talk be friends with has pictures of him in California playing with women. And what was like allegedly, right? And then what was like the Cusp and what was like the sherry on top was he had a university event. He had it last year and he told me that no spouses were allowed and that I couldn't be in the hotel with him or whatever it was or not. And I was like, okay. So this year when he went again, I was like, well, maybe he's not. Obviously I'm not going to ask because he told me no.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
But then he was going out every day after the event for the University. And on March 31, I received a very detailed, long email of this woman alleging that he had been flirting with her all night, that he invited her over to the hotel, and she sent me evidence that he called her at 4:12 in the morning and text exchanges with him and FaceTime at 4 in the morning. That was it for me. I was like, I cannot continue because this. It wasn't the first time that happened. A month prior that I had received another message from another girl with the same allegations.
Host
Exhausting.
Lydia
And I'm like, first of all, you're a public figure. Why are you doing this? Do you have any respect for yourself? Because you have. Not for me. That's clear. And that one, I confronted him and he flipped it to me.
Host
Of course.
Lydia
He was like, oh, why would you even detain that? Why you send me that stupid shit when I'm working? And I took some time to me, for me, for myself. And then we had a huge conversation, and he was just saying all the things that bothered him about me. Swimsuits again. And I'm like, you gotta be kidding me, dude. We just went to Mexico and I was. I was wearing a diaper of a swimsuit. Like, what else do you want?
Host
Right?
Lydia
And he's like, well, then, like, you make poor decisions.
Host
So, okay, let me get this right. You confront him about cheating and women emailing you and texting you and all these things, and he turns around and goes, well, because you wear bikinis, you're a terrible person in a terrible way.
Lydia
It sounds silly now you say out.
Host
Loud, but, yeah, I just want to clarify. That is his reasoning. That is that or that's his excuse from the conversation.
Lydia
Changing woman with numbers. Changing numbers with women.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
It was nothing. It was like that. He can do that.
Host
He can do that.
Lydia
Yeah. I'm like, you have a wife.
Host
Yeah. Why you have. Why did he feel like that was.
Lydia
You want to talk to somebody? Talk to your wife.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Like the nagging was me telling him, hey, we haven't spent time together. Yeah, you either play Halo, work or school. Yeah, there's no time for me. I never felt that my marriage was a priority for him.
Host
Did he ever own up to any of it?
Lydia
None. None whatsoever.
Host
Was he confronted about what you got on March 31st?
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Lydia
No, no, no. That was it for me.
Host
You didn't confront him about that?
Lydia
No, I. He knew about it because the first thing that I did because we would live with his parents because we were saving money to buy a house.
Host
How long have you lived with your parents?
Lydia
Since November of last year, so around seven months.
Host
Oh, wow. Well, that'll put a strain.
Lydia
Yeah.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And he basically was like. And his parents were lovely, like his dad, specifically like his mom. Like, we have a great relationship, but with his dad. His dad was the father I never had. And I always say that. And I have repeated this to him like, you're healing that inner child, that little girl that was disappointed for. From so many father figures that betrayed her, molested her, and you've done so much. And I think that was also a part of me that wanted to like, how can I leave them? It got to a point that it was like, how can I leave them? Because they're my family here.
Host
Yeah. And they have no idea what's going on in your parents.
Lydia
They know.
Host
They know.
Lydia
They know. They are aware.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
I can see the difference in culture. I believe, like, Latinas. And also his family is, like, very military, very straight.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And the day that I received that email, I literally threw the phone and told his dad. He did it again and had a full panic attack. And he was in disbelief. And then he told me, James, when he. Milton. When he got home and he got. He went to my room and I was like, I'm great. I just learned so much information about you today. And I figured out that I'm on your way and I want to get out of your way.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
I want you to have what you want. And that's clear for me that it's not me. And he was like, why are you talking like that? Like why are you talking so scripted? Like can we have a real conversation? I'm like, I'm just letting you know. And I'll let you know when the papers are ready.
Host
Do you think he was blindsided by you asking for a divorce?
Lydia
No, because a month prior I had like literally take time for myself and I was two weeks out of the house. I think, I think maybe he wanted me to just keep continuing with the behavior. But it's like at the same time it's like, love is not enough. I don't believe he loves me.
Host
So when you presented him with the divorce, he didn't like try to fight or anything. He just said, sign the NDA.
Lydia
He said, well, the first thing he said to me when he was like calmed, he was like, well, you know, I'm not going to chase you. He always said that every time, like.
Host
You know, I'm not going to chase you. That just made my stomach drop. No, that is, that's painful.
Lydia
And I'm like, I know you have made that clear. And then when I had that con, when I was ready to like not necessarily have a conversation for him to like. Cuz I knew he was going to flip it on me cuz he already did it like a month ago. That Right, right. So I was like, we're talking about taxes. And then that's when he say, you're too stupid, you're an untrustworthy person. Like now it's obviously that you believe her. And I've already been like the word like he, like he's had been. I've been the jury and I already did the sentence against him and I was like crying. I'm like, why are you treating me like I'm the one that disrespected you? And the words too fucking stupid, untrustworthy person words, the last words he spoke to me. And it's like a revolving door in my head.
Host
That's all you. It just keeps playing over and over.
Lydia
Because I'm like, how is this the same person that I met at the altar is because of the man that I met at the altar that I know that I deserve better. I deserve so much better. And love is not enough. I need to.
Host
Do you think he loves you?
Lydia
I don't think he loves me. I don't think he loves me because he has given me the silent treatment for the past few months. And if you truly love a person, you wouldn't do this. You will Actually hold yourself accountable.
Host
Does he know you're here?
Lydia
No.
Host
How do you think that's gonna go? Are you worried about how it goes?
Lydia
Of course. I'm human. I am worried about the public perception. People idolize him because how he was on tv. But I have to do what's right for me. And this is not necessary for a pity party or I don't know, being a batching session against him because I still love him. Unfortunately, I do. And it's a continuous talk with God and. But that's me. And I'm not going to apologize for loving this hard.
Host
Right.
Lydia
Because that's me.
Host
Right. And you shouldn't. You shouldn't. Do you think this experience has changed how you're viewing love and commitment?
Lydia
Yes, absolutely. And what ways that I'm never going to settle for less than I deserve. That that love is enough. Not enough. That your non negotiables are truly non negotiables and you should respect them and you should honor them and that is okay to leave when things are not right.
Host
Do you regret not leaving sooner?
Lydia
I think it was now the time. Like I think constantly. I was like worried that I didn't have enough. But there was just so much. I just told you, like few instances. But there was just so much like not being supportive with my fibromyalgia. There was this case in scenario when we were moving and women were brought the worst out of him for some.
Host
Reason I can imagine.
Lydia
And I had higher movers because he never took the role of actually being a partner. A partner?
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And I don't know if you guys remember in the show, but I kept complaining about the towels and cleaning after himself. He never did that. It's something as silly. You'll be like lit up because of that. It's like the pile up up of me struggling with a chronic illness and.
Host
You can't pick up your towels.
Lydia
Energy.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
On a daily basis and you're piling things for me to do. And that day he, I went to the kitchen, I was talking enough. I went with my mother and my mom was like, eat something. Like I, I was having a fibromyalgia flare. Like I was exhausted, I was dizzy, I. I was shaking. And when he moves, he wants to throw everything away. I'm like, those are my things. He was throwing my things away. I'm like, why throwing away my things? You didn't buy them.
Host
Right.
Lydia
It's not your money. Prior us getting married anyway. So why. Oh, we were going to. We're going to our Parents, house to my parents. I was like, we don't need this. I'm like, when we move out, what are we going to do? Buy it all over again? That makes no sense, right? And he started getting very nasty, and his voice started getting louder, and there's the movers around helping us with the apartment. And I believe he felt emasculated because that's what I've heard. And because I told him, I don't like to be cursed up when we. When. When I'm having a confrontation with you. And he loved to curse. And he's like, well, I have to have an outing or something. And then he's like, so I don't need your tears again. And whatever. It's not. And I'm like, shut the up and go. Leave?
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Just leave.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Like, you're just making things worse at this marriage. Just leave.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And he said to me, mind you, I'm in the phone. Oh. He's like, hang up the phone and we're gonna have a conversation right now. And I'm like, no, I'm not. My emotional. My emotions are over the place. I'm not gonna have a conversation with me right now. He said, you're five minutes away from me throwing you out in the streets. And I said, what? And my mom heard it. And my mom was like, let your lean. I'm like, I know, Mom. Let me hang up.
Host
Jesus.
Lydia
And we had a talk, and he was supposed. He never apologized to this day. He said that he had the right to say that it's like, I cannot keep being in a place that I am not wanted because I'm hurtful.
Host
So hurtful.
Lydia
It's like I'm trying to put back the pieces that he broke. And it's very exhausting because I'm not just dealing with that. I'm dealing with so much more. And there was this instance that my mom came when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and she saw what's happening. My mom loved him, adored him. And then she came because I felt, like, so alone when I was diagnosed, and we had a very heavy, hefty argument. And he was like, are you going to have any emotional control? Because that was his favorite thing to tell me because he didn't understood that every time that I cried, it was because I was hurt. I feel like he thought it was manipulation from what I hear from others. And I'm like, continuously reminding him, no, I'm hurt. I'm very hurt. And he says something along the words of, well, I have left women for much less. So that was it for me. I started crying, ran to my mom, and my mom was like, that's it. I'm gonna say something. I'm like, mom, please don't. And she went to him. My mom is 5 3, and he's 6 7, and English is not her first language. So he's looking down on her, and she's like, since I got here, you've been very cruel. And that was, like, the first time that he saw her on lunch. And my mom arrived, like, Friday night or Saturday morning or something like that. He hadn't seen her because he was, like, out with his friends.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And, like, he didn't really try to give her the attention that she deserved.
Host
Right.
Lydia
And she was trying to say the word disappointed. And she was like, in disappointing. In Spanish is like deceptionado. And she was, like, trying to say that. And he goes, what word are you trying to say? And I looked at him like, she's trying to say that she's disappointed in you. Mind you. My mom never. My mom never, like, jumped on his back, and my mom grabbed me, and, like, we went to the other room, and then he left. And then he wouldn't talk to me. And for the. For the. For months, I kept stopping him and telling him, like, you're not going to talk about my mom that way. And he goes and said, thank God I'm educated the way I'm educated. Because if not, your mom wouldn't have mean staying here. She would have been in a hotel. I'm not going to be disrespected in my house. And I was like, first of all, this is my house as well. I pay half the rent. And my mom was not going anywhere over my dead body. You're not going to disrespect my mother. You can tell me whatever you want to tell me. Yeah, but you're not going to disrespect my mother.
Host
No.
Lydia
One of our last conversations, he. Back in February, when he was telling me everything that he liked about me, he said that I was always on my masculine energy and that he believed that for a woman to be feminine, they needed to be submissive. And if that made him a sexist, so be it. Submit to what, exactly?
Host
In order to submit to a man, you can't be sitting there playing video games all day. That's a child. What are you submitting to?
Lydia
Oh, you're killing me. And I respond to it. I was like, you know what? I can be submissive when you show me love. When you respect me. When you.
Host
And you show up like a man.
Lydia
Exactly. And. And I was like. And I kept thinking to myself, like, Lydia, my femininity goes beyond that. I've always been an independent person. I've always. As much as I love. And I also have my. My boundaries.
Host
Right.
Lydia
And that's why I'm here today.
Host
I think femininity is you being a doormat. You not questioning him, you letting him run.
Lydia
You wanted a desk man streets.
Host
Right. And that's what he wanted. And now because you didn't supply him with that, now you're not feminine. Now you're in your masculine energy. Like. No. Because you understand that you have value that took away from him.
Lydia
Yeah. That being in control. When he told me that, I was like, okay. Our differences are not just miscommunication or misunderstanding. It's fundamental values.
Host
Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's a problem.
Lydia
That is a problem. A huge one.
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Lydia
And I think that once you know that, what else are you gonna do? And cause I tried to attempt to what he wanted. He wanted peace. Because he was like, oh, just give me peace and respect. I'll give you peace and respect. I stopped asking for things and I. And he showed me how little he was going to give me. It's like, I'm not okay with this. So when the second round of that I entertained the message because it was five different women at different time alleging the same thing. Oh, and also he said like I made four financial decisions. However, he's like every weekend right. With his friends.
Host
Are you. Do you have any concern about any of these women coming out and cooperating the story does that Bother you at all?
Lydia
No. And I, and I. At the end of the day, it's like they're probably going to come out.
Host
Yeah, they're going to.
Lydia
Oh, my God. Yes. About that time that she.
Host
Do you think it's going to figure it out and five coming out maybe?
Lydia
Because it's not like in the the same thing over and over. And these are not fake accounts that you can see, like when it's a fake account. You know, these are real legitimate women. And it's like, these are the ones that are like, feel sorry for me or like feel bad.
Host
Right?
Lydia
And like, because all of them were like, I just want to be a girl's girl. Like this last. The one that he allegedly invited to the hotel, she didn't recognize him at first. And she claimed allegedly that he was not wearing his ring at first when she saw him. And then when they FaceTime she saw a ring and he allegedly said that it was a rice ring. The university that goes to instead of.
Host
Like your wedding band.
Lydia
My wedding band. And she's like, wait, marriage is public record. If I Google, you're not gonna appear.
Host
Oh, you're gonna see much more than.
Lydia
And she saw everything and she told me and she sent me. And it's true. She texted him and said, oh, you forgot that your beautiful love story was made on international tv. Don't ever do that. Your wife is like too gorgeous for that. Obviously he didn't respond to that. But yeah, I'm like, who else is out there saying. Or like having a similar experience for.
Host
This that's not coming forward to you about it? So would you say it's like mainly his family that kind of kept you around for.
Lydia
Yeah.
Host
So long. He seems like you had a really close relationship.
Lydia
I love them. And I. And I think like I wrote them letters when I left and I was like, dad and mom, because I called them dad and mom. They're my family here. My mom, like, he's my mother in law, literally will go with doctor's appointment with me. My son didn't do it, but his mom literally will literally go to doctor's appointment with me. Like, James was working, Milton was working. And she will like, hey, I'll go with you. So you don't go solo. And you're losing a lot.
Host
You're not just losing a husband, you're losing a full family.
Lydia
And I kept telling them, I was like. Because they were both more in denial than everything.
Host
Do they want you to fight?
Lydia
Yeah. This is not a rush decision. It has to be Made. And I love them so much. And they're my family. And his mom before I left, she's like, your family, Lydia?
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And I'm like, I don't want this relationship to end. And they will continue to be mom and pops for me. And I'm very grateful for them. And I'm also grateful for him in the sense of like, he truly loved me. There was a time and space where he truly loved me for being me. We used to play and that was very fun. We used to play. We stopped doing it and I hate that we stopped doing it because it was very lovely. Like there was like, you know those game cards that comes for couples and you ask questions. And I remember one night that it was one of the questions said like, what is the most thing, the most thing that you love about me? And he goes and says, you're emotionally insensitive side you're going, bitterly. But it's also the same thing that I struggle the most with. So it was kind of like a love and hate relationship with that. But at the same time, he shows, there is moments that he shows to love me for that. And he did things along the marriage that he wanted to, like calling myself, calling me every time he will leave work because he knew I needed that. And he got to a point that he. I didn't need to tell him that he will always do it. And those were the things in the small moments that you're like, he's trying, he. He's put in the effort. He went to therapy. He didn't believe in therapy. We tried couples therapy twice. I think their issues were beyond fixable thing at this point. But there's moments that he showed up for me. And I will always, always say that he took a piece of my heart with him.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And he was the first man to love me.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And that is not something small.
Host
What level, if any, like accountability do you take in the end of your. Your marriage or relationship?
Lydia
If you ask my father in law, I kept saying, I don't know what I went wrong. I don't know what he's like, it's not your fault. It's easier to blame myself because then I can be like, okay, I did this wrong and I can change it. And not to the benefit of the marriage, but to marry. Maybe for other relationships. My fault was allowing things to happen. Because what you're not changing, you're choosing. And I put a hold to that because I was like, I'm not gonna keep choosing. Feeling belittle.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Feeling dismissed.
Host
Yeah. Feeling small, Feeling hopeful that he would change. Yes. Yeah.
Lydia
I knew hope was out of the door when he said the lineup. Being submissive. When I received that last email, I was like, there's not anything that I can hold on to, because once your values are not the same, there's not much you can do.
Host
Yeah. Once disrespect has entered the chat, ain't else to say so. Okay. What I'm gathering, because there's been. First of all, I'm. I can't even wrap my head around it. I am so sorry that you've. That this is even your story.
Lydia
Yeah.
Host
And two, it just sounds like so much toxic. I don't know. Like, it just feels very heavy. It feels very dark, and it feels like it's lasted far too long. So you guys are, like, separated?
Lydia
Mm.
Host
Are you, like, by. Are you living on your own again?
Lydia
Yeah, I'm living with my friend.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
She. She has a house, so I'm living with her right now. So we. Yeah, we're completely separated. Okay. I have filed for divorce.
Host
Okay.
Lydia
We'll see what happens.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
I didn't want it to be this way.
Host
Do you think he would have ever asked you for a divorce? Do you think he would have just kept dragging it through until whatever.
Lydia
I think he could have just keep dragging it through.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Because he was very comfortable.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
I feel like he was very comfortable. Like, I'm just giving her the scraps of attention, and that's okay.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And I'm gonna say that she's in the wrong, and that's okay.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And I felt like almost like a puppet in once, and I was like, no, this. This cannot be it. And I also, like, felt like some sort of. You have your life in public setting. Right. Like, your life is so public, and our marriage is so public, and you see people like, oh, my God, if you guys ever split, like, I'll stop.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Like, oh, my God, you guys are so nice. So cute and sweet. And that puts an amount of pressure on you that you're like. I wouldn't ever imagine.
Host
Like, you can't let other people down. Yeah. And I felt you. Exactly.
Lydia
And as for me, like, I'm so gentleman of myself. Like, I'm so gentleman on myself that my therapist had to tell me, lydia, imagine that you. Who you are as a person, as a third person. What will you say to her?
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
I'm like, darn it.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And that's what I've done. And I got to the point that I need to defend her.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Because she's the most empathetic, loving, caring person I've ever met and she deserves happiness. I'm reclaiming my power.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
I am healing. I am choosing me. I'm trying to deal with my biggest concern right now. That is my health and focusing everything on me.
Host
What does that look like?
Lydia
A lot of therapy. Tons of therapy. Journaling and doing things that make me happy. Dance it out every now and while in the room when no one's watching.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Sometimes it looks me crying myself to sleep.
Host
I can see you're leaning on your social media family a lot.
Lydia
Yes.
Host
I notice that you're posting and I think you're giving a vision of not just happy all the time.
Lydia
Yes. I was like, you know what? I don't want to be fake. I don't want to be. I honor myself in being transparent and being vulnerable, and that's what I want to present on my page.
Host
Has that helped you?
Lydia
Yes, immensely. I have a great, great following that just are there. They are. They. They send so many, so many positive vibes. And the haters are gonna come, obviously, and they're gonna say, I knew it. They lost. I can already see the storm coming, but I'm gonna continue to remind me who I am. And like I said before, I'm not gonna apologize for loving hard because that's what I did. I loved hard.
Host
Yeah. And you will receive, unfortunately, the storm, like you said. But there's gonna be an army of people applauding you, congratulating you and pushing you and encouraging you and proud of you for choosing you. And there's going to be. You're going to influence if this, you know, if anybody, if one person takes away that it's okay to choose yourself and you coming here and being a brave face and a brave voice. This is not. This is scary. This is like real scary shit. Like, this is not.
Lydia
This is. You have to have thick skin.
Host
Yeah. So you have, like, a lot of family. And most of your family. A lot of your family is still in Puerto Rico. Is it tough going through this, like, huge life change without having family around?
Lydia
I get emotional because it is. I have no one here. I have no one in Houston. All my family's in Puerto Rico. Like, my. My biggest support, which is my mother. And to top it all, because when they say when it rains, it pours. My grandfather recently passed.
Host
I know. I'm sorry to hear that.
Lydia
And not to be there to be the support for my mother is so heartbreaking. I felt so guilty. And my grandfather, like, I prays for them and. And to not be able to say the last goodbye destroyed me. My mom is my everything. That woman showed me how to be strength. And one of the reasons that I am here today is because of her. And my mom always said, I raised you to be a strong woman. I'm not gonna lie. I wish that there were days that I just didn't have to be strong. And I just live and be right.
Host
Right.
Lydia
But in my life, it's a constant thing. It's a commonality of being strong.
Host
Yeah. And it's like in your marriage, maybe that's the one place I don't want to be strong. Maybe that's the place I want to be vulnerable.
Lydia
I don't want to be.
Host
And I want to let go, and I want to have my partner hold me when I can't hold myself. And you didn't have that.
Lydia
I have that. And I was like, well, for that, I'll just be alone, because I felt alone in my marriage.
Host
Are you friends with any of the girls from the season? Have you talked to any of the women? Does anybody know what's going on?
Lydia
The only woman that actually knows is Estefania, but you barely saw her on the show. And she's been my person, that girl. I love her. She's been my sister. She has been there for me. She was there when my grandfather died, when my mom called me, when everything happened. She has been my rock. And I don't know where I'd have been without her, because that woman showed up for me in worries that I was like I would never expect it to be. And she reciprocates the same energy I give her, and that is very rare to find.
Host
But no one else.
Lydia
But no one else.
Host
So it's gonna be a shock to.
Lydia
Is going to be a shock to the world.
Host
Yeah. And.
Lydia
And that's why also, like you said earlier, like, you're showing this, like, vulnerability in social media is like, I suffered so long in silence that my healing is going to be loud and profound.
Host
I love that. I love that my heart is, like. It's, like, aching for you, but so proud of you. Like, I just thank you for.
Lydia
For letting me have this space. And I'm not gonna lie. I was very nervous at first, and now I'm just. I feel at peace. And I can see the storm coming, but I'm ready. I'm ready to fight for me.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
Because I deserve that. And being the rock bottom teaches me more than being on the mountaintop.
Host
Only up from Here, baby girl.
Lydia
Yep.
Host
What does the next chapter look like for Lydia?
Lydia
She. I believe that everything that's happening right now and as scary and as draining and as exhausting and all the suffering that is happening is because there's something so big coming up.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
That I cannot even imagine it.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And I'm gonna hold into that, to that belief and keep healing. There's a lot of healing to do.
Host
Are staying in Houston.
Lydia
We'll see where life takes me.
Host
Yeah. You're open.
Lydia
I'm open. There's nothing that keeps me back in Houston, so. Besides my job. Right. But yeah, I'm open. I'm open. Wherever the life wants to take me, I'm open. I love that this is the me chapter then. And that's why I keep reminding myself, lydia, this is not your full life. This is just a bad chapter.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And that was not the war. That's just one battle. So keep going, baby.
Host
Yeah. You got it.
Lydia
I got it. And I'm so proud of myself.
Host
I'm so proud of you here and.
Lydia
Like sharing my experience, sharing my truth, finally.
Host
Yeah.
Lydia
And not being shut down.
Host
Yeah. Yeah. You know, I think we gave the mics to the right people. I'm really, I'm really, really proud of you. I mean, this is not. Again, I keep repeating, this is not easy. And I think people forget that because we are public facing and we're on tv. We're not human. And you are going through something so real. And I'm just grateful that one. You saw it fit to share that with me and us here on this platform.
Lydia
Like, who better than Angie? Come on. I was like, this is perfect. And because I remember always watching your, like, podcasts and your episodes and I'm like, oh, my God, yes, girl. Yes, womanhood, yes, power, yes, everything. And I'm like, this is amazing.
Host
Yeah. I think the moral of today's conversation is choosing yourself.
Lydia
Yes.
Host
And I think because it's not just your marriage, it's your health, your future, like, everything is depending on you, choosing you. And I think it's so powerful that you are being this vocal, this bold and this open with everyone about something that's happening. So personal, like with you and your life and your body and your health. So I appreciate it.
Lydia
Thank you.
Host
And as someone that's about to get married.
Lydia
I know, I'm so excited for you.
Host
Thank you. It's just like opening my eyes because no one goes into a marriage thinking divorce, you know?
Lydia
No, I don't want it. I mean, I stayed like, I didn't want this for me.
Host
No.
Lydia
And for so long, I was like, oh, my God, I'm such a failure. But I felt. And having a marriage, it doesn't mean that I'm a failure as a person. Yeah.
Host
You're not a failure at life at all. And I can't wait till you come back in six months and you're just like, remember I told you I was gonna do this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this? And you're just sitting here, thriving, glowing. Yes. Yeah.
Lydia
I cannot wait for that.
Host
I'm ready for that.
Lydia
Oh, I'm ready, too.
Host
I'm really grateful for you. I love that you're here. I can't wait to see how you blossom and bloom these next few months and years. Because it's Lydia's time now.
Lydia
It's Lydia's time.
Host
So thank you so much for joining us.
Lydia
Thank you so much for having me. Of course, girl.
Host
And thank you guys for joining us for another episode of what's the Reality? Be sure to follow us on all social platforms at what's the Reality? Pod and I'll see you next week. What's the reality? What's the reality?
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Lydia
Thank you for calling Amica Insurance.
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Lydia
Don't worry. We'll get you taken care of.
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Podcast Summary: What's the Reality?
Episode: Love Is Blind’s Lydia Arleen: Putting Back the Pieces
Release Date: June 11, 2025
Host: And Love Media
Guest: Lydia Arleen (Love Is Blind Season 5)
In this emotionally charged episode of What's the Reality?, host AD welcomes Lydia Arleen, a beloved participant from Love Is Blind Season 5. The conversation delves deep into Lydia's tumultuous journey since her appearance on the reality TV show, exploring themes of love, heartbreak, personal growth, and resilience.
[01:17] Lydia opens up about the tumultuous period following her time on the show. She shares, "Life since Love is Blind has been tumultuous. There's been a lot of grief, heartbreak, a lot of growth." This sets the stage for a candid discussion about her struggles and the strength she's mustered to navigate through them.
Lydia recounts the decline of her marriage with Milton, highlighting a series of unresolved issues that led to her decision to file for divorce.
Betrayal and Trust Issues [06:28] "When I saw that, my heart went to the floor. I felt like, betrayed and disrespected."
Lydia explains how discovering Milton's flirtatious text messages shattered her trust. Despite attempts at couples therapy, the underlying issues remained unresolved.
Communication Breakdown [10:06] "He took him like, this is insane. Later after that, his major complaints about me... nagging him all the time."
Communication deteriorated as Milton began finding faults in Lydia, shifting blame onto her for the marital issues.
Cultural and Value Differences [11:36] "I don't believe it's the age gap. I don't think it was the numbers. I think it was a matter of emotional availability and maturity, support and communication."
Lydia attributes the split not to their age difference but to fundamental mismatches in emotional and communicative capacities.
The turning point came when Lydia received allegations from multiple women regarding Milton's inappropriate behavior.
Receving Evidence [24:21] "On March 31, I received a very detailed, long email of this woman alleging that he had been flirting with her all night..."
This final straw confirmed the toxic environment of their marriage, compelling Lydia to proceed with the divorce despite the public nature of their relationship.
Filing for Divorce [23:01] "It's been that way for the past. Since March 31st, so about a month and a half."
Lydia describes the painful process of initiating the divorce, facing Milton's denials and blame-shifting, ultimately leading to a complete separation.
The public nature of their relationship added pressure to the marital issues.
Public Perception [51:41] "Our marriage is so public, and you see people like, oh, my God, if you guys ever split, like, I'll stop. I couldn't ever imagine."
Lydia discusses how societal expectations and the public's perception further complicated her personal struggles, making the decision to leave even more challenging.
Despite the heartache, Lydia focuses on her healing journey and reclaiming her life.
Personal Growth [52:48] "A lot of therapy. Tons of therapy. Journaling and doing things that make me happy."
Lydia emphasizes the importance of therapy, self-care, and surrounding herself with supportive friends like Estefania, who has become her rock.
Embracing Vulnerability [53:29] "I honor myself in being transparent and being vulnerable."
By sharing her story openly, Lydia not only seeks healing for herself but also aims to inspire others facing similar struggles to prioritize their well-being.
Lydia sheds light on the role of her family, particularly her mother, in her healing process.
Family Relationships [55:14] "My mom is my everything. That woman showed me how to be strong."
The recent passing of her grandfather added another layer of grief, but her mother's unwavering support remains a cornerstone of her resilience.
As the episode concludes, Lydia reflects on her experiences and looks ahead with hope.
Choosing Herself [60:22] "Choosing yourself. Because it's not just your marriage, it's your health, your future... depending on you, choosing you."
Lydia's journey underscores the significance of self-respect and the courage to leave a detrimental relationship to foster personal growth and happiness.
Optimistic Future [58:20] "Once full of life, this is just a bad chapter... I'm so proud of myself."
Lydia remains optimistic, viewing her current hardships as a foundation for a stronger and more fulfilling future.
In this heartfelt episode, Lydia Arleen bravely shares her profound journey of love, betrayal, and self-discovery. Through her candid narration, listeners gain an intimate understanding of the complexities of relationships and the empowering choice to prioritize one's health and happiness. What's the Reality? offers a poignant reminder that while love is essential, self-respect and personal well-being must never be compromised.
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