Deanna is sharing a part of her story she never thought she would tell publicly. After growing up in a deeply controlling religious environment, she entered adulthood without a clear understanding of boundaries, consent, or her own self-worth, leaving her vulnerable to relationships filled with manipulation, coercive control, abuse, and addiction. She opens up about being groomed and sexually coerced by a partner, losing herself in unhealthy relationships, and turning to alcohol until a DUI and three months in jail became the wake-up call that ultimately saved her life. Through sobriety, recovery, and learning to trust herself, Deanna began rebuilding her identity and discovering that the family she'd always dreamed of didn't have to look the way she'd been taught. Check Out Deanna : Subscribe To Intrepid Storytelling: → YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@IntrepidStorytelling → Apple Podcast | https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/intrepid-storytelling/id1855383579 → Spotify | https://open.spotify.com/show/4C37HrHnzXKGDTQjCeWxOZ?si=1213f92e209a4cbe Follow Intrepid Storytelling On Social Media: → Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578154971079 → Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/intrepidstorytelling → TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@intrepidstorytelling Follow Deanna On Social Media: → Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/deanna.powell.5817/ → Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/deannapowell Deanna's Websites: → Podcast: https://www.intrepidstorytelling.com → Real Estate: https://www.intrepidhometeam.com Sponsored By: → Shopify | Every story has a turning point. If you're ready to build something of your own, start your journey with a free trial at https://shopify.com/insane → HERS | Ready to reach your goals? Visit https://forhers.com/insane to get personalized, affordable care that gets you. On This Episode We Cover: → 00:00:00 - Introduction → 00:02:25 - Why does she use the word intrepid? → 00:04:08 - What is the impact of the Diddy and Epstein cases? → 00:05:56 - Where was she born? → 00:07:48 - What was it like growing up as a southern baptist? → 00:12:13 - How was she disciplined as a child? → 00:15:32 - What was sex education like for her? → 00:22:57 - How was her dating life growing up? → 00:26:19 - What happened when she started stripping? → 00:28:17 - Why did she feel like she had to get married? → 00:32:28 - What did love bombing look like in her relationship with Steve? → 00:35:05 - What was it like moving in with Steve? → 00:37:59 - When were drugs introduced into the relationship? → 00:40:54 - When did the relationship begin to become coercive? → 00:44:36 - Why did she keep doing things she didn't want to do? → 00:48:40 - Can you become addicted to another person? → 00:50:11 - How did she finally get away from Steve? → 00:52:51 - When did she meet her second husband? → 00:57:12 - What happened during her second marriage? → 00:58:59 - What made her finally call 911 on her husband? → 01:00:45 - How did divorce lead to more drinking and self-destruction? → 01:06:43 - When did she realize her drinking had become an addiction? → 01:08:44 - When did she realize her drinking had become an addiction? → 01:12:35 - What made her decide to get sober for good? → 01:14:36 - How was outpatient treatment and probation? → 01:15:39 - What happened when she started dating again? → 01:20:31 - Why did she get married a third time? → 01:23:02 - What was off about her third marriage? → 01:27:13 - How did she feel when she found out he was cheating? → 01:31:31 - Why did she stop believing she needed a husband to have a family? → 01:34:51 - What is the foster parent application process like? → 01:39:40 - Why did she pick her sperm donor? → 01:43:33 - What is motherhood like for her? → 01:47:59 - How did sobriety help She rebuild her self-worth? → 01:50:33 - How did telling her story finally help her let go of shame? Further Listening → https://youtu.be/OQRab4JgnZg More We Are All Insane: → OFFICIAL MERCH NOW AVAILABLE - code INSANE10 gets you 10% off for a limited time | https://shop.wereallinsane.com → Join We’re All Insane Mailing List for EXCLUSIVE Content + Discounts: https://mailchi.mp/6d0e5d7a3998/were-all-insane