A cheap Facebook Marketplace boat sounded like the fastest way to disappear for a minute and breathe again, until I realized I didn’t even know how to start the thing. What was supposed to be a quick escape in Western Australia turns into days anchored in a shallow estuary near Mandurah, with dolphins drifting in and out and blue crabs charging up like they want to throw hands. It’s beautiful, it’s stressful, and it’s the kind of survival story that never looks “clean” while you’re living it.

As the tide shifts and I spin in circles on a single anchor, local police and security keep checking on me. Their concern is real, but so is my insistence on staying put because the alternative feels worse. I talk through what it’s like when coercive control isn’t just emotional, it’s structural: a sponsor visa that limits your choices, your access to work, and even your ability to get help without permission. I also share why medication and health confusion can become another lever of control, especially when your body is already worn down.

If you’ve ever had to choose the uncertain option because the “safe” option wasn’t safe at all, you’ll understand this one. Listen, then subscribe, share it with someone who needs a reminder that survival can be messy, and leave a review so more people can find Surviving Changes. What part of the story hit you hardest?

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