iWasErased: Reflections

Episode #8 - Parental Alienation: Behind the Curtain

David Shubert Season 1 Episode 8

Most people hear words like “parental alienation,” “abduction,” “custody,” and think they have some idea of what that means. But for alienated and left-behind parents, those words aren’t just ink on paper — they’re the doorway to a kind of pain that rewires your life from the inside out.

In this Reflection, I’m pulling the curtain back on what that actually looks like. I’ll walk you through some of the moments that changed everything for me: the day I found out my children had been abducted overseas, the months of total silence where my weekend ended with unanswered calls, and the court decision that sent them away again after I thought I’d finally won them back. Not in legal terms. Not in theory. But in real, lived, moment-by-moment impact — mentally, emotionally, and psychologically.

So, if you’re an alienated or left-behind parent, my hope is that you hear something in this episode that reminds you that you’re not crazy, you’re not weak, and you’re definitely not alone. And if you’re someone standing on the outside looking in — a friend, partner, family member, or professional — I hope this gives you a clearer glimpse of what’s really happening behind the curtain, so you can better understand the parents who are still trying to survive it.