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It’s no secret thatJ.D.
Vance has a complicated relationship with Donald Trump.
But Vance is no stranger to strained and difficult relationships.
His 2016 memoir,“Hillbilly Elegy,“sheds light onVance’s tragic, real-life story.
However, their path to reconciliation was anything but easy.
According toThe New York Times, her substance abuse started innocently enough.
While working as a nurse, she took Vicodin to remedy a headache and was impressed by the results.
She eventually got caught, lost her nursing license, and then graduated to heroin.
“My brain loved it,” she told the outlet.
As she grappled with addiction, a young Vance tried to support her.
meetings,” he penned in his memoir, per The Times.
But helping someone with such volatile behaviors proved incredibly difficult.
The most harrowing moment came when Aikins made a direct threat against her son’s life.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Vance obliged and went with his mom, but something enraged her while driving.
A scared Vance retreated to the backseat, which enraged Aikins even more.
His mother was then arrested and charged with domestic violence, which gave him conflicting feelings.
However, at the same time, he was devastated.
“I was just really sad and felt very lonely,” he said.
“I’m sitting in the back of this police cruiser; they just arrested my mom.”
When these fights ended in heartbreak, he became furious.
Years later, Vance still struggled to regulate his emotions.
“Even at my best, I’m a delayed explosion,” he penned in his book.
Vance sought the help of a counselor to reexamine his past and work on his anger.
He and his mother, Beverly Aikins, didn’t speak for years.
Fortunately, she decided to check herself into a sober living facility and took her treatment seriously.
She accepted this, and their relationship has only gotten stronger since.
“It was heartbreaking in some parts,” Aikins told The Times about his book.
Since leaving rehab, Aikins has remained sober, which Vance doesn’t take for granted.
