Save Your Sanity: Help for Toxic Relationships

Hijackals use chemistry to manipulate and control you. They exploit it to feel they have power over you. It is a significant part of trauma-bonding. Get clear on what's really happening when you think you're in love, rather than knowing you're being used. HIGHLIGHTS OF TODAY'S EPISODE:What lust, attraction, and attachment have to do with creating toxic relationshipsWhy #Hijackals want to […]

Constant emotional competition is exhausting. Most people only do it in one or two small areas of life. When you have a Hijackal parent or partner, it is a daily occurrence--even minute-to-minute--in large and tiny ways. Some ways, you may not even recognize. Listen to learn ten tips to help you emotionally disengage! That's the first, and maybe most important, step! #Hijackals turn every […]

It's common for Hijackals to ruin holidays. Narcissistic folks can be counted on to do it, too.What's up with that? They'll do it for any celebration. This episode will help you understand why it happens, AND offers practical suggestions for responding to it in healthier ways. You don't want to dread the holidays, yet that often happens. You just know that things are going to be tense, at a […]

You might give someone the benefit of the doubt too often. You may be on the receiving end of verbal abuse AND it's important to be clear about it. Verbal abuse is bullying to win. It's unacceptable. Recognize the many faces of verbal abuse now!According to USLegal.com, verbal abuse is "words used to cause harm to the person being spoken to." It's all about the intent to cause harm: verbal, […]

The term "narcissistic" is used too commonly now, in my opinion. When people even talk about themselves a little too much for your liking, you may label it "narcissistic." It's important to be able to tell the differences among people who are narcissistic, people who are self-centered, and those who are healthy and maybe having a bad day. Why? Because they require different responses.Both […]

Succeeding in spite of having toxic parents and a difficult past! We talk about that journey, and what succeeding really means. It's not about money only, but SO much more. A shaky emotional start in life doesn't define you. Don't let it! Corey Poirier, author of Book Of WHY, shares his path from life with an absent, though toxic, father to becoming the founder of bLU Talks, and being featured on […]

Shame is a painful emotion caused by recognizing guilt, shortcomings or impropriety, and the basis for narcissistic, over-nurturing, and needy behaviors. SO important to recognize these to understand the dynamics and how you may be caught by the cycle of shame in toxic relationships with partners and parents. Things happen when you're little and you don't realize what's becoming part of you. […]

Divorce is difficult, especially when you have children. Multiply the difficulties by tens if you're divorcing a #Hijackal, a #narcissistic person, or any other toxic person. You want to feel confident about negotiating custody and negotiating visitation. Andrea Schneider, attorney in San Diego, offers what you need to know to do your best in mediation and court. Andrea Schneider recognizes the […]

Lack of empathy in one partner creates a deficit that the other partner cannot fill...no matter how hard one tries! Learn more about the differences in functioning, and the decisions #Hijackals and other narcissistic people make about demonstrating empathy. Eye-opening! Empathy is the ability to identify what someone is thinking or feeling, and then to be able to respond to THEIR thoughts and […]

When you are first with a #Hijackal, you are flattered that they want you all to themselves. You're delighted that they want to be with you, and "can't get enough of you." That's the normal joy of a new relationship. Then, when you're with a toxic person, a #Hijackal, a #narcissist, there comes a moment when you find yourself isolated, alone, and marginalized. You look around and you have been […]