You're Not Crazy: A Podcast for Cycle Breakers with Toxic Parents

https://toriewikselltherapy.com/schedule

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Forgiveness Is Overrated: What Actually Helps You Heal from a Toxic Parent

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 19:52:00 +0000

In this episode, we’re talking about:

Why forgiveness is often misunderstood
Why you don’t need to forgive your parent to heal
How focusing on forgiveness can actually keep you stuck
The difference between forgiveness and healing
Why acceptance is what actually helps you move forward
What “radical acceptance” looks like in real life

Listen to learn more about the fallacy of forgiveness and what it actually takes to heal from growing up within a dysfunctional family system.

Interested in therapy with Torie?
If you’re an adult living in California, Oregon, or Washington and are interested in working together in therapy, you can learn more and schedule a free phone consultation here:

Support the show and get more episodes
Join the private podcast feed for access to bonus episodes, archived episodes, and ad-free versions of all new episodes:

https://www.confidentboundaries.com/youre-not-crazy-podcast

Follow Torie on Social:

https://toriewikselltherapy.com/schedule

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Basic Needs Cycle Breakers Often Ignore (And How This Wrecks Your Mental Health)

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:58:00 +0000

In this episode, we’re going back to the basics and talking about why things like staying hydrated, eating enough, sleeping, and moving your body matter far more for your mental health than most people realize.

We cover:

• Why cycle breakers often disconnect from their own needs
• How dysfunctional family dynamics train you to ignore your basic needs
• The mental health impact of dehydration, hunger, and exhaustion
• Why boundaries are often required just to take care of yourself
• Simple ways to start prioritizing your basic needs again

Sometimes prioritizing your healing means something as simple as drinking enough water.

Support the show and get more episodes
Join the private podcast feed for access to bonus episodes, archived episodes, and ad-free versions of all new episodes:

https://www.confidentboundaries.com/youre-not-crazy-podcast

Follow Torie on Social:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I Could Win a Gold Medal in Overexplaining Myself: Growing Up With a Narcissistic Parent

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 3 Mar 2026 23:15:00 +0000

When you spend your childhood being misunderstood, projected onto, or told who you are instead of being seen for who you actually are, it makes sense that you carry that fear of being misunderstood into adulthood.

In this episode, I talk about:

• Why adult children of narcissistic parents often overexplain themselves
• What it feels like to grow up being constantly misunderstood
• Why this pattern tends to show up more when you’re overwhelmed or depleted
• What real healing actually looks like when these habits still pop up

Follow Torie on Social:

https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Support the podcast + get access to bonus, archived, and ad-free episodes: Join You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed to support the growth of the show and get access to bonus episodes, the entire archive, and ad-free new episodes each week! Join here:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Guilt Trap: How This Tricky Emotion Keeps Cycle Breakers Stuck

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 18:10:00 +0000

In this episode, we explore:

Why guilt feels so overwhelming for adult children of emotionally immature and narcissistic parents
How dysfunctional family systems train you to equate guilt with being a bad person
The difference between healthy guilt and manipulative guilt
Why avoiding guilt keeps you stuck in the toxic cycle
How to approach difficult decisions without avoiding or agreeing to things beyond your capacity

Learning to sit with guilt instead of immediately jumping into avoidance or problem-solving mode is a skill that many of us cycle breakers were never taught. Listen to this episode to learn more about building the healthy skills necessary to confidently navigate guilt as a cycle breaker.

Follow Torie on Social:

https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Support the podcast + get bonus episodes: Join You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed to support the growth of the show and get access to bonus episodes, the entire archive, and ad-free new episodes each week! Join here:

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Parents Say They’re “Walking on Eggshells” Around You: The Truth About Power, Boundaries, and Gaslighting

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 18:39:00 +0000

If you grew up with a parent who had narcissistic or borderline traits, you may have heard this when you started setting boundaries, going to therapy, or naming the dysfunction in your family.

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, we unpack:

Why “walking on eggshells” is not the same thing in a parent-child relationship
The lifelong power imbalance that doesn’t magically disappear when you turn 18
Why toxic parents often say this when you stop being compliant
How this narrative twists reality and creates a false “both sides” story
The subtle gaslighting behind “I have to walk on eggshells around you, too”

When a parent says this, it often isn’t about your behavior. It’s about their discomfort with accountability. It’s about losing control of a dynamic where you were expected to stay small, agreeable, and emotionally accommodating.

If you’ve started therapy, begun setting boundaries with a toxic parent, or noticed pushback when you stop playing your assigned role in the family, this episode will help you understand what’s actually happening.

Follow Torie on Social:

Support the growth of the show and get access to bonus content by joining You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed.

Plus, you'll get ad-free versions of all new episodes when you join:
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Dysfunction Is “Normal”: Subtle Emotional Abuse in Toxic Families and Why It’s So Damaging

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 11:37:00 +0000

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, therapist and boundaries coach Torie Wiksell breaks down common behaviors that toxic families often label as “normal,” but that are actually deeply damaging and abusive. We talk about why these dynamics are so confusing, why they impact you as deeply as they do, and why your reactions are not a personal flaw.

You’ll learn:

Why emotional and psychological abuse in families is often minimized or dismissed
How power and control shape parent-child dynamics, even in adulthood
Why stonewalling, silent treatment, shaming, and gaslighting are not “just family stuff”
How abuse creates confusion, self-doubt, and emotional exhaustion over time
How naming abuse accurately can be a powerful step toward clarity and healing

If you’ve ever questioned whether it was “really that bad,” struggled to trust your own emotional reactions, or felt drawn to content about toxic parents while doubting your experience, this episode offers grounding, validation, and context.

Follow Torie on Social:

https://toriewikselltherapy.com/schedule

Love the podcast? Support the show (and get access to bonus content)

Get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and access to archived episodes by joining You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed.
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Schedule a Therapy Phone Consultation

If you’re interested in talking about working with Torie in therapy, use the following link to schedule a free phone consultation. Must be located in CA, OR, or WA.

If this episode was helpful, please leave a five-star review to help other cycle breakers find the show.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why Setting Boundaries With Toxic Parents Is So Hard (And What Most People Get Wrong)

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 3 Feb 2026 18:11:00 +0000

In this episode of You're Not Crazy, I walk through the most common reasons boundaries fail with narcissistic, emotionally immature, and toxic parents. Not because you did it wrong, but because most people are taught a version of boundaries that doesn’t account for manipulation, emotional dysregulation, guilt, or the survival responses cycle breakers carry into adulthood.

We talk about:

-Why using the word “boundary” often backfires with toxic parents

-What a boundary actually is (and why it’s about your behavior, not controlling theirs)

-How toxic parents escalate when they feel dysregulated or lose access to you

-Why guilt, panic, and urgency show up after you set limits

-How not enforcing a boundary teaches your parent to push harder

-Why boundaries without an enforcement plan almost always collapse

This episode is especially for adults who intellectually understand boundaries but still find themselves caving when their parent panics, guilt-trips, or emotionally escalates. If you’ve ever thought, “I know what I should do, but I can’t seem to follow through,” this conversation will give you clarity and language for what’s really happening.

This is also why boundary work with toxic parents requires more than scripts or one-off advice. It requires understanding the family system, the manipulation tactics, and your own nervous system responses so you can follow through without self-abandoning.

Follow Torie on Social:

And if you want access to more episodes of the podcast, sign up for You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed. You'll be supporting the growth of the show while getting access to archived, bonus, and ad-free episodes of You're Not Crazy:
confidentboundaries.com/private

If this episode helped put words to something you’ve been struggling with, please leave a five-star review to help other cycle breakers find the show and feel less alone.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why This Feels So Familiar: Toxic Parents, Abuse, and What’s Happening in the U.S.

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 27 Jan 2026 17:54:00 +0000

The gaslighting, denial, deflection, and rewriting of reality mirror the dynamics many adults grew up with in toxic or narcissistic family systems. Torie explains how ongoing trauma impacts emotional capacity, why trauma that is still happening cannot be healed (only coped with), and how the pressure to respond perfectly often leads to paralysis.

For listeners who feel overwhelmed, stuck, and at a loss for how to move forward right now, this episode provides context, validation, and grounded perspective.

Support the podcast and listen ad-free
Join You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed for bonus and archived episodes plus ad-free listening:
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking the Cycle Is Messy: Learning How to Be an Emotionally Healthy Adult

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 20 Jan 2026 18:49:00 +0000

Most cycle breakers know exactly what they don’t want to repeat. But knowing what not to do is very different from knowing how to be an emotionally healthy adult, especially when emotional regulation, boundaries, and healthy relationships were never modeled for you.

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, we talk about why learning emotional health as a cycle breaker is often messy, uncomfortable, and filled with shame. We explore the fear of “becoming your parent,” the pressure to get it right immediately, and the black-and-white thinking that makes normal struggles feel like personal failures.

This episode covers:

-Why most cycle breakers start adulthood without the skills they need

-How growing up with explosive, punishing, or emotionally unavailable parents shapes your relationship with emotions

-Why suppressing feelings, intellectualizing, or trying to be “easy” creates problems as an adult

-The difference between struggling emotionally and being emotionally unsafe

-Why emotional health is built through skill-building, accountability, and repair, not perfection

-How shame keeps cycle breakers stuck and what helps loosen its grip

If you’re deeply invested in becoming an emotionally healthy adult but feel discouraged by your imperfections, this episode is for you.

Support the podcast:
Subscribe to You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed for bonus episodes, archived content, and ad-free listening for $5/month. Your support helps grow the podcast while giving you access to additional content. Thank you!
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

If this episode resonated, please consider leaving a five-star review to help other cycle breakers find our show.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Self-Doubt After Growing Up With a Toxic Parent: Why You Gaslight Yourself and How to Move Forward

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 13 Jan 2026 23:47:00 +0000

Self-doubt is one of the most common and paralyzing struggles for cycle breakers. In this episode of the You’re Not Crazy Podcast, Torie explains why chronic self-doubt is not a personality flaw, but a trauma response rooted in long-term gaslighting and emotional invalidation.

You’ll learn how growing up in a toxic family system trains you to distrust your own memories, emotions, and decisions, and why self-doubt often shows up most intensely when you start setting boundaries, becoming more assertive, or trying to live differently than your family expects. Torie breaks down how “self-gaslighting” develops, why it makes adult decision-making feel overwhelming, and how awareness can help you stop treating this voice as truth.

This episode is especially relevant if you:

Were told you were too sensitive, dramatic, or wrong about your experiences

Second-guess your boundaries and feel tempted to backtrack

Freeze when making decisions because you are afraid of choosing wrong

Feel stuck even though you are trying to heal and break the cycle

Most importantly, this conversation reframes self-doubt as a normal byproduct of growing up in a dysfunctional family, not evidence that you are incapable, broken, or failing at healing.

You’re Not Crazy: The Private Podcast Feed
Get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and full access to archived episodes.
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

If this episode resonated, please leave a five-star review to help other cycle breakers find the show.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cycle Breaking in 2026: Diagnoses, Grief, and the Reality of Loving a Toxic Parent

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 6 Jan 2026 22:27:00 +0000

This episode is about nuance. It’s about why labels like narcissistic personality disorder, borderline traits, or “toxic parent” can feel both clarifying and overwhelming, and why healing does not actually depend on getting a definitive diagnosis.

I talk about:

Why patterns of behavior matter more than labels
How gaslighting, emotional volatility, shame, and walking on eggshells shape adult children
Why many cycle breakers grow up in “two realities” with the same parent
The grief, relief, anger, and desire for connection that can coexist
How minimizing what you experienced can quietly train you to tolerate harm in other relationships

Want access to ad-free and archived episodes of You're Not Crazy?
Join You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed for archived episodes, bonus content, and ad-free listening.
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A Year of Reflection: Boundaries, Burnout, and What I’m Taking Into 2026

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:07:00 +0000

From navigating visibility as a therapist talking openly about toxic family systems, to setting boundaries around social media, content creation, and emotional labor, this episode is a grounded, honest look at what it actually takes to do this work sustainably as a cycle breaker.

Torie shares why she’s recommitting to the podcast, simplifying where her energy goes, and being more intentional about how and where she shows up. She also talks candidly about burnout, backlash, self doubt, and what it means to keep choosing growth when you were conditioned to stay small.

This episode covers:

-Personal reflections from a year of growth, visibility, and boundary setting

-The emotional cost of talking publicly about narcissistic and toxic parents

-Why simplifying is a form of healing, not quitting

-Reprioritizing the podcast and stepping back from what no longer fits

-Looking ahead to 2026 with more clarity, intention, and self trust

Are you loving the podcast?

Join You're Not Crazy: The Private Feed to support the show and get access to bonus and archived episodes, plus ad-free versions of all new episodes:
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Holidays Are Hard for Cycle Breakers (and Why You Don’t Need to Do Them Perfectly)

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 23 Dec 2025 23:14:00 +0000

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, we talk about why the holidays feel so heavy when you grew up with a narcissistic, emotionally immature, or unpredictable parent. We explore why perfection is not possible, why black-and-white thinking keeps cycle breakers stuck, and why self-compassion is one of the most regulating tools you can practice during this time of year.

You’ll hear:

Why the holidays are uniquely triggering for adult children of toxic parents
How dissociation and “go go go” mode show up as survival responses
Why there is no perfect decision when family dynamics are complicated
How to notice when you are being harsh with yourself and interrupt that pattern
A personal story about navigating imperfect holidays as a cycle-breaking parent

This is a reminder that breaking the cycle does not require perfection. It requires flexibility, self-compassion, and learning to live in the gray.

If you’re looking for more support over the holidays, the You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed includes bonus episodes, archived content, and ad-free listening.
Join the private feed here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Cycle Breakers Can Survive the Holidays With a Toxic Family Without Burning Out

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 23:44:00 +0000

In this short, grounding episode of the You’re Not Crazy Podcast, we’re talking about how cycle breakers can take care of themselves during the holidays when family dynamics are toxic, overwhelming, or emotionally unsafe.

This is not about pushing through. It’s not about pretending everything is fine. And it’s not about forcing yourself into situations that cost you your nervous system.

You’ll hear practical, compassionate ways to support yourself right now if you’re spiraling, avoiding family, or counting down the days until the holidays are over, including:

How to help your body feel safe when holiday stress activates old trauma responses
Why creating traditions that have nothing to do with your family matters more than you think
Simple self check-ins to protect your energy and emotional capacity
Permission to change your mind about plans as you learn what you can actually handle
How to notice real progress, even if it feels small or imperfect

You deserve tools that help you get through this season without abandoning yourself.

And, if you want more support beyond this episode, here are a few things that can help:

You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed
Get access to all archived episodes plus two bonus episodes every month, ad free.
Join here for $5/month:
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why Changing Your Mind Feels “Wrong” When You Grow Up With Toxic Parents

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 9 Dec 2025 21:21:00 +0000

In today’s episode, Torie breaks down why cycle breakers panic-agree to things they don’t want to do, why your body goes into survival mode when you try to set limits, and why allowing yourself to change your mind is a crucial part of healing.

Listen to learn:

Why your nervous system floods when you’re put on the spot
Why saying yes too quickly is a trauma response, not a personality flaw
How to recognize when an impulsive commitment no longer aligns with your capacity
Why changing your mind is a healthy, adult skill even if your parent “freaks out”
How to start giving yourself permission to choose what’s right for you

If the holidays are already feeling heavy, this episode will help you understand your reactions and move toward decisions that honor your time, energy, and wellbeing.

Want bonus episodes and an ad-free listening experience? Join You’re Not Crazy: The Private Feed:
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

If this episode resonated, please leave a five-star review to help more cycle breakers find our show. Thank you!

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Holiday Stress and Cycle Breaker Shame: What No One Talks About

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 2 Dec 2025 21:35:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk openly about cycle breaker shame, why it hits so hard after the holidays, and why these moments don’t define your growth. Listen to learn how to reconnect with the emotionally mature adult you’re working so hard to become.

For bonus episodes, archived episodes, and an ad-free experience, join the You’re Not Crazy Private Feed:
https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why You Feel So Triggered at the Holidays: Perfectionism, Toxic Parents, and What You Can Control

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 23:08:00 +0000

This week’s episode breaks down why the holidays bring up so much dread, why perfectionism shows up so strongly for cycle breakers, and how to stay grounded when your family triggers you.

Torie Wiksell, therapist and boundaries coach, shares:
• Why “not being triggered” is not the goal
• How perfectionism shows up for cycle breakers
• What’s actually in your control this week
• How to prepare for emotional flooding, guilt, and old survival mode
• A realistic definition of “success” for adult children of toxic parents
• How to navigate the holiday without dissociating or blaming yourself

This episode is your reminder that complicated emotions don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you’re human.

Want ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to the full archive of You’re Not Crazy? Join the Private Feed for $5/month. It’s the easiest way to support the show and get more cycle-breaker support in your week.

Join here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why Your Boundaries With a Toxic Parent Keep Failing

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 22:23:00 +0000

In today’s episode, Torie breaks down the 5 most common reasons boundaries with narcissistic, emotionally immature, and otherwise toxic parents fail, and the practical shifts that actually help them stick.

Join here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

You deserve a peaceful holiday season, and you don’t have to wing it this year.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Holiday Guilt Hits Hard: How to Tell Manipulative Guilt from Healthy Guilt (and What to Do About It)

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 11 Nov 2025 21:53:00 +0000

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, therapist and boundaries coach Torie Wiksell breaks down the difference between healthy guilt and the manipulative guilt toxic parents use to control you.

You’ll learn:

Why guilt feels so overwhelming for adult children of narcissistic or emotionally immature parents
How to recognize when guilt is being used as manipulation
Practical steps to calm your body and stop guilt from driving your decisions

If you grew up walking on eggshells or still feel responsible for your parent’s emotions, this conversation will help you find clarity, self-trust, and relief.

Join here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why “Family Estrangement” Misses the Point: What No One’s Saying About Going No Contact With Toxic Parents

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Mon, 3 Nov 2025 23:32:00 +0000

As a therapist, boundaries coach, and cycle breaker herself, Torie shares the deeper truth behind these painful family dynamics: what really leads someone to end contact, how the media gets it wrong, and why accountability and power dynamics must be part of the conversation.

If you’ve ever been told you “abandoned” your family or felt judged for making the gut-wrenching decision to protect your peace, this episode will remind you that you’re not crazy — and that choosing yourself does not make you a selfish person.

We’ll cover:

Why “family estrangement” has become a loaded, stigmatizing term
The power imbalance between parents and adult children that not enough people are talking about
The truth about why cycle breakers go no contact — and why it’s never impulsive
How media narratives and even some therapists perpetuate shame
A more honest, hopeful way to talk about healing family relationships

Join here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When Caring Becomes Self-Abandonment: How Cycle Breakers Get Stuck in the Caretaker Role

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 02:56:00 +0000

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, therapist and boundaries coach Torie Wiksell shares the truth about how that same caretaking instinct keeps so many cycle breakers stuck. Torie opens up about her own experience navigating guilt, fear, and the pressure to protect the people in her family who hurt her—especially as she shares her own story publicly.

This conversation explores:

How caretaking becomes a form of self-abandonment
Why guilt doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it means you’re breaking a pattern
What it actually looks like to stop managing everyone else’s emotions
How to release responsibility for other people’s discomfort without losing your empathy

If you’ve ever felt torn between taking care of yourself and protecting your family’s feelings, this episode will help you understand why that tension exists—and how to start choosing yourself without shame.

Torie’s reminder for this week:

“ It is not our job to comfort people we care about when they are uncomfortable with us taking care of ourselves.”

Want ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to the full archive of You’re Not Crazy? Join the Private Feed for $5/month. It’s the easiest way to support the show and get more cycle-breaker support in your week.Join here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How Narcissistic Parenting Primes You for Abuse: My Most Vulnerable Story Yet

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 21 Oct 2025 09:59:00 +0000

This episode explores the direct pipeline from narcissistic parenting to abusive partners. If you’ve ever blamed yourself for how you survived, this one’s for you.

Want ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, and access to the full archive of You’re Not Crazy? Join the Private Feed. It’s the easiest way to support the show and get more cycle-breaker support in your week.

Join here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, please reach out to local emergency services or the National Domestic Violence Hotline https://www.thehotline.org/

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

No Contact Isn’t Trendy: The Truth About How Hard Cycle Breakers Fight for Toxic Parent Relationships

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 9 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000

In this episode, therapist and boundaries coach Torie Wiksell (and fellow cycle breaker) exposes the myth of “no contact as a fad” and validates the years—sometimes decades—of exhausting effort cycle breakers pour into maintaining relationships with narcissistic or emotionally immature parents before making the heartbreaking decision to step back.

We’ll cover:

Why going no contact with a toxic parent is never taken lightly
The hidden grief and guilt cycle breakers face when boundaries still aren’t respected
How narcissistic parents weaponize the “estranged parent” narrative
What it really takes to break the cycle of dysfunction without losing yourself

If you’ve ever questioned whether you’ve “tried hard enough” with your toxic parent, this episode will give you the validation and relief you need.

Join here: https://www.confidentboundaries.com/private

And if you need more support with your own toxic parent, check out Confident Boundaries with Toxic Parents, Torie’s self-guided course that walks you step-by-step through setting boundaries, navigating guilt, and creating realistic strategies for dealing with toxic family dynamics.

When you enroll this week, you’ll also get her Holiday Survival Guide for free: a practical, trauma-informed roadmap for navigating the season with clarity and confidence.

Get immediate access at ConfidentBoundaries.com/course

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Grieving the Life You Deserved: Healing From a Toxic Parent

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 8 Jul 2025 03:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I talk about the complicated grief that surfaces once we begin setting boundaries and creating distance from toxic, narcissistic, or emotionally immature parents.

I share what it looked like in my own life— the emotional toll of being a parentified child, and why our healing journey often involves mourning the milestones we missed while we were just trying to survive.

This conversation is especially for those who feel behind in life, who struggle with guilt for being sad about the past, or who just need to hear that it’s okay to grieve what should have been. Because healing from a toxic parent doesn’t mean pretending it didn’t hurt—it means being honest with our reality, making space for that pain, and still choosing to move forward.

If you're looking for support navigating your cycle breaking journey in real time, the Boundaries Helper GPT inside the Confident Boundaries Membership is now live and ready to help.

➔Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership ($39/month and the first 24 hours are free!)

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors!

🎧 Ready for More?
➔Subscribe to You're Not Crazy: The Private Feed for ad-free episodes, bonus content, and archived episodes no longer available in the public feed: confidentboundaries.com/private

📱 Download the Confident Boundaries App
iOS and Android

Let's be friends:
tiktok.com/@theboundariescoach
instagram.com/torieatconfidentboundaries

Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in crisis, please call the 988 Crisis Lifeline.

You're Not Crazy is owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You're Not Doomed: Escaping a Pattern of Dysfunctional Relationships

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 1 Jul 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Big news! The Confident Boundaries App is officially live—now available for free on iPhone and Android. Inside, you’ll get instant access to a curated starter bundle of some of my favorite episodes and articles to support your healing from family dysfunction.

In today’s episode, we’re digging into a question I hear often from adult children of narcissistic parents or those with unmanaged BPD:
“Why do I keep ending up in toxic relationships?”

When you grow up with emotionally immature or abusive parents, you're taught to dismiss your gut, minimize your needs, and tolerate mistreatment. That pattern doesn’t magically disappear in adulthood.

You’re not doomed to repeat these patterns forever. You can learn healthy love—and it starts with understanding what was never your fault to begin with.

📲 Download the Confident Boundaries app now to start healing with practical tools and community support. And if this episode hit home, tap 5 stars and leave a quick review to help others find the podcast.

Link to download on iPhone:

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/confident-boundaries/id6746057902

Link to download on Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kj2148582879.app&pcampaignid=web_share

➔Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership ($39/month and the first 24 hours are free!)

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors!

📱 Download the Confident Boundaries App
iOS and Android

Let's be friends:
tiktok.com/@theboundariescoach
instagram.com/torieatconfidentboundaries

Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in crisis, please call the 988 Crisis Lifeline.

You're Not Crazy is owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The Loneliness of Being the Cycle Breaker

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 06:00:00 +0000

If you’re breaking toxic cycles in a family marked by emotional immaturity, narcissism, or borderline traits, there’s something we don’t talk about enough: the profound loneliness that can come with healing.

You’re not just setting boundaries—you’re stepping out of the role your family expected you to play. Maybe you were the peacekeeper, the fixer, the golden child, or the scapegoat. But once you stop playing by the unspoken rules, the system fights to pull you back in.

What hurts the most is realizing your family often wants access to the old version of you—not the healthier, more boundaried version you’ve worked so hard to become. That rejection can feel like losing your family all over again.

This episode is for the cycle breakers—the ones doing the heavy lifting, often in silence, wondering if anyone else truly gets it.

You’ll learn:

Why healing often feels lonelier before it feels better
How to reframe your isolation as a sign of growth
Where to find real, mutual support outside of dysfunctional systems

Ready to connect with other cycle breakers? Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership: confidentboundaries.com/membership

➔Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership ($39/month and the first 24 hours are free!)

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors!

📱 Download the Confident Boundaries App
iOS and Android

Let's be friends:
tiktok.com/@theboundariescoach
instagram.com/torieatconfidentboundaries

Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in crisis, please call the 988 Crisis Lifeline.

You're Not Crazy is owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Breaking Cycles Without Breaking Yourself

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 03:00:00 +0000

Healing isn’t linear—especially when you’re the cycle breaker. In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, I’m pulling back the curtain on what real, sustainable healing looks like when you grew up with emotionally immature, narcissistic, or borderline parents.

I share how becoming a therapist over a decade ago didn’t free me from my dysfunctional patterns—it magnified them. I was the classic parentified child turned overwhelmed helper: running myself into the ground trying to "fix" everything and help everyone.

I talk about how I'm working on breaking toxic cycles right now and all the feelings and thoughts I have around my own healing journey.

Jess Gleim
Marketing Strategist and Meta Ads Expert. Smart, data-backed strategy that actually makes you money.

➔Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership ($39/month and the first 24 hours are free!)

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors!

📱 Download the Confident Boundaries App
iOS and Android

Let's be friends:
tiktok.com/@theboundariescoach
instagram.com/torieatconfidentboundaries

Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in crisis, please call the 988 Crisis Lifeline.

You're Not Crazy is owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What If Protecting Yourself Is the Honest Thing to Do?

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Cycle breakers are often raised to believe that honesty = full disclosure and transparency… even when the other person has a history of weaponizing that honesty against them.

In this episode of You’re Not Crazy, we’re digging into the messy middle between brutal honesty and self-abandonment—especially when it comes to dealing with parents who have borderline personality disorder (BPD) or narcissistic personality disorder (NPD).

So many of us value being open and real because we didn’t get that growing up. But when it comes to setting boundaries with toxic parents, that same desire to be transparent can backfire—leaving us feeling overexposed, manipulated, and unsafe.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

The difference between honesty and over-disclosure
How I decide what to share (and not share) on this podcast and in my own life
Why you don’t owe anyone—not even your parent—access to your most vulnerable truths
And the underrated boundary no one talks about: walking away when you're being mistreated

→Ready to learn why your boundaries haven’t been working—and what to do instead? Grab my free mini-course at confidentboundaries.com/course

➔Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership ($39/month and the first 24 hours are free!)

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors!

📱 Download the Confident Boundaries App
iOS and Android

Let's be friends:
tiktok.com/@theboundariescoach
instagram.com/torieatconfidentboundaries

Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in crisis, please call the 988 Crisis Lifeline.

You're Not Crazy is owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are You Putting Out Fires or Breaking the Cycle?

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 27 May 2025 01:00:00 +0000

Let’s talk about the real work of breaking dysfunctional family cycles.

If you're the adult child of a parent with borderline or narcissistic personality disorder, you probably know the drill: chaos explodes, you search frantically for tools to survive it… and then once things settle down, you convince yourself it's “not that bad.” Sound familiar?

This episode is your reminder that healing isn’t just something you do in a crisis. In fact, the most transformative progress happens between the chaos—when things are calm, quiet, and deceptively “fine.”

In this episode, I break down why that in-between time is exactly when you need to be doing the deeper work. Because this is your chance to reclaim your life without being stuck in reaction mode. We’ll talk about what real healing looks like, how to stop falling for the illusion of “it’s better now,” and why the work you do when things are calm is what actually sets you free.

Whether you’ve been the scapegoat, the peacekeeper, or the fixer—this is your sign to stop waiting for another meltdown to reach out for support. Let’s normalize choosing to heal—not just when you have to, but when you can.

Take my free boundaries course: confidentboundaries.com/workshop

Jess Gleim
Marketing Strategist and Meta Ads Expert. Smart, data-backed strategy that actually makes you money.

➔Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership ($39/month and the first 24 hours are free!)

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors!

📱 Download the Confident Boundaries App
iOS and Android

Let's be friends:
tiktok.com/@theboundariescoach
instagram.com/torieatconfidentboundaries

Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in crisis, please call the 988 Crisis Lifeline.

You're Not Crazy is owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"But They're Your Parent": Toxic Things People Say to Cycle Breakers

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Tue, 13 May 2025 06:00:00 +0000

Surviving (not thriving) Mother's Day weekend is what we're celebrating this week. Breaking cycles isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. Your commitment to healing, despite few healthy examples, is powerful. Be gentle with yourself; your journey of growth deserves compassion, not criticism.

Next we’re calling out the toxic phrases that gaslight, invalidate, and harm adult children of parents with BPD or NPD. You've probably heard, "But they're your parents, you should forgive them," or "When they die, you'll miss them." Unsurprisingly, I share how much I hate these comments and try to give you a chuckle along the way.

One week left to join the Confident Boundaries Membership before prices go up!
Click here to join for $69/month
Click here to join for $189/quarter

My FREE Boundaries Workshop: confidentboundaries.com/workshop

Learn more about the Confident Boundaries Membership: confidentboundaries.com/membership

➔Join me in the Confident Boundaries Membership ($39/month and the first 24 hours are free!)

A huge thank you to our podcast sponsors!

📱 Download the Confident Boundaries App
iOS and Android

Let's be friends:
tiktok.com/@theboundariescoach
instagram.com/torieatconfidentboundaries

Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you’re in crisis, please call the 988 Crisis Lifeline.

You're Not Crazy is owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to You're Not Crazy!

admin@bleav.com (Torie Wiksell) — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 20:00:00 +0000

Welcome to You're Not Crazy: A Podcast for the Adult Children of Parents with Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders. Hosted by therapist and coach Torie Wiksell, this podcast is dedicated to those who have grown up trying to navigate the complicated and challenging realities of having a parent with borderline or narcissistic personality disorder. In this first episode, Torie introduces herself, share a bit about her background and experience, and tells you what you can expect from this podcast. Listen every Tuesday for support, encouragement, and practical advice to help you on your journey towards peace and healing—and to remind yourself that you're definitely not crazy.