Real talk. Radical healing. Deep empowerment — straight to your inbox.
Real talk. Radical healing. Deep empowerment — straight to your inbox.
Healing from Toxic Relationships: Recognizing the Signs and Taking Back Your Power
If you’ve ever felt drained, anxious, or just plain unhappy after spending time with someone, whether it’s a partner, family member, or friend — you might be dealing with a toxic relationship. And you’re not alone.
Toxic relationships sneak in quietly. They might start with little red flags that seem easy to overlook, but over time, they chip away at your confidence, your peace, and your sense of self.
So, how do you know if a relationship is toxic? And more importantly, how do you begin to heal and reclaim your power? Let’s dive in.
What Does a Toxic Relationship Look Like?
Here are some common signs you might recognize:
You constantly feel drained or anxious around this person.
Your boundaries get ignored or pushed.
You find yourself apologizing all the time, even when you haven’t done anything wrong.
You’re afraid to express your true feelings because you worry about the reaction.
You notice patterns of manipulation, guilt-tripping, or control.
Your self-esteem takes a hit when you’re with or thinking about them.
If any of this sounds familiar, it’s a sign that this relationship is hurting you, not helping you grow.
Why Do We Stay in Toxic Relationships?
It’s natural to want connection and love, even if it’s not healthy. Sometimes we stay because:
We hope the person will change.
We fear being alone.
We’ve learned unhealthy relationship patterns from childhood.
We don’t fully realize how much damage it’s causing.
But staying can keep you stuck in a cycle of pain and self-doubt.
Taking Back Your Power: Steps to Healing
Acknowledge the Truth: Recognizing the relationship is toxic is the first brave step. Give yourself credit for this awareness.
Set Boundaries: Start small. Say no to things that don’t feel right. Your boundaries are your protection.
Practice Self-Compassion: Remind yourself that it’s okay to prioritize your well-being. You deserve kindness — especially from yourself.
Reach Out for Support: Healing doesn’t have to be solo. Whether it’s friends, family, or a therapist (that’s where I come in), having someone who understands can make all the difference.
Focus on Rebuilding Your Self-Esteem: Toxic relationships can erode your confidence, but you can rebuild it step by step. Celebrate small victories and remind yourself of your worth every day.
You Deserve Healthy, Loving Relationships
It’s hard to heal from toxic relationships on your own, but it’s possible, and it starts with you choosing yourself. When you commit to your healing journey, you open the door to relationships that lift you up, respect you, and nurture your soul.
If you’re ready to take back your power and heal from toxic patterns, I’m here to support you every step of the way.
Book a consultation call with me and let’s start your path to empowerment and peace.
I offer individual sessions online and, offer group events and retreats in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Remember, healing is a journey — and you don’t have to walk it alone.
How Childhood Trauma Can Impact Your Self-Esteem and Relationships — And What You Can Do About It
How childhood trauma can affect your self-esteem and relationships, and what you can do about it
If you’ve ever wondered why your relationships sometimes feel like a rollercoaster, full of confusion, pain, or distance, you’re definitely not alone. A lot of us carry invisible wounds from childhood trauma that shape how we see ourselves and how we connect with others.
I want to talk with you about how those early experiences impact your self-esteem and your attachment style, and ultimately, how you show up in your relationships today. More importantly, I want you to know there’s hope for healing.
What Is Childhood Trauma, Anyway?
Childhood trauma can be anything from feeling ignored, abandoned, or unsafe as a kid — maybe it was abuse, neglect, or just growing up in an unpredictable environment. What matters is that those early years create deep impressions on your emotional world.
Your brain and heart learn how to cope, often by protecting yourself in ways that made sense back then, but don’t always serve you now.
How Trauma Affects Your Self-Esteem
When you grow up feeling unloved or unheard, it’s easy to start believing things like: “I’m not good enough,” “I’m unworthy of love,” or “There’s something wrong with me.” These thoughts stick around, even into adulthood.
Low self-esteem shows up in many ways: maybe you struggle to speak up, doubt your worth, or stay stuck in unhealthy patterns because deep down you don’t feel you deserve better.
Attachment Styles — Why You Relate the Way You Do
Attachment is just a fancy word for how you connect to others, especially those closest to you. When your early caregivers weren’t consistent or safe, it can create different attachment styles:
Anxious: You crave closeness but fear being abandoned.
Avoidant: You push people away because intimacy feels unsafe.
Disorganized: You feel stuck between wanting connection and fearing it.
None of these styles are “wrong” — they’re survival strategies your younger self developed. But they can cause challenges in adult relationships, like trust issues, jealousy, or emotional distance.
How This Plays Out in Your Relationships
If you’re struggling with self-esteem and attachment wounds, your relationships might feel like a constant tug-of-war — wanting closeness but also feeling scared, or settling for less than you deserve because you don’t feel worthy of better.
This can lead to patterns of repeating painful dynamics or feeling lonely even when you’re with someone.
Healing Is Possible — And You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Here’s the good news: healing from childhood trauma and building healthy self-esteem and attachments is possible. It takes courage, patience, and the right support.
That’s where I come in. Together, we can gently unpack those old wounds, rewrite the stories you tell yourself, and help you build stronger, more loving connections, starting with how you relate to yourself.
If you’re ready to take that next step toward healing and empowerment, I’m here for you. Let’s connect and start your journey. I offer individual sessions online, as well as hold retreats and sacred circles in Phoenix, Arizona.
Book a consultation call with me because you deserve to heal and thrive!