How To Leave a Toxic Relationship: Trauma Bonds, Codependency, & Narcissistic Abuse

Listen to this episode from Adult Child on Spotify. Leaving a toxic relationship isn’t just hard — it can feel impossible when trauma bonds, guilt, and confusion are running the show. This episode breaks down exactly why that happens and how to finally break free.Darlene Lancer is a licensed marriage and family therapist and the author of Conquering Shame and Codependency and Dating, Loving, and Leaving a Narcissist. After surviving her own painful relationship with a narcissist, Darlene spent decades researching, writing, and guiding others through the complex terrain of codependency and narcissistic abuse.Key Takeaways:🔹 The Trauma Bond Trap: Understand how the cycle of intermittent reinforcement keeps you stuck — and why leaving often feels more terrifying than staying.🔹 How Narcissists Erode Reality: Explore the tactics narcissists use to distort your perception, make you doubt yourself, and slowly dismantle your sense of identity.’🔹 The Hidden Cost of Codependency: Why self-sacrifice isn’t selflessness — and how chronic people-pleasing becomes a survival strategy rooted in early attachment wounds.🔹 Rebuilding Self-Trust After Narcissistic Abuse: Learn the slow, powerful process of reconnecting with your inner voice and learning to trust your perceptions again.🔹 Breaking the Addiction to Dysfunction: Why toxic love can feel like a high — and what it really takes to break free from the compulsive pull of unhealthy relationships.⬇️DAMN THE JOIN SHITSHOW - ADULT CHILD HEALING COMMUNITY⬇️https://theshitshow.mn.co6 weekly zoom support groups (see the full schedule here!)Support community at your fingertips with discussion boards and chat📰SIGN UP FOR SHITSHOW NATION - ADULT CHILD NEWSLETTER👩HELP A GIRL & CAT EAT🐱  www.buymeacoffee.com/adultchild🛍️SHITSHOW MERCH🛍️www.adultchildpodcast.com/shop🎙️NEW TO THE POD🎙️How I learned I was an Adult Child - The Tale of 2 BriansTHE LAUNDRY LIST - Common Characteristics of an Adult ChildFollow Andrea on socialwww.instagram.com/adultchildpodwww.tiktok.com/@adultchildpodhttps://www.youtube.com/@adultchildpodOur Sponsors:* Check out Bioma Health and use my code ADULTCHILD for a great deal: https://gobioma.com/ADULTCHILD* Check out Calm: https://calm.com/ADULTCHILD* Check out Happy Mammoth and use my code ADULTCHILD for a great deal: https://happymammoth.com* Check out PharmaNutra and use my code ADULTCHILD for a great deal: https://pharmanutra-us.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy