Podcast Info
- A new podcast episode drops every Monday.
- Music credit: L-Ray Music, Courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.
- Learn more about your host, Cordelia, by clicking here
- Be sure to follow Cordelia on Instagram: @codependentrecovery
- Want to help me make this podcast better? Take an anonymous survey here.
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WORKBOOK + COMMUNITY + RESOURCES
- Want access to free resources? Click here
- Need help finding a therapist? Click here
- Check out Cordelia's book recommendations here
- Disclosure: Cordelia is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and she will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
- Are you going through a breakup or divorce? Here is the link to the 98-page workbook. Print version + ebook version available worldwide.
- Want to join the community (i.e., community club or book club)? Click here
- Interested in any other affiliate links? Click here
- Note: affiliate links mean Cordelia earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
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HOW TO BREAK OUT OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIP PATTERNS
- Heal all the parts of you (including the part of you that stayed or wanted to stay).
- Find a licensed counselor/therapist: Check out Open Path if you are in the US & money is an issue [https://openpathcollective.org/].
- Explore childhood wounds.
- Make a list of warning signs/red flags for future relationships.
- Be gentle with yourself.
- Read books to help you understand your issues better [i.e., I realized I struggle with codependency issues, so the following books helped me: “Codependent No More” by Melody Beattie” & “Facing Codependence” by Pia Mellody”]
- Buy a workbook for self-esteem [i.e., I bought “the Self Esteem Workbook” by Glenn R. Schiraldi”]
- Accept help from your support system and friends.
- Focus on living in the present.
- Practice positive self-talk.
- Write out a list of dealbreakers that you will stick to in the future.
- Assess what your boundaries are [see below for examples].
- Go no contact with your ex.
- Fully acknowledge you have a pattern of being in toxic relationships.
- Explore what relationships were modeled to you as a child.
- Think about a friend or family member’s relationship that you respect. Take notes [i.e., try to find a new “model” for a healthy relationship].
- Give yourself time to heal. Do not date until you are healed.
- Form new friendships + build a social network.
- Reconnect with any family + friends that you drifted from during your toxic relationship
- Develop hobbies + interests.
- Learn how to trust your gut/intuition in relationships.
- Consider seeing a psychiatrist for underlying issues (i.e., depression).
- Go outside more + go for walks.
- Don’t be afraid to tell your story.
- Cut out people from your life that don’t make you feel good about yourself.
- Get some sunlight + go outside.
- Aim for 7 to 9 hours of sleep per night.
- Take care of basic hygiene (brush your teeth, take a shower, etc.).
- Get rid of any reminders of your ex.
- Accept reality + abandon the fantasy.
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CORDELIA’S BOUNDARIES:
- I will not sleep with someone who calls me names.
- I will not reach out to someone who abandoned me.
- I will not take back someone who cheated.
- I will not have conversations with anyone if I feel desperate.