When a dysfunctional upbringing leaves you with nothing but broken tools

When your lessons come back to test you: Our past lessons and learnings can sometimes sneak up on us as a challenge to pass to prepare us for what may come. "Passing" usually means facing a fear of some sort. "Failing" usually means repeating the same old thing over and over again until we... by The Overwhelmed Brain

41 min listen

What if I have no clue who I am?: Have you ever been told to reconnect with who you were, but really have no clue who that is? Some people started their life in a toxic or dysfunctional environment and have no healthy self to reconnect with. What do you do then? There are steps... by The Overwhelmed Brain

40 min listen

When family believes they know what's best for you: As an adult, you've learned to take care of yourself. You believe you are making the right decisions and following the best steps you can to find happiness. But then there's family. Some family can believe you're doing the wrong thing and want you to... by The Overwhelmed Brain

30 min listen

When all feels lost and you believe nothing will ever be good again: Experiences of loss, such as a breakup and losing your job can have a profound emotional impact on you. In fact, it can feel devastating. Afterward, a childlike confusion can follow. Will the pain, sadness, or confusion ever end? Is there a path... by The Overwhelmed Brain

35 min listen

Trying to avoid overwhelm and disappointment while moving toward your goal: Going for goals can be, well, disappointing. Trying to get something done might give you feelings of failure when you don't get it done. Are you a goal setter or do you wing it? I hate goal-setting myself. I'll share some of my thoughts on this to... by The Overwhelmed Brain

26 min listen

The inner conflict of tough decisions: What drives the important decisions in your life, fear or desire? In this episode I talk about a person's fear of visiting his father because of family that doesn't want him there. I also talk about how to start trusting again after someone betrays... by The Overwhelmed Brain

40 min listen

Can a chronic complainer ever be content?: There's a fine line between real suffering versus just getting stuck in a cycle of feeling sorry for yourself. The chronic complainer's suffering is real, but is it self-inflicted? Do they really want to change? And do some people benefit from... by The Overwhelmed Brain

56 min listen

Stuck in the middle of someone else's relationship issues: Trying to encourage a friend in a relationship to see the truth about their toxic partner can come with its own set of challenges, especially when the friend doesn't want to hear it and the toxic person wants to shut you down. by The Overwhelmed Brain

63 min listen

When the new person in your life still has feelings for their ex: What happens when you fall for someone who might still have feelings for the person they were with? Is it a relationship that can survive? Or will the fear of them returning to the person they cared about before you be too much for you to keep it... by The Overwhelmed Brain

65 min listen

How do I deal with someone always putting me down?: When someone constantly puts you down, it’s not just hurtful; it’s destructive. I’ll share some personal strategies that could help you navigate these rough waters, aiming to keep your self-esteem intact. by The Overwhelmed Brain

57 min listen

The quirks that might make others judge us: A "germaphobe" shares their challenge at a work function with food being the catalyst for an embarrassing moment that ended up in tears. When you have behaviors and nuances that others might judge you for, do you hide them from the world? Should you?... by The Overwhelmed Brain

58 min listen

Can challenges and conflicts lead to happiness?: Why is it so hard to strike a balance between our own happiness and the happiness of those we care about? In today’s episode, I tackle the challenges of relational conflict and the importance of acknowledging when we’re not okay. We face tough... by The Overwhelmed Brain

52 min listen

Am I wasting time thinking it's ever going to get better?: Is there light at the end of the tunnel of a troubled relationship? Past difficult relationships can certainly leave you with sensitivities to current and future ones, so it's important to make sure you align with what's most important to you and... by The Overwhelmed Brain

58 min listen

When you don't want to accept that thing they do: Why is it so hard to strike a balance between supporting someone's goals and managing our own reactions? Sometimes, we have to traverse a tightrope walk of love and support without the comfort of a safety net. When you want to love someone but they... by The Overwhelmed Brain

38 min listen

You only get along when you agree they have no flaws: Should you concede to another person's flaws to maintain peace? We all seek approval at times, but in some relationships, this quest can take on a different hue, especially when one’s own insecurities are creating difficult and sometimes toxic... by The Overwhelmed Brain

49 min listen

Will the long-term lie tear the relationship apart?: What is the consequence of withholding a big secret from the person you are supposed to have an honest, transparent relationship with? Secrets can lead to lies that lead to people feeling betrayed, causing pain when all of it could have probably been... by The Overwhelmed Brain

40 min listen

Should you keep the door open to people who want to close it?: Enforcing boundaries with family is hard enough, but what if they want to enforce them with you? What if they want to close the door to your relationship, even though you didn't do anything wrong? In this episode, I read a message from a woman... by The Overwhelmed Brain

52 min listen

Why you can't get through to some people: Why do we sometimes struggle to make ourselves understood? You know that moment when you’re explaining something you’re sure you know inside and out, but the person you’re talking to just isn’t getting it? It’s not about the complexity of... by The Overwhelmed Brain

45 min listen

The tiny things that improve your life: Have you ever had a tiny squeak in a door in your home that irritated you every time you used it? What happens after you oil the hinge and the squeak goes away? To some, it can feel like a life-changing moment! That and other quality-of-life... by The Overwhelmed Brain

51 min listen

Challenges come in all shapes and sizes in romantic relationships: Romantic relationships bring their share of challenges. In this episode, I Why is it that even with the best intentions, relationships can feel like navigating a minefield? You might have experienced the tension that comes with tough partners, the... by The Overwhelmed Brain

62 min listen

When friends and family think you're making a bad decision: Your friends and family really want the best for you. But what are they going to say when they see you make a decision they believe is just crazy? I explore that very topic in this episode. A woman writes to me and tells me she's taking a break from... by The Overwhelmed Brain

56 min listen

Holding on to guilt: Do you feel bad for what you did? Do you feel guilty? How long ago was it? Is feeling guilt a necessary component of healing? In this episode, someone feels guilty for moving on without their friends from the past and wants to know how to stop. Their... by The Overwhelmed Brain

58 min listen

Carrying around the past can screw up the present: The past shapes who we are today. Sometimes, that past is also what haunts us today. And sometimes, it even torments others even when we don't mean to. Digging into ourselves can be the hardest step toward mental and emotional strength, but it is... by The Overwhelmed Brain

36 min listen

Standing proud in your own worth when others are incapable of seeing it: Unfortunately, there are people in the world who will never see your worth. They may, in fact, be incapable of seeing anything past their own judgments. That can be tough to deal with sometimes, especially if these people are supposed to be close. by The Overwhelmed Brain

33 min listen

BONUS - Time to sleep: This is a sleep episode. Listen when you're ready to go to sleep. Make sure your podcast app doesn't automatically play another episode as it might wake you up. This episode has a long silence at the end. Enjoy your slumber. There are no... by The Overwhelmed Brain

30 min listen

The toxic partners of friends and family can make life more challenging: You may encounter situations where a friend or family member is closely involved with someone whose behavior is toxic or dysfunctional. While they may be unaware of the adverse impact of their partner or friend, it becomes a different story when this... by The Overwhelmed Brain

41 min listen

Where do you look when you believe this is all there is?: How deep do you have to dig in order to figure out who you are? What do you need in yourself and for yourself so that when you connect with others, you are connecting from that deeper, authentic place inside you? It can be a spiritual journey for... by The Overwhelmed Brain

50 min listen

Struggling with the fear of death: Some people have an existential dread surrounding death and dying. For some, death remains a profound mystery, while others hold steadfast beliefs about what lies beyond. Regardless of where you stand, if the fear of death consumes your thoughts, we... by The Overwhelmed Brain

55 min listen

Please get off your phone and pay attention to me: When people you care about put their attention on other things, like games or their phone, you may feel like they are ignoring and even neglecting you. If they are, that doesn't feel very good. What should you do? Tell them get off their phone or... by The Overwhelmed Brain

47 min listen

When perpetual resentment is the new normal of the relationship: What happens when there is a huge challenge in a relationship, perhaps where one person wrongs the other in some way, and the relationship changes for the worst... forever? Can it be salvaged? Is it over? Can there be a different "new normal" after a... by The Overwhelmed Brain

49 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

When a dysfunctional upbringing leaves you with nothing but broken tools

When a dysfunctional upbringing leaves you with nothing but broken tools

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from The Overwhelmed Brain

Related podcast episodes