901. Toxic relationships: How they hurt you + how to find healing

In this episode, author, activist, and speaker Dr. Najwa Zebian joins us for a deeply honest conversation about relationships, healing, self-worth, and boundaries—especially what happens when a relationship slowly disconnects you from yourself. 

We explore why leaving a toxic relationship can feel so impossible, how manipulation can erode your ability to trust your own decisions, and why the first step toward healing may be much smaller than you think. 

From rebuilding your identity to learning what healthy attachment actually looks like, this episode is about becoming your own source of clarity again. We get into communication, self-awareness, autonomy, reciprocity, and the difference between being deeply connected to someone + losing yourself inside them.

We also talk about:

Why “just leave” can be the worst advice for someone in a toxic relationship

How toxic dynamics can take away your ability to trust your own decisions

Rebuilding your sense of self through small, everyday choices

Why staying in a painful relationship does not make the pain your fault

How to forgive yourself for staying longer than you wanted to

The difference between taking responsibility for your healing + blaming yourself

What healthy relationships actually require: transparency, communication, alignment, and reciprocity

How to be securely attached to someone while still remaining fully yourself