Have you ever left a conversation feeling completely drained, questioning yourself, or worse – thinking about relapsing? You're not alone. In this powerful episode of The Addicted Mind Plus, Duane Osterlind tackles the crucial but often overlooked aspect of recovery: managing toxic relationships. Through a compelling case study of a woman six months into her sobriety journey, Osterlind reveals how seemingly supportive family members can unknowingly threaten our recovery with subtle comments and behaviors. He dives into the science behind how relationships affect our physical health, from our heart function to our immune system, and provides practical tools for identifying and managing toxic relationships in recovery. Whether you're in recovery or supporting someone who is, this episode offers valuable insights into creating a healthier support system for long-term sobriety.

Download: Toxic Relationships Worksheet

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Key Topics:

• Physical and emotional impacts of toxic relationships on recovery

• Scientific evidence linking relationship quality to physical health

• Signs of toxic relationships and how to identify them

• Three strategies for managing toxic relationships

• The importance of boundaries in recovery

• How to evaluate your current relationships

• Building a supportive network for recovery

Timestamps:

[00:01:24 ] Opening question about exhausting conversations and recovery

[00:02:15 ] Case study of client struggling with family relationships

[00:04:11 ] Science behind relationships and physical health

[00:06:39 ] How to identify toxic relationships

[00:09:32 ] Three main strategies for handling toxic relationships

[00:11:13 ] Practical exercise for evaluating relationships

[00:13:12 ] Resources and action steps for listeners

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.

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If you live in California and are looking for counseling or therapy please check out Novus Mindful Life Counseling and Recovery Center

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