Mend or Move On? Navigating Toxic Relationships with Kate King (567)

Episode Summary What makes a relationship truly toxic, and how do you know whether it can be repaired or whether it's time to walk away? In this episode, Eric is joined by licensed professional counselor, board-certified art therapist, and Radiant Life Project founder Kate King, author of Mend or Move On: A Guide to Healing or Leaving Toxic Relationships. Together, they explore toxic dynamics in romantic relationships, families, friendships, and workplaces, including why ADHDers and other neurodivergent people may be especially vulnerable to people-pleasing, fawning, conflict avoidance, and staying too long in painful situations. Kate shares her framework for the seven traps that can keep us stuck, along with practical ways to recognize patterns, communicate needs, build tolerance for difficult conversations, and decide whether a relationship has the mutual willingness needed to mend. Show Notes In this episode, you'll learn: How to distinguish a truly toxic relationship from a relationship that is simply struggling Why your body may recognize a toxic dynamic before your brain fully accepts it How familiar dysfunction can feel safer than unfamiliar change The difference between healthy interdependence and codependency Why people-pleasing, fawning, and conflict avoidance are often rooted in nervous-system safety patterns How to begin practicing "easier hard things" to build tolerance for difficult conversations How to assess whether a relationship, family dynamic, or workplace can be repaired Why mutual willingness is essential if a relationship is going to mend Kate's seven traps of toxic relationships: Buy-in Comfort Powerlessness False ownership Unhealed trauma Avoidance Codependency Guest Kate King is a former licensed professional counselor, board-certified art therapist, award-winning author, radiant life coach, and founder of The Radiant Life Project. She is the author of The Radiant Life Project and Mend or Move On: A Guide to Healing or Leaving Toxic Relationships. Learn more about Kate, her books, and her work at theradiantlifeproject.com. Resources Mentioned The Radiant Life Project: theradiantlifeproject.com ADHD reWired Coaching & Accountability Groups: coachingrewired.com One-on-one ADHD coaching worldwide and therapy in Illinois: adhdrewired.com Adult Study Hall: adhdrewired.com Support ADHD reWired on Patreon: patreon.com/adhdrewired Patreon Update The monthly Patreon Coaching Call, available to Patreon supporters at the $25/month level and above, is held on the last Tuesday of each month. The call has moved from 4:00 p.m. Eastern to 2:00 p.m. Eastern. Chapters 6:01 — Introduction and Guest Bio 7:10 — Kate's ADHD Connection: Growing Up with an ADHD Parent 11:31 — Identifying a Toxic Workplace 15:44 — Mend or Move On: Where to Start 20:54 — Personal and Family Relationships 21:59 — Three Signs of a Truly Toxic Relationship 23:24 — The One Requirement to Mend a Relationship 30:46 — Building the Courage to Leave 33:26 — The Seven Traps of Toxic Relationships: Introduction and False Ownership 36:33 — Buy-in, Comfort, and Powerlessness 37:42 — Unhealed Trauma and Shadow Work 38:53 — Avoidance and Codependency 43:17 — Kate's Relationship and Healing Journey 45:48 — Spotting Gaslighting in a Partnership 48:53 — You Don't Owe Anyone Anything 51:42 — Where to Find Kate's Work