Guilt-Tripped Again? How Toxic Parents Keep You Under Control

You're Not Crazy: A Podcast for Cycle Breakers with Toxic Parents

If you’ve ever felt a pit in your stomach after setting a boundary… or a wave of guilt for saying no to your parent’s last-minute demand… this episode is for you.

Guilt has been weaponized in toxic families for generations—and if you grew up with a toxic parent or narcissistic parent, chances are you’ve been conditioned to confuse manipulative guilt with a healthy conscience. But here’s the truth: that guilt you feel? It’s not because you’ve done something wrong. It’s because your parent taught you that their comfort matters more than your well-being.

In this episode, we break down:

• The difference between healthy guilt and the kind that keeps you stuck in people-pleasing mode
• Why you don’t need to prove your parent is “trying” to manipulate you for the guilt to be real and harmful

This is a must-listen for any adult child of emotionally immature, narcissistic, or borderline parents who’s ready to break the cycle and stop abandoning themselves to keep the peace.

Ready to find out why your boundaries aren’t working with your toxic parent? Take my free mini-course at confidentboundaries.com/course

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Register for my FREE mini-course, Why Your Boundaries Aren't Working With Your Toxic Parent:
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Torie Wiksell is a therapist and coach who specializes in working with the adult children of parents with borderline and narcissistic personality disorders. Torie brings a unique perspective having spent years working with clients with personality disorders and growing up with a mother she suspects had NPD with BPD traits. Torie provides online therapy to clients located in WA, OR, and CA, and online coaching internationally.
Disclaimer: This podcast is not therapy. If you are in mental health crisis, please contact the Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.
You're Not Crazy is a podcast owned and produced by Torie Wiksell and Confident Boundaries, LLC.

Chapters

1. Welcome and Personal Updates (00:00:00)

2. Special Birthday Offers and Gratitude (00:04:18)

3. Understanding Guilt in Toxic Relationships (00:04:56)

4. Healthy Guilt vs. Controlling Guilt (00:09:12)

5. Resources and Final Thoughts (00:14:02)