Being Well with Forrest Hanson and Dr. Rick Hanson Toxic Relationships: Why We Stay and How to Leave
24 snips
Dec 1, 2025 
Dr. Rick Hanson, a clinical psychologist and author known for his work on resilience, joins Forrest to discuss the complexities of toxic relationships. They explore why good-hearted people often stay in harmful situations, highlighting traits like empathy that can trap them. The conversation dives into red flags such as lovebombing and power imbalances, emphasizing the importance of self-trust for a healthy exit. They also address common patterns in therapy and provide practical steps for rebuilding one’s life after leaving a toxic relationship.
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Good Traits Can Keep You Stuck
- Our virtues like empathy, duty, and loyalty can keep us trapped in bad relationships.
- Rick Hanson urges differentiating those strengths from what serves your well‑being in real time.
Rick's Cult Experience
- Rick Hanson describes being drawn into a 'half a cult' in his late 20s despite being autonomous.
- The experience humbled him and taught that even well‑resourced people can get stuck.
Watch How They Are Under Pressure
- Look at who people are on bad days, not just their best moments.
- Narcissistic traits often function as an external emotional regulation strategy.
