Dear Dr. Tracy You’re Not Broken: The Real Reason You Still React After Leaving a Toxic Partner—and How to Rewire for Connection
In this episode of From the Couch, Dr. Tracy talks about what really happens after ending a toxic or narcissistic relationship and why healing isn’t just emotional—it’s neurological.
When you’ve spent years being shamed, blamed, or dismissed, your nervous system learns that mistakes and disagreements aren’t safe. Neurons that fire together wire together, meaning your body develops reflexive responses that follow you into new relationships.
Dr. Tracy explains how this wiring forms, why you may still react with fear or shutdown even when you’re no longer in that environment, and why this doesn’t mean you’re broken.
Dr. Tracy shares three essential steps for healing: creating new messages of safety through repetition, practicing co-regulation with a safe partner, and releasing stored stress through movement and breath work. She also emphasizes the role of self-compassion in trauma recovery and rebuilding trust.
If you’re navigating life after a toxic relationship and wondering why it still feels hard, this episode will help you understand your nervous system and begin rewiring toward safety and connection.
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