Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
@RickHanson and I explore how to exit toxic relationships, and why it can be so hard to do just that. Rick talks about how positive traits like empathy, loyalty, and a sense of duty can keep us stuck, and we then discuss common relationship red flags like lovebombing, cycles of idealization and devaluation, power imbalances, and what I call “the fuzz.” Finally, we talk about how people can increase their chances of a healthy exit. Other topics include developing self-trust, trauma-bonding, shame, and breaking the cycle of “maybe next time they’ll…”
Key Topics:
0:00 Introduction
3:05 Why do good people stay in bad relationships?
10:02 Relationship red flags: the dark triad, devaluation, lovebombing, and the "fuzz"
24:17 How this shows up in Dr. Rick’s practice
39:48 How to get out: building self-trust, increasing your options, and duty to yourself
1:12:33 Recap
Subscribe to Being Well on:
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5d87ZU1XY0fpdYNSEwXLVQ
Who Am I: I'm Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (apple.co/38ufGG0). I'm making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.
Subscribe to Rick on YouTube: youtube.com/@RickHanson?sub_confirmation=1
Get Rick's Free Newsletters: rickhanson.com/writings/newsletters-from-dr-rick-hanson
Follow Rick Here:
🌍 rickhanson.com
📸 instagram.com/rickhansonphd
I'm not a clinician, and what I say on this channel should not be taken as medical advice.
You can follow me here:
🎤 apple.co/38ufGG0
🌍 forresthanson.com
📸 instagram.com/f.hanson
@RickHanson and I explore how to exit toxic relationships, and why it can be so hard to do just that. Rick talks about how positive traits like empathy, loyalty, and a sense of duty can keep us stuck, and we then discuss common relationship red flags like lovebombing, cycles of idealization and devaluation, power imbalances, and what I call “the fuzz.” Finally, we talk about how people can increase their chances of a healthy exit. Other topics include developing self-trust, trauma-bonding, shame, and breaking the cycle of “maybe next time they’ll…”
Key Topics:
0:00 Introduction
3:05 Why do good people stay in bad relationships?
10:02 Relationship red flags: the dark triad, devaluation, lovebombing, and the "fuzz"
24:17 How this shows up in Dr. Rick’s practice
39:48 How to get out: building self-trust, increasing your options, and duty to yourself
1:12:33 Recap
Subscribe to Being Well on:
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/being-well-with-dr-rick-hanson/id1120885936
Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5d87ZU1XY0fpdYNSEwXLVQ
Who Am I: I'm Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (apple.co/38ufGG0). I'm making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.
Subscribe to Rick on YouTube: youtube.com/@RickHanson?sub_confirmation=1
Get Rick's Free Newsletters: rickhanson.com/writings/newsletters-from-dr-rick-hanson
Follow Rick Here:
🌍 rickhanson.com
📸 instagram.com/rickhansonphd
I'm not a clinician, and what I say on this channel should not be taken as medical advice.
You can follow me here:
🎤 apple.co/38ufGG0
🌍 forresthanson.com
📸 instagram.com/f.hanson
