EP07: Breaking Free from Toxic Family: How to Set Boundaries When Choosing Yourself Feels Like Betrayal

In this raw and vulnerable episode, Elizabeth shares her deeply personal journey of cutting contact with her abusive father and the profound impact of childhood trauma on adult relationships. As someone who grew up as a people-pleaser in an immigrant household, she explores the painful but necessary process of choosing your own healing over family expectations.

Elizabeth opens up about the decision to not invite her father to her wedding, the lasting effects of verbal abuse, and how childhood trauma shapes our internal narrative. She discusses the science behind early childhood development and how repeated negative messages become internalized as core beliefs.

This episode dives deep into:

• The courage it takes to go no-contact with toxic family members
• How trauma follows us even after leaving abusive environments
• The difference between physical safety and mental safety
• Learning to set boundaries as an adult when you never had them as a child
• Dealing with family pressure and guilt when enforcing boundaries
• The ripple effects of changing family dynamics
• Choosing peace over people-pleasing

If you've ever felt torn between your own healing and family obligations, struggled with setting boundaries, or are working through childhood trauma, this episode offers hope, validation, and practical insights for your journey.