87. Toxic Love: Trauma Bonding & Relationship Red (and Green!) Flags with Dr. Nadine Macaluso

We hear terms like narcissist, love bombing, and trauma bonding a lot on social media. But what do they actually mean? And how can you recognize the signs so you can avoid, or begin to heal from, a toxic relationship? We explore these complex questions with Dr. Nadine Macaluso, a somatic psychologist and psychotherapist, in today’s episode of the podcast. Dr. Macaluso’s mission is to break the stigma of abusive relationships– and her first book, Run Like Hell, will be released this month. In this conversation, Dr. Macaluso shares her story of leaving her marriage to Jordan Belfort, the stockbroker infamously known as the Wolf of Wall Street, and reveals her journey to becoming a therapist at age 39 – giving us a great illustration of why it’s never too late to start something new. She tells us all about pathological relationships, trauma bonding, and love bombing while revealing how to recognize if you’re in a toxic relationship. Plus, advice for nurturing relationships, co-parenting, and spotting red (and green!) flags while dating. We wrap up by answering questions from The Big Silence community. Nobody teaches us about relationships in school. Today, we’re all getting an essential education! (00:03:13) What Led Nadine to Her Therapy Career at Age 39 (00:06:55) Dating The Wolf of Wall Street (00:09:43) Recognizing the Signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (00:14:23) How Long Does It Take To Heal From a Toxic Relationship? (00:19:42) What Is a Trauma Bond? (00:21:22) Trauma’s Profound Impact on the Body (00:22:34) Identifying Red (and Green!) Flags in Dating (00:25:31) Co-Parenting With a Toxic Ex (00:27:07) What Is Somatic Psychology? (00:30:16) Questions From The Big Silence Community (00:38:10) Why Everyone Should Be Taught About Relationships Resources: Read: Run Like Hell by Dr. Nadine Macaluso Website: drnae.com Instagram: @therealdrnadine TikTok: @drnaelmft YouTube: The Real Dr. Nadine Brainmanager Big Five Personality Quiz Tone It Up Refresh & Reset Challenge 2024 Read: The Big Silence: A Daughter's Memoir of Mental Illness and Healing Follow Karena Dawn on Instagram: @karenadawn Follow The Big Silence on Instagram: @The.Big.Silence Subscribe: The Big Silence YouTube Channel Therapy For All: Resources for those in need Donate to The Big Silence thebigsilence.com/donate to be a part of the movement to break the silence and make noise with...