When Love Feels Like WhiplashHow to Recognize Toxic Relationship Cycles and Break Free from Emotional Chaos

This episode dives into what it really feels like to be caught in an unhealthy relationship cycle. Not the textbook signs, but the lived experience. The confusion after conversations that leave your chest tight. The highs that feel magical. The sudden shifts that make you wonder what you did wrong. The emotional whiplash that keeps you hooked even when you know something feels off.

You will hear two powerful stories. One reveals how trauma bonding forms through unpredictable affection and emotional withdrawal. The other shows how naming the cycle together can create real change. We also explore the science behind intermittent reinforcement and why your nervous system often confuses relief with love.

This is a tender conversation for anyone who has questioned their worth or stayed in a pattern that felt familiar rather than healthy. You will learn what real steadiness feels like and why your body often knows the truth first.

I mention a related Substack piece in the episode. You can read it here:Why We Keep Falling for the Same Kind of Love

If this episode resonates with you:Share it with someone who’s standing on the edge of their own growth.Subscribe to The Self-Love Shift wherever you listen to podcasts, or for deeper support, you can connect with me for 1:1 coaching, subscribe to my weekly self-love notes, or come hang out with me on Instagram where I share more self-love wisdom, nervous system support, and real talk.

Get full access to Heart Wisdom with Christina at christinaketchen.substack.com/subscribe