Do you ever feel like you’re waiting for the "other shoe to drop," even when things are going well? If you grew up in a high-conflict environment, your nervous system may have been wired to view chaos as "home."

In this episode, host Gretta welcomes trauma therapist and author Dr. Tracy Hutchinson to explore the deep-seated impact of being raised in unpredictable, high-stress family systems. The habits we formed to survive these environments often follow us into adulthood, showing up as anxiety, self-blame, and a pattern of choosing unstable relationships. In this episode, we cover the following:

• How to know if you have high-conflict family members.
• Why over-apologizing, "people-pleasing," and fawn responses can show up as a result of trauma.
• Understanding how unhealthy family patterns affect adult professional and romantic lives.
• Cognitive dissonance: what it is and how to detect it.
• How ghosting and estrangement are different, when estrangement may be necessary, and when to repair a relationship.
• How to heal & make meaning.

Dr. Tracy Hutchinson is a psychotherapist, professor, and author specializing in recovery from sociopathic abuse, narcissistic abuse, and family trauma. Her latest book, Adult Children of High-Conflict Parents: Find Freedom from Your Past, Heal the Pain of Toxic Relational Trauma, and Cultivate Lasting Self-Love, is a roadmap for anyone looking to heal.

Connect with Dr. Tracy Hutchinson:

Website | Facebook | Get the Book

Connect with Gretta:

Free Guide: What to Say To A Ghost
Free and Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | copingwithghosting.com

Host Gretta Perlmutter, a Certified Post Betrayal Transformation® Coach, delivers evidence-based strategies to turn personal betrayal into a powerful catalyst for growth and healing.

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools for your use. Coping With Ghosting is not providing health care or psychological therapy services and is not diagnosing or treating any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or other registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

Does it ever feel like you’re dating the same person with a different name? If you notice that you’re often gravitating toward emotionally unavailable people, this episode is for you.

Joining Gretta to discuss attachment is Trevor Hanson, coach and founder of The Art of Healing. Trevor teaches relationship and attachment skills through the Secure Self Club. In this show, Trevor deconstructs common relationship dynamics and shares how to finally break the cycle of insecure attachment.

This episode covers:

• How to move from an insecure attachment style to a more secure one.
• How anxious patterns can amplify avoidance.
• Why men who have an anxious attachment style may tend to get ghosted more.
• Insights on why men may be more prone to avoidant attachment.
• How porn and other addictions are often attempts to soothe unmet attachment needs.

If you’re ready to make powerful shifts in your life, this episode is for you.

Connect with Trevor:

Instagram | Trevor’s Website | YouTube | TikTok

Connect with Gretta:

Free Guide: What to Say To A Ghost
Free and Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | copingwithghosting.com

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools for your use. Coping With Ghosting is not providing health care or psychological therapy services and is not diagnosing or treating any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or other registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."

If your nervous system has been on high alert lately, you aren’t alone. Maybe you’re dealing with a painful betrayal or the silence of being ghosted, and facing a job issue, a personal loss, or health stress.

In this episode, Dr. Ken Huey from The Voice of Hope Podcast shares how to navigate compounded stress and find your way back from overwhelm when everything feels like "too much."

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Breath as an Anchor: Using your breath as the primary entry point to the present moment.
• Success vs. Distraction: Why achieving one "meaningful win" is more effective for stress relief than common distractions.
• Tools for a Reality Check: Using journaling and a "circle of trust" to reset your perspective after extremely stressful situations.
• Curating Your Influence: The importance of intentionally choosing the five people or sources that shape your mindset.
• From Betrayal to Boundaries: Shedding a victim mindset, taking your power back, and creating high standards and non-negotiable boundaries.

Whether you are reeling from a recent relationship ending or feeling the heavy weight of multiple issues, this conversation will give you free, easy-to-implement tools to help. It will give you hope.

Dr. Ken Huey is CEO at The Hope Group and Havenwood Academy in Utah, and Host of The Voice of Hope Podcast. Dr. Huey has over 25 years of experience in the mental health and behavioral healthcare fields and holds a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology.

Connect With Dr. Ken Huey:

Listen to The Voice of Hope Podcast and check out his LinkedIn

Connect with Gretta:

Free Guide: What to Say To A Ghost
Free and Private Facebook Support Group | Instagram | copingwithghosting.com

Music: "Ghosted" by Gustavo Zaiah

Disclaimer: This information is designed to mentor and guide you to cope with Ghosting by cultivating a positive mindset and implementing self-care practices. It is for educational purposes only; it solely provides self-help tools for your use. Coping With Ghosting is not providing health care or psychological therapy services and is not diagnosing or treating any physical or mental ailment of the mind or body. The content is not a substitute for therapy or any advice given by a licensed psychologist or other licensed or other registered professionals.

Support the show

Note to All Listeners: Ghosting is defined as: The practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication (Oxford Languages). When you leave an abusive situation without saying "goodbye," it's not ghosting, it's "self-protection." When you quietly exit a relationship after a boundary has been violated, it's not ghosting, it's "self-respect."