What if your burnout, sexual dysfunction, anxiety, or confusion isn’t a hormone problem… but a coercive control problem?

In this powerful episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships, we sit down with naturopathic physician, author of The Pink Canary, and host of The Pleasure Principles, Dr. Jordin Wiggins.

Jordin works with high-achieving women who appear successful on the outside but are secretly struggling in sexless marriages, emotionally abusive relationships, or rebuilding after divorce.

In this conversation, we discuss:

• What coercive control actually looks like
• Why “super traits” make women more vulnerable to abuse
• The connection between toxic relationships and sexual dysfunction
• Why traditional therapy often misses power dynamics
• Why abuse escalates after separation
• How burnout, binge eating, libido loss, and anxiety may be trauma responses
• Why “hurt people hurt people” can excuse abuse

Dr. Wiggins shares her personal story of unknowingly being in an abusive relationship, the medical symptoms she developed, and how awareness changed everything.

If you have ever felt confused, blamed yourself, or wondered why nothing you tried “fixed” the relationship, this episode is for you.

Because sometimes the problem isn’t you. It’s the system you’re living in.

Links to Dr. Wiggins’ book, podcast, and quizzes are below.

Subscribe for more faith-centered conversations on discernment, emotional health, and healing from toxic relationships.

🎙️ Stay Connected with Us!
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: @survivingrelationships12
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🌐 Visit our website: survivingtoxicrelationships.org

📘 Our book is available on Amazon: Love With Eyes Wide Open: Teaching Our Daughters to Recognize Red Flags and God's Voice in Relationships

Not sure what you’re noticing yet?
↓ Discernment Checklist ↓ https://the-matadoras.kit.com/survivingtoxicrelationships

Contact us anytime at our email: care@survivingtoxicrelationships.org

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What if boundaries aren’t rejection… but stewardship?

Many Christian women struggle to set boundaries because they fear being unloving, unforgiving, or “not submissive enough.” But boundaries are not walls. They are not punishment. They are protection.

In this episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships and the Love With Eyes Wide Open series, Lizzie and Deana unpack the biblical difference between boundaries and emotional walls — and why discernment and boundaries must work together.

You’ll hear:

• Why people-pleasing leads to resentment
• The difference between faith-based boundaries and fear-based walls
• How spiritual manipulation distorts Scripture
• What healthy boundaries actually sound like in real life
• Why boundaries require follow-through
• When a silent exit plan may be necessary
• How to stop feeling guilty for protecting your peace

If you’ve ever asked:
Am I overreacting?
Is it unchristian to protect myself?
Why do I feel guilty when I say no?

This conversation will help you move forward with clarity, courage, and Christ-centered wisdom.

Because discernment recognizes truth.
Boundaries protect the peace that follows.

Resources Mentioned:
Love With Eyes Wide Open: Teaching Our Daughters to Recognize Red Flags and God’s Voice in Relationships: https://amzn.to/45VZISD
Coming soon: When Something Feels Wrong

Follow Surviving Toxic Relationships for more faith-based conversations on emotional health, toxic relationship patterns, and spiritual discernment.

🎙️ Stay Connected with Us!
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: @survivingrelationships12
🎵 Follow us on TikTok: @survivingtoxicrel
🌐 Visit our website: survivingtoxicrelationships.org

📘 Our book is available on Amazon: Love With Eyes Wide Open: Teaching Our Daughters to Recognize Red Flags and God's Voice in Relationships

Not sure what you’re noticing yet?
↓ Discernment Checklist ↓ https://the-matadoras.kit.com/survivingtoxicrelationships

Contact us anytime at our email: care@survivingtoxicrelationships.org

📘 Join our Facebook community: Surviving Toxic Relationships

Divorce doesn’t have to be a battlefield.

In this powerful episode of Surviving Toxic Relationships, Lizzie and Deana sit down with divorce mediator and communication strategist Elizabeth Merrill, founder of Open Space Mediation. Liz shares her personal journey through a high-conflict marriage, emotional abuse, and the moment her children helped her find the courage to leave.

Together, they unpack the hidden emotional and financial costs of litigation, how fear and misinformation keep women stuck, and why mediation can sometimes create healthier outcomes for families navigating separation.
If you’re facing a toxic relationship, high-conflict divorce, or wondering how to protect your peace while making wise legal decisions — this conversation offers clarity, education, and hope.

In this episode, we talk about:
-Narcissistic abuse patterns and fear tactics in divorce
-Why many women stay longer than they want to
-The emotional brain vs logical decision-making during separatin
-Mediation vs litigation: cost, conflict, and co-parenting outcomes
-Communication tools for calmer, more productive conversations
-How education reduces fear in high-conflict situations

Whether you're considering divorce, supporting a friend, or healing after a toxic relationship, this episode brings practical insight and compassionate perspective.

You can reach Liz Merrill https://www.openspacemediation.com

🎙️ Stay Connected with Us!
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: @survivingrelationships12
🎵 Follow us on TikTok: @survivingtoxicrel
🌐 Visit our website: survivingtoxicrelationships.org

📘 Our book is available on Amazon: Love With Eyes Wide Open: Teaching Our Daughters to Recognize Red Flags and God's Voice in Relationships

Not sure what you’re noticing yet?
↓ Discernment Checklist ↓ https://the-matadoras.kit.com/survivingtoxicrelationships

Contact us anytime at our email: care@survivingtoxicrelationships.org

📘 Join our Facebook community: Surviving Toxic Relationships