Breaking Cycles with Maria

In this episode of Breaking Cycles with Maria, Maria and Madge explore a question many people quietly struggle with: Why do some of us feel responsible for fixing everything—and everyone? What begins as a conversation about problem-solving quickly reveals something deeper: the connection between anxiety, control, perfectionism, and the need to keep everything "just right" in order to feel okay. Ma...

Life got busy, schedules filled up, and before we knew it, another conversation was waiting to happen. In this episode, Madge and I reconnect and pick up where we left off. We talk about friendship, changing seasons of life, personal growth, and what happens when people come back together after time has passed. Some friendships reconnect instantly, while others take time to find their rhythm again...

In Part 3 of the Narcissistic Mother Blueprint Series , Maria Shkreli, LMHC, explores the often misunderstood mother–son dynamic and how emotional loyalty, guilt, enmeshment, and cultural expectations can quietly shape a son’s identity, boundaries, and adult relationships. Maria breaks down how emotional over-responsibility can develop early in childhood and why many sons grow up feeling emotional...

Part 2 — Mother–Daughter Dynamics | Narcissistic Mother Blueprint Series This episode is Part 2 of the Narcissistic Mother Blueprint Series on Breaking Up with Toxicity , where we explore how narcissistic parenting dynamics, dysfunctional family systems, and early attachment patterns shape identity, boundaries, and adult relationships. In this episode, we focus specifically on mother–daughter dyna...

In this episode of Breaking Up with Toxicity , Maria Shkreli, LMHC, begins the Narcissistic Mother Blueprint Series , a multi-part series exploring how narcissistic maternal dynamics shape emotional development, family roles, identity formation, attachment patterns, and adult relationship experiences. Drawing from attachment theory, developmental psychology, trauma research, and decades of clinica...

When Healing Feels Like Grief: The Part No One Warns You About Healing is supposed to feel empowering… right? So why does it sometimes feel lonely, heavy, or heartbreaking instead? In this episode of Breaking Up With Toxicity , Maria Shkreli, LMHC talks about the part of healing no one prepares you for—the grief that comes with growth. The grief of outgrowing relationships that can’t come with you...

Narcissist. Borderline. Toxic. But here’s the problem— personality traits are being confused with personality disorders , and that confusion is costing people clarity, peace, and the ability to respond accurately in their relationships. In this episode of Breaking Up With Toxicity , licensed mental health counselor Maria Shkreli breaks down the real difference between personality traits and person...

What actually qualifies as abuse? When does abuse become domestic violence? And how did social media turn these life-saving terms into weapons of confusion? In this episode of Breaking Up with Toxicity , Maria Shkreli, LMHC breaks down the critical differences between dysfunction, toxicity, abuse, and domestic violence —and explains why misusing these terms can cause real harm. As a society, we’ve...

Parental alienation is one of the most misunderstood and emotionally charged dynamics in family systems—and when it’s oversimplified, it can cause real harm. In this episode of Breaking Up With Toxicity , Maria Shkreli, LMHC , breaks down what parental alienation actually is, how it develops, why it happens, and what it looks like in real families—without blame, labels, or sound-bite psychology. T...

Estrangement isn’t just “cutting people off.” It can be protection… and it can also be avoidance disguised as healing. In this episode, Maria Shkreli, LMHC breaks down the truth behind estrangement — what it actually is, the different types, and why it’s far more complex than social media makes it seem. We explore how trauma, family dynamics, and unresolved attachment wounds can lead to distance —...

What if the behavior you’re calling defiance isn’t defiance at all? In this episode of Breaking Up With Toxicity , licensed mental health counselor Maria Shkreli breaks down one of the most misunderstood dynamics in parenting: the difference between true defiance and deep insecurity in kids and teens. You’ll learn why so many children are punished for fear, shame, and overwhelm — and how mislabeli...

Ever wonder why your partner’s “help” feels cold… why their silence triggers panic… or why you keep having the same arguments even when you both mean well? In this episode,  Maria Shkreli,  breaks down the powerful intersection between your  attachment style  and your  empathy style  — the two systems that secretly shape how you love, comfort, react, and communicate....

Your reactions aren’t random — they’re wired. Your fears aren’t “too much” — they’re patterns. And your relationship struggles aren’t failures — they’re attachment styles playing out in real time. In this episode of  Breaking Up With Toxicity ,  Maria Shkreli, LMHC  exposes how your attachment style was shaped long before you ever dated anyone… and how it still dictates the way you...

Most people walk around proudly believing they’re “empathetic.” But here’s the truth: you probably only have **one** of the three empathies — and the misalignment between what you think you’re giving and what others actually need is quietly blowing up your relationships. In this episode, Maria Shkreli breaks down the REAL psychology of empathy: Cognitive, Emotional, and Compassionate. What they ar...

Anger isn’t the problem — it’s how we use it. In this raw and eye-opening episode, Maria Shkreli, LMHC, breaks down anger, the three faces of toxic rage — Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Splitting, and Narcissistic Rage — the enabler, and how they destroy connection, trust, and peace. You’ll learn how these emotional explosions start, what fuels them, and why they’re more about fear and control t...

We talk endlessly about narcissistic men — but what happens when the narcissist is a woman? In this episode, Maria Shkreli, LMHC, breaks down why narcissistic women are often harder to recognize, confront, and recover from — whether she’s your mother, your partner, or your boss. You’ll learn how manipulation hides beneath care, how control disguises itself as love, and how living with this dynamic...

In this raw and unapologetically honest episode, Maria Shkreli, LMHC, breaks down why you keep trying to fix everyone’s problems — and why it’s driving you insane. From rescuing friends and managing your partner’s emotions to cleaning up everyone’s chaos at work and home — this “fixer” pattern isn’t compassion, it’s control in disguise. Maria calls out how unrealistic expectations, distorted think...

Last week, we started closing the 19-year gap in our friendship. The conversation went deep—maybe a little off track—but it took us exactly where we needed to go. This week, we’re circling back to some of those moments that needed more space… the ones that deserve understanding, forgiveness, and maybe even a little closure. We also cleared the air about something that hurt both of us in the past—b...

After 19 years on separate paths, lifelong friends Maria and Madge finally reconnected in late August. What was meant to be a simple dinner turned into something much deeper—laughter, nostalgia, unexpected truths, and conversations that touched a nerve. I felt that in our first episode, it touched on some wounds we needed to understand so we could move ahead. This first episode is just the beginni...

Rosa came to talk about her adult child’s depression — but what unfolded was way bigger. The deeper we went, the more it became clear: her own upbringing, family patterns, and old wounds were shaping today’s struggles in ways she hadn’t realized. This episode pulls back the curtain on the invisible ties between parents and children — the unspoken rules, the pressure to keep the peace, and the cycl...

I’m back — returning with clarity, reflection, and a renewed sense of purpose. After over a year away, navigating a life-changing health journey, I’m here, I’m ready, and I can’t wait to continue this journey with you. Life reset me: a stroke, two brain aneurysms, and surgeries that made me rethink everything. This comeback episode isn’t just an update — it’s proof that healing, balance, and self-...

In today's show, Maria continued her talk with John as he embarks on his personal journey of self-discovery; he finds himself at a crossroads, questioning the authenticity of the choices he's been making. Determined to unravel the complexities of his identity, he courageously takes on the challenge presented by "How You Sit Your Bubble," recognizing it as an opportunity to delve deeper into u...

In today's show, Maria continues her talk with John, and they discussed thoughts about the previous episode. John stated he was “stuck” for a week because he had no definite answer about why he paid for that meal. The conversation today is turning into a journey for John as the show becomes a place where John is learning and exploring his true authenticity, his attachment style, wha...

In today's show, Maria talks with John about what it’s like to use dating apps, social media's impact on people's expectations, and how double standards have challenged roles and authenticity. The conversation opens up questions about John's experiences of breaking family expectations when families had more influence or control over the dating process. John pursued relationships independently...

In today's show, Maria picks up from Episode 5 and provides a breakdown comparison discussion on the often overlooked aspects of borderline personality disorder, specifically in men and women, highlighting the differences in their experiences and the challenges they face. She also emphasizes the misdiagnosis issue, particularly how it can disproportionately affect men and lead to serious consequen...