Tag: self-improvement

The Real Reason Why You Keep Repeating Toxic Relationship Cycles (It’s Not About Them)


If you’re reading this, you’ve probably done the work. You’ve read the books, watched the videos, and named the pattern: Narcissism. Codependency. Trauma bond. You know what a red flag looks like, and you can spot a toxic person a mile away.


So why, after all that growth, does that familiar, sinking feeling sometimes creep back in? Why do you occasionally find yourself entertaining the same emotionally unavailable person, dating the same fixer-upper project, or feeling pulled back into the chaos you worked so hard to escape?


The simple answer is that the greatest obstacle to your healing isn’t the toxic people you leave behind; it’s the comfort of the familiar chaos inside you.


Your Nervous System Craves the Familiar


We often talk about love and relationships from a purely emotional or logical perspective. The core driver of toxic relationship cycling is actually your nervous system.


Your nervous system is wired for survival, and it interprets “familiar” as “safe,” even if that familiarity is steeped in drama, anxiety, and eventual heartbreak. If the environment you grew up in was characterized by walking on eggshells, conditional love, and unpredictable conflict, your nervous system learned that chaos is normal.


When you meet a genuinely calm, secure, and respectful partner, your system doesn’t recognize the peace. It feels boring. It feels wrong. It feels unsafe. This internal alarm isn’t asking you to run toward the new person; it’s screaming for you to return to the familiar, high-stress state it knows how to survive.


The True Addiction Isn’t to the Person – It’s to the Pattern


The person who hurt you might be gone, but the trauma loop they created is still operating inside your body. That loop is activated by the rush of hope, the crash of rejection, and the desperate scramble for validation.


When you feel that magnetic pull back toward an ex, or when you feel bored with a healthy partner, it’s not because you secretly love the toxicity. It’s because your system is craving the adrenaline, the cortisol, and the emotional roller coaster that feels like the love you knew.

Breaking the cycle isn’t about finding a new person; it’s about establishing a new normal within yourself.


Re-Wiring for True Peace


To stop craving the chaos, you must teach your nervous system that calm is safe. This is where the real “shadow work” comes in, and it’s why healing is a messy, internal job.


Stop Confusing Intensity with Intimacy:

When you feel that intense, all-consuming rush for a person, pause. That is often a trauma response, not romantic love. True intimacy feels calm, predictable, and safe. Learn to recognize and value the quiet presence of security.


Practice Grounding Rituals:

When the urge to seek external validation or drama hits, stop and regulate your system. This might be 60 seconds of deep breathing, splashing cold water on your face, or moving your body. Interrupt the trauma loop before it can take over your decision-making.


Identify Your “Boredom” Triggers:

Healthy relationships can feel stagnant to someone used to constant highs and lows. When you feel “bored,” ask yourself: Is this boredom, or is it simply peace? If it’s peace, sit in it. Let the calm discomfort wash over you until your body learns to trust it.


You are not broken. You are simply healing a deep-seated survival mechanism. Reclaiming your peace is the bravest act of self-love you can commit. It’s a choice to stop letting your past dictate your future. You deserve a love that feels like rest, not a relentless battle.

Letters to Myself: A Journey of Self-Discovery

I write myself letters and I’ll grab a random page out of my journal, write something and then however time that passes, I’ll get to that page and see it. Tonight was one of those letters. As I share this with you all, this is also a letter for you all. Life is hard. It doesn’t need to be that way, so why do we continue to make it hard? Just something to think about. Nobody is coming to “rescue” or “save” you. I know that feeling how we want that to happen, but when that does, we lose our power. If you’ve been in that situation before, you can understand what I’m saying. I needed to read this tonight and I hope it encourages you as well. Keep going! Keep working on yourself because you’re worthy. Be the person you want to date. When you love yourself, the right kind of person will also love you. Never lose those standards. Never!

Letter To Myself:
Hey Chica, I can see you’re going through a tough time right now, and I want you to know that you’re not alone. Life can be incredibly challenging, and it’s completely normal to struggle with the choices we make and the obstacles we face.
First of all, I want to acknowledge your strength. Despite the difficulties you’re experiencing, you’re still here, facing each day with courage and determination. That’s something to be proud of.
It’s important to remember that we all make mistakes and face tough times in life. What’s crucial is how we respond to these challenges. Instead of dwelling on past choices or letting them define you, focus on what you can do right now to create positive change in your life. Stop thinking of why this happened to you. Start asking yourself “What am I going to do?”
Soo…what are you going to do?
Try these out:
Take some time to reflect on the lessons you’ve learned from your experiences. Every setback, every mistake, is an opportunity for growth and self-discovery. Use these experiences to become stronger and wiser.
Reach out for support when you need it. Whether it’s talking to a trusted friend, seeking guidance from a therapist, or finding support groups in your community, don’t be afraid to ask for help. You don’t have to face your struggles alone.
I know there is lots of shame, so grab the phone and record yourself. Remember to be kind to yourself. You’re doing the best you can with the resources you have, and that’s enough.
Treat yourself with the same compassion and understanding that you would offer to a friend in need.
Lastly, keep moving forward, one step at a time. It’s okay if progress feels slow or if you encounter setbacks along the way. What matters is that you keep pushing forward, even when it’s hard.
You are capable of overcoming the challenges life throws your way. Believe in yourself, stay resilient, and know that brighter days are ahead. You’ve got this.
Look at everything you’ve overcome. Don’t let THIS be the thing that stops you, but another stepping stone that makes you the beautiful human being you are. Look at what you’ve overcome.

Loving you Always-
The one you’re forgetting about but I’m not forgetting you.
YOU ARE AMAZING!