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 evolved. Behaviors that were once normalized—like yelling, explosive tempers, and emotional volatility—are now being questioned. That progress matters.

But somewhere along the way, context and nuance were replaced with certainty and fear.

Today, social media, influencers, and non-professionals are shaping how people understand abuse—often without training, assessment, or accountability. Complex mental-health and safety issues are reduced to viral sound bites, leading people to label discomfort as danger and conflict as violence.

In this episode, Maria also challenges a harder truth:

Social media has created a new kind of abuse—one rooted in misinformation, fear-based advice, and unqualified authority.

When people are told what to think instead of how to think, autonomy erodes, discernment disappears, and real victims are drowned out.

You’ll learn:

1. What domestic violence actually is—and what it isn’t
2. How abuse and domestic violence are related but not the same
3. Why DV does not require physical violence to exist
4. How insecurity and low self-esteem can look like DV without coercive control
5. How online misinformation creates psychological harm
6. Why precision and context are essential when safety is involved

This conversation isn’t about minimizing harm.

It’s about protecting the meaning of words meant to save lives.

Because when everything is called abuse, no one is safe.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace therapy, diagnosis, or professional mental health treatment. Content discussed does not constitute clinical assessment or diagnosis of any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek professional support for their own circumstances.

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.

This conversation explores:

1. What parental alienation is—and what it is not
2. How children become caught in adult pain and loyalty conflicts
3. The emotional and psychological patterns that drive alienation
4. Different types of parents who may alienate a child (without diagnosing)
5. Real-world examples involving children, teens, and adult children
6. The long-term impact of alienation on identity, relationships, and trust
7. How healing begins for parents and adult children alike

This episode is not about choosing sides or dismissing real abuse.

It’s about understanding patterns, protecting children, and breaking cycles of emotional harm.

Disclaimer:

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended to replace therapy, diagnosis, or professional mental health treatment. Content discussed does not constitute clinical assessment or diagnosis of any individual. Listeners are encouraged to seek professional support for their own circumstances.

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 — but also how trend-driven messages, including the popular “Let Them” narrative popularized by Mel Robbins, can quietly push people toward isolation without reflection, context, or accountability.

In this episode, we talk about:

• the five main types of estrangement, with real-life examples

• when distance is necessary and protective vs. when it becomes harmful and avoidant

• how trauma and emotional regulation influence estrangement decisions

• how “cut them off” culture can damage vulnerable people

• why the “Let Them” theory can backfire when misunderstood or misapplied

• the questions to ask before making permanent relational decisions

This episode challenges viral narratives and invites deeper reflection — so your choices come from clarity, not impulsive pain.

Estrangement isn’t a trend.

It deserves wisdom, thoughtfulness, and compassion.

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs it — and don’t forget to follow the show.