Your toxic ex may be gone, but a clinical psychologist says the damage does not leave with them. Two segments. One conversation that gets into the questions most people are afraid to ask.

What “Toxic” Actually Means and Whether You Are the Problem

“Toxic” is not a clinical label, but a clinical psychologist says it describes patterns that chip away at your emotional safety and self-worth. Boundary violations, manipulation, gaslighting, emotional volatility, controlling behaviour, and relentless criticism are the markers. And if every ex has been toxic, the common denominator is worth examining.

When the Toxic Ex Is Still in the Room

Co-parenting with a toxic ex requires being brief, factual, and emotion-free, because they will try to bait you. But the harder part is the internal residue: hypervigilance, eroded trust, and reactions that actually belong to a relationship you thought you left behind. Children caught between toxic co-parents pay an emotional cost, and a toxic parent will use them without hesitation.

Topics: toxic ex, toxic relationship signs, co-parenting toxic ex, gaslighting, emotional residue

GUEST: Dr. Laurie Betito | drlaurie.com

Originally aired on2026-05-08