In this week's special recap episode of [Your Podcast Name - You'll need to fill this in!], we're revisiting the fascinating world of narcissism.

We're diving into the spectrum from healthy self-love to Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), unpacking the many faces of this complex trait.

Here's what you'll walk away with:

• 🧠 A clearer understanding of the narcissism spectrum – healthy vs. pathological.
• ⚡ The ability to identify different types of narcissism: overt (grandiose), covert (vulnerable), communal, antagonistic, and malignant.
• 🔧 How NPD differs from general narcissistic traits and key diagnostic insights.
• 👀 The often subtle signs of vulnerable narcissists.
• 💬 Practical coping strategies for navigating relationships impacted by narcissistic behaviors.

Bottom line?

If you're looking to solidify your understanding of narcissism or just need a refresher on how to navigate these challenging dynamics, this recap episode is for you. And it will show you how.

In this week’s episode of Breaking the Cycle, we’re talking about the unthinkable: Taking 100% of the blame… even when you’re not wrong. (It’s not martyrdom—it’s strategy. Stay with me.)

Here’s what you’ll walk away with: 🧠 How blame shuts down listening faster than a Wi-Fi outage ⚡ The sneaky difference between being wrong and taking responsibility 🔧 How to repair conflict without groveling or admitting to something you didn’t do 💬 The exact steps to shift out of gridlock—even when your partner is doing the finger-pointing

Bottom line? If you’re stuck in the “Who Started It?” loop, it might be time to switch gears. And this episode will show you how.

In this episode of Breaking the Cycle, couples therapist Jessica Myers-Adams unpacks one of the most common reasons conversations turn into conflict: bad timing. If you're trying to talk to your partner about something important and it keeps ending in a fight, shutdown, or stonewalling, the issue may not be what you’re saying—it’s when you’re saying it.

Bringing up hard conversations at the wrong time can create distance instead of connection. Whether your goal is to stop the same argument from repeating, avoid triggering defensiveness, or finally feel heard, this episode will give you practical tools to communicate with your partner more effectively—and in the right moment.

This is for anyone who’s tired of their partner getting defensive, walking away mid-conversation, or avoiding important topics. Learn how to recognize when your partner is most likely to listen, how to approach serious topics without causing tension, and how to create emotional safety before bringing up a concern.

What you’ll walk away with:

• How to avoid fights by picking the right time to talk

• What causes communication breakdowns even with good intentions

• How to stop your partner from shutting down during hard conversations

• A simple strategy to make your partner feel more open and engaged

Want to change the way you talk to each other—without going to couples therapy every week? Start with our Connection Reset Guide—your first step toward fewer arguments and deeper connection. [https://www.emergentrelationshipcenter.com/how-to-reconnect-after-a-fight/]

You’ve stayed calm. You’ve picked your battles. You’ve tried to be patient, understanding, forgiving. Maybe you’ve even convinced yourself that if you just hold on a little longer, things will get better.

But deep down, you’re exhausted — and wondering why it still feels like you’re the only one trying.

In today’s episode, we’re unpacking a powerful — and often overlooked — truth about relationships: 👉 Real empathy creates connection. 👉 People-pleasing creates quiet resentment.

If you think doing "everything right" means keeping your partner happy at your own expense, this conversation is for you. We’ll break down:

• Why people-pleasing kills intimacy (even with the best intentions)

• How empathy is about understanding, not self-erasure

• The secret to being a strong partner without abandoning yourself

• What real connection actually requires — even when it's uncomfortable

If you're ready to stop carrying the relationship on your back and start building something real, hit play.

🎧 Let’s talk about why your effort deserves better results — and how to get there.

What You'll Learn:

• The critical difference between empathy and people-pleasing

• How trying to "keep the peace" can quietly damage your relationship

• Why mutual understanding (not sacrifice) is the key to lasting connection

• A simple mindset shift that can change the entire dynamic between you and your partner

Listen Now:

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Website

Connect With Me:

👉 Want more tools to rebuild your relationship without losing yourself? Check out 👉 Follow me on Instagram 👉 Share this episode with someone who needs it!

Episode Summary: Ever find yourself stuck in a cycle where your partner is snappy or distant—and your first instinct is to get defensive or snap right back? You’re not alone. This episode dives into the quiet power of choosing repair over reaction—and why that shift can be the key to finally seeing change in your relationship.

It explores what to do when your partner is irritated or shut down, and how to respond in a way that lowers defensiveness, builds connection, and actually inspires different behavior.

You’ll learn:

• Why reacting to hurt with hurt only deepens the disconnect

• The mindset shift that softens even the toughest dynamic

• How to shift your frustration instantly

• What actually encourages your partner to change (hint: it’s not criticism)

This episode is for you if:

• You don’t feel like you’re treated kindly

• You want your partner to change

• You’re tired of walking on eggshells

• You’re ready to stop reacting and start reconnecting

✨ Journal Prompt: Think of a recent moment when your partner was reactive. What story did you tell yourself? What else might’ve been true for them in that moment?

🔥 Want to go deeper? If you’re ready to stop repeating the same arguments and finally feel heard and supported—check out the 7-Day Relationship Reboot for practical, daily shifts that make a real difference.

When your partner shuts down, communication goes nowhere, and you're stuck having the same fight on repeat—it's easy to think, "What’s the point?"

But the truth is: lasting relationships aren’t built on perfect compatibility. They’re built on emotional resilience, mental strength, and the willingness to keep showing up when things feel messy.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to build the kind of relationship mindset that keeps you grounded—even when your connection feels fragile. Because mental toughness isn’t just for ultramarathoners—it’s for anyone who’s tired of walking on eggshells or carrying the emotional load alone.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What mental toughness really looks like in a relationship

• Why a fixed mindset keeps you stuck (and what a growth mindset unlocks)

• The key to staying calm when your partner won’t open up or walks away

• How to build emotional endurance without burning out

• A powerful mindset shift that can change your entire dynamic

This is for anyone who’s been giving their all, but still feels like the only one trying. If you're done with tiptoeing, shutdowns, and surface-level connection—you're in the right place.

You’ll walk away with:

• Tools to strengthen your emotional core

• A fresh perspective on your relationship struggles

• The first step to shifting your dynamic without waiting for your partner to go first

🎧 Listen now to discover how mental toughness can help you stop the cycle, reconnect with purpose, and lead your relationship toward real change.

👉 Curious what inspired this episode? You can read more about the 93-mile challenge and how it connects to supporting young women here: https://www.globalgiving.org/fundraisers/45281/

Ever find yourself in a conversation where your partner says something that’s just… wrong? Maybe they misremember what you said or twist the facts—and you’re thinking, “I can’t let that slide.”

In this episode, we’re digging into that moment—the one that either leads to resolution or kicks off a recycled fight. I’ll walk you through why correcting your partner (even when they’re wrong) often backfires, and what to do instead to actually resolve issues without triggering defensiveness or disconnection.

I’m also sharing a personal story from my own relationship (yes, I had to admit I was wrong 😅), a powerful takeaway from Jim Jamm’s TED Talk, and my go-to exercise I use in the therapy room to help couples get clear on what really matters in a disagreement.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why telling your partner they’re wrong doesn’t usually help—and what works better

• How defensiveness gets in the way of connection and what it’s really protecting

• Why curiosity is more powerful than correction when it comes to resolving conflict

• The 6-step framework I use with clients to move out of gridlock and into meaningful conversation

• The one exception when correcting your partner might actually be helpful 😉

Bottom line? You don’t need to win the fight. You need to figure out what matters most, understand what’s really going on beneath the argument, and decide who you want to be in the middle of it.

Links & Resources: 👉 Jim Jamm’s TED Talk on Defensiveness 👉 Ready to take the next step? Book a breakthrough session

📝 In this Episode:

Let’s be real — it’s exhausting when it feels like you’re the one carrying the emotional weight in the relationship. You’re trying. You’re learning. You’re showing up. And yet… your partner? Still doing the same things that drive you crazy.

In this episode, I’m talking directly to the person who feels like, “If they would just change, everything would be fine.” You might even feel like you’re right — and truthfully, you probably are about a lot. But here’s the twist: being right doesn’t fix the relationship.

So what do you do when you want your partner to change, but they won’t? How do you move forward when you’re stuck waiting for them to finally get it?

I’ll walk you through a totally different way to approach this — one that doesn’t involve begging, repeating yourself, or giving up. If you’re ready to stop spinning and start seeing real progress, this episode is your wake-up call.

🔗 Resources Mentioned:

👉 How to Reconnect After a Fight 👉 7-Day Relationship Reboot

📲 Follow me for more relationship insights: Instagram: @jessicarelationshipvisionary Facebook: @emergentrelationshipcenter

🎧 Listen now and start deepening your connection today!