The Blog

Scroll for helpful tips and information for setting boundaries with a toxic parent, how to deal with a parent with borderline personality disorder, and how to set boundaries with a narcissistic parent.

How to Survive Mother’s Day When You Have a Toxic Family Situation
Cycle Breakers, Dysfunctional Families Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries Cycle Breakers, Dysfunctional Families Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries

How to Survive Mother’s Day When You Have a Toxic Family Situation

If your family situation is not the healthiest, don’t stress yourself out even more by hoping Mother’s Day will be different.

Could it be? Sure

Will it be? Probably not

Accept that your parents, siblings, and whoever else is involved will likely act however they normally do- which means if they are normally chaotic and challenging to be around, they probably will be that way this weekend.

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I Started Reading, "I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy
Dysfunctional Families Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries Dysfunctional Families Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries

I Started Reading, "I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jennette McCurdy

I started reading, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” and the truth is, this book hit way too close to home for me. Look, I knew we’d have some things in common like having very complicated and dysfunctional relationships with our moms and having moms who’ve both died. But, I honestly didn’t think I’d have much else in common with the author, Jennette McCurdy.

Oh how I was wrong. So, so wrong.

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5 Things You Need to Hear if You’re the Cycle Breaker in Your Family
Emotionally Immature Parents, Cycle Breakers, Dysfunctional Families Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries Emotionally Immature Parents, Cycle Breakers, Dysfunctional Families Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries

5 Things You Need to Hear if You’re the Cycle Breaker in Your Family

Breaking free from generational patterns of trauma and dysfunction and forging a new path can be both liberating and exhausting. While you’re building a much happier and healthier life for yourself, being the cycle breaker in your family can feel really isolating at times.

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Thinking About Setting Boundaries with a Toxic Parent? You Need to Start Prioritizing Your Own Wants and Needs.
Emotionally Immature Parents Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries Emotionally Immature Parents Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries

Thinking About Setting Boundaries with a Toxic Parent? You Need to Start Prioritizing Your Own Wants and Needs.

Do you often find yourself caught in a cycle of making decisions that are almost entirely based on fears about how another person might respond to what you actually want to do or guilt about putting your own needs ahead of someone else’s desires? If so, you're not alone.

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What You Need to Know in Order to Set Boundaries with a Narcissistic Parent
Informational Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries Informational Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries

What You Need to Know in Order to Set Boundaries with a Narcissistic Parent

Parenting is complicated under normal circumstances, and requires a delicate balance of love, support, and guidance. Emotionally healthy parenting also demands introspection, the willingness to take accountability, and the ability to repair relationships after making inevitable errors. However, as an adult child of a parent with narcissistic personality disorder, my guess is, your parent was unable to fulfill this role.

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How to Deal with a BPD Parent (Borderline Personality Disorder)
Informational Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries Informational Torie Wiksell, Coach and Founder of Confident Boundaries

How to Deal with a BPD Parent (Borderline Personality Disorder)

Unlike narcissistic personality disorder, borderline personality disorder (BPD) is actually quite treatable with a form of psychotherapy called dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). It is a long and challenging journey though, and my guess is, you’re reading this because your parent hasn't fully committed to seeking ongoing, appropriate support. As an adult, you might have chosen to distance yourself from the chaos, or you might find yourself still struggling to cope with the emotional toll of your interactions with them.

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