Stop Explaining Your Boundary to Your Toxic Parent

About this episode

This episode discusses how to effectively set boundaries with toxic parents and the challenges that arise during these conversations.

When you set a boundary with a narcissistic parent, or a parent with unmanaged borderline personality disorder, they tend to push back by acting like they don't get it. They argue, they question whether your boundary is even reasonable, they pull you into a debate about whether you should have it at all. It's why these conversations so often end with you backing down, second-guessing yourself, and wondering if you were the unreasonable one all along. In this episode you'll learn: Why a ...

People in this episode

Host: Torie Wiksell

Topics covered

• boundaries
• narcissistic parents
• borderline personality disorder
• self-advocacy
• toxic relationships

Keywords

• boundaries
• narcissism
• borderline personality disorder
• toxic parents
• self-doubt

More episodes of You're Not Crazy: A Podcast for the Adult Children of Parents with Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders

• Setting the Boundary Is Only Part One: What Most Cycle Breakers Miss · June 2, 2026 · 14 min
• Gaslighting and Self-Doubt: Why You Can't Trust Yourself When You Were Raised by a Parent with Narcissistic or Borderline Personality Disorder · May 26, 2026 · 13 min
• Toxic In-Laws: What to Do When Your Partner Won't Stand Up to Their Family · May 19, 2026 · 18 min
• How to Cope With Mother's Day Hangover When You Have a Mom with Borderline or Narcissistic Traits · May 12, 2026 · 13 min
• Why "I'll Never Lose My Temper Again" Backfires When You're a Cycle Breaker Raised by a Parent with Borderline or Narcissistic Personality Disorder · May 5, 2026 · 16 min
• How to Survive Mother's Day When You Have a Mom with Borderline or Narcissistic Traits · April 28, 2026 · 23 min