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When Family Hurts Your Marriage: Navigating Toxic Family Relationships

F That: Shift Your Perspective, Elevate Your Power

F That: Shift Your Perspective, Elevate Your Power
When Family Hurts Your Marriage: Navigating Toxic Family Relationships
Jan 13, 2026 Season 3 Episode 1
Alexis Frank, Life Coach, Business Strategist, Global Thought Leader

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In this episode, the hosts have an honest and deeply personal conversation about navigating family dynamics within marriage, especially when those dynamics become toxic, emotionally draining, or harmful to mental health.

They share real-life experiences of managing difficult family relationships during major life transitions like marriage, childbirth, and the COVID pandemic, and how unresolved family tension can quietly erode a relationship if left unaddressed. Through candid storytelling, they explore the emotional weight of choosing between family expectations and protecting the health of a marriage.

This episode dives into the uncomfortable but necessary realizations that come with recognizing toxic family behavior, learning how to set boundaries, and understanding when distancing yourself from family members may be essential for personal growth and marital stability. The hosts emphasize the importance of open communication, mutual support, and prioritizing your partner, even when it means making painful or unpopular decisions.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between loyalty to your family and loyalty to your partner, struggled with guilt around setting boundaries, or questioned how much family influence is too much in a marriage, this conversation offers clarity, validation, and practical insight.

This episode is for anyone navigating marriage challenges, family conflict, mental health strain, or relationship boundaries, and for couples learning how to protect their relationship while redefining what “family” truly means.


00:00 – Introduction: Marriage, Family, and Changing Dynamics
 02:27 – How Family Dynamics Impact Marriage
 07:13 – When Family Relationships Don’t Meet Expectations
 13:01 – Navigating Family Conflict During COVID
 19:47 – Choosing Between Family Loyalty and Marriage
 27:01 – Major Relationship Realizations and Boundary Shifts
 33:30 – Advice for Couples Caught Between Family and Partner

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