402 Recognizing and Escaping Toxic Friendships402 Recognizing and Escaping Toxic Friendships
The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast
Michelle Ferris joins Arlina Allen to discuss recognising and escaping toxic friendships. Learn how these relationships impact recovery and how to set healthy boundaries.
51:20•30 Oct 2025
Recognising Toxic Friendships: Are Yours Healthy?
Episode Overview
- Recognise the signs of a toxic friendship and assess your relationships.
- Understand the importance of setting healthy boundaries.
- Learn practical steps to improve or end toxic friendships.
- Discover how to build new, supportive friendships in recovery.
- Explore the impact of friendships on your sobriety journey.
“"A healthy friendship is mutually beneficial, right? There's no one person's needs dominating the relationship."”
What makes a friendship toxic, and how can you tell if you're in one? This episode of The One Day At A Time Recovery Podcast tackles these questions with the help of Michelle Ferris, a licensed marriage family therapist. Michelle joins host Arlina Allen to explore the nuances of toxic friendships and how they can affect your recovery journey.
If you've ever wondered whether your friendships are healthy or if you need to make some changes, this episode is for you. Michelle shares her expertise on recognising the signs of a toxic friendship and offers practical advice on how to improve or end these relationships. With anecdotes from her own life and experiences from her clients, she provides a relatable and compassionate perspective.
Arlina and Michelle also discuss the importance of setting boundaries and the challenges of maintaining friendships in sobriety. The episode doesn't shy away from the messy realities of friendship. From being ghosted to dealing with friends who are consistently late, no stone is left unturned. The conversation is peppered with humour and honesty, making it an engaging listen for anyone looking to improve their relationships.
So, are you ready to assess your friendships and make the necessary changes for a healthier, happier life? Tune in to find out more.

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