Old Habits Die Hard: His & Hers

Old Habits Die Hard: His & Hers

Curious about how others navigate their sobriety journey? This candid episode of Domestic Abuse Recovery Journal zooms in on breakups, betrayal and the stubborn old habits that keep people stuck in painful relationships. Host Jennifer Mixon speaks openly about leaving her second marriage, while caring for her young son and reflecting on a long history of trauma bonds and abusive dynamics.

She contrasts her current separation from a less extreme, but still unhealthy, partner with an earlier relationship with a narcissistic abuser, giving space to both the grief and the relief involved. A big focus here is shifting the story from self-blame to self-respect.

Jennifer explains how she used to internalise betrayal, saying she habitually thought, "Old habits die hard as far as blaming myself," but now reminds herself, "this actually has nothing to do with me." She leans on ideas from dialectical behaviour therapy to hold two truths at once: the happy memories were real, and the relationship still needed to end.

You’ll hear her break down why some partners rarely change, especially when they’re cushioned by “get-out-of-jail-free cards” from family and never truly suffer the consequences of their behaviour. She draws careful links between attachment styles, childhood neglect, parental alcoholism and adult relationship patterns, all while keeping the tone gentle and relatable. The episode also speaks to anyone balancing recovery and parenting.

Jennifer shares why she doesn’t regret marrying again, the importance of wedding photos for children of separated parents, and her decision to focus on her kids rather than rush into another relationship. She finishes with a simple guided visualisation for those stuck in bed with heartbreak, and a strong reminder: "If you stay with them, you're going to continue being hurt.

If you leave, it's going to hurt for a long while, but eventually you'll get out of the hurt." It’s a compassionate listen for anyone trying to leave an abusive or boundary-breaking partner without losing themselves in the process.