There is redemption in the truth. 💡 The toughest conversations are the ones that save your relationships. Be direct, honest, and always explain the “why” to give them a chance to understand … If you want to preserve a relationship, you need to be willing to face the anxiety of confrontation.

A woman calls Dr. P, feeling overwhelmed and "paralyzed" by her veteran husband's severe, unregulated PTSD, which involves screaming and emotional abuse, despite him being highly respected in the community. She is confused about whether to stay, especially since her daughter is now recording the abuse. Dr. P emphasizes that the caller's confusion is her "U problem," and she cannot wait for her husband to change or for external validation. Dr. P firmly advises the caller to fully commit to a stable therapeutic environment for herself to gain clarity, stating that a decision about the marriage can only be made once she is no longer emotionally "paralyzed" and living in a confusing "rabbit hole."

A caller describes a highly unusual but brilliant arrangement with her boyfriend: a notarized, exclusive "sex contract" detailing their boundaries and desires. The problem is that her boyfriend, who is leading the role-playing, is hesitant to let her take the creative reins. Dr. P advises the caller not to worry about asking for "more," but rather to leverage the contract by asking her boyfriend to specify the limits or things he is unwilling to do (the "not-in-the-contract" items). This creates space for her to explore creative ideas without stepping on his unspoken boundaries.