Feeling like you need a psychology degree to navigate the dating scene these days? 

“Narcissist,” “trauma bonded” – these terms are everywhere, but are we going overboard with the therapy talk?

We all know how important it is to recognize the signs of a toxic relationship, but maybe we’re too quick to slap labels on every bad date. Then again, with online dating bringing strangers into our lives, we need to know what to watch out for, right?

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Kiaundra Jackson to the rescue! Kiaundra joined Damona this week to unpack the difference between truly toxic relationships and normal dating hiccups. Plus, she shares why understanding healthy relationship dynamics is just as important as spotting the bad ones.

And don’t forget to stay tuned for our Dear Damona question: “I’ve used them all, but none seem to be a good fit. Is it me or the apps?”

(1:39) Kiaundra Jackson 

Kiaundra Jackson is a licensed marriage and family therapist. You may have seen her on OWN’s TV show Love Goals or on Tubiunpacking shocking true crime stories from a psychological point of view. Kiaundra has been featured in Essence Magazine, Women’s Health, Fox, CBS, and in Forbes “Next 1000”.

Dating Dictionary Detox (05:13)

“He was toxic.” “That was triggering.”Suddenly, we’re all armchair therapists, aren’t we? These buzzwords are flying around the dating scene like confetti at a party. 

Ready for a reality check? Not every bad date is “toxic,” and overusing these terms might just be muddying the waters of your love life.

Kiaundra Jackson drops this truth bomb: “Narcissism, toxic, triggers, all of those words are often misused and overused.” Time to rethink how we’re labeling our dating experiences!

Toxic Love Alarm System (25:40) 

Think you might be in a toxic situation? Time for a relationship health check! Kiaundra spills the tea on those sneaky signs that scream, “danger ahead!”

Forget the tv drama – real-life red flags are often subtle but oh-so-important. Get ready for some truth bombs: it’s not just about obvious abuse. Sometimes, it’s that icky feeling in your gut telling you something’s off. 

Trust that inner voice! Plus, learn why your bestie might spot the toxicity before you do.

The All-Weather Love Test  (29:39) 

Rushing into romance? Hit the brakes!

Ever thought about dating someone through all four seasons before getting serious? It’s not about pumpkin spice vs. beach vibes – it’s seeing how they navigate life’s highs and lows. Talk about relationship due diligence!

Discover why watching your partner handle everything from summer BBQs to winter blues could be the ultimate compatibility test.

Emotional Baggage Bootcamp  (32:33) 

Got baggage from past relationships? Don’t we all! 

Rushing into a new relationship is like traveling with a messy suitcase – it’s gonna slow you down. Consider this your call to emotional spring cleaning. Your future self (and partner) will be doing a happy dance! 

Time to sort through those emotional souvenirs and decide what’s worth keeping. 

The Unpopular Truth About Relationships (39:12) 

Brace yourself for a hot take: relationships aren’t actually hard work. Say what? 

Yep, you heard that right. Buckle up – it’s time to challenge everything you thought you knew about making love last. 

Kiaundra’s serving up a fresh perspective that might just make your relationship feel like a breeze.

Connect with Kiaundra:

Find her on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/kiaundrajackson

Website:https://kiaundrajackson.com/

Instagram: @KiaundraJackson

(41:37) Dear Damona

DM from a listener named Nicole:

What dating apps do you recommend for a woman in her 50s? I’m 53 and have used Bumble, Match, and Hinge, but none felt great. I’m not sure if it’s me or if I’m just using the wrong apps.

Do you have questions? Damona has the answers!Don’t forget you can submit your dating and relationship questions for our Dear Damona segment on Instagram, X, TikTok, or Facebook, or leave us a voicemail or text to 424-246-6255, and hear Damona’s answers live in a future episode!