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EP 20: They’re Not Defiant — They’re Insecure (Parents, You’re Missing the Signs)
What if the behavior you’re calling defiance isn’t defiance at all?
In this episode of Breaking Up With Toxicity, licensed mental health counselor Maria Shkreli breaks down one of the most misunderstood dynamics in parenting: the difference between true defiance and deep insecurity in kids and teens.
You’ll learn why so many children are punished for fear, shame, and overwhelm — and how mislabeling insecurity as defiance quietly damages trust, communication, and emotional safety. Maria explains what defiance actually is, what insecurity looks like at different developmental stages, how…
The skinny
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