Relationships have the power to heal us — and to hurt us. In this honest episode, Kate Marlene shares why our romantic connections impact mental health so deeply, how our brain and nervous system are wired for love and safety, and what happens when connection turns into conflict, loss, or chaos.
Drawing from her own life — including stories of navigating anxiety, depression, recovery, and healing after narcissistic abuse and divorce — Kate explains why breakups feel like withdrawal, what’s normal to feel, what’s not, and how to protect your mental health before, during, and after love.
Why healthy love regulates the brain and body
How conflict and breakups affect mental health
Signs your mental health may be suffering because of a relationship
How to care for your nervous system while dating, in love, or healing from loss
Kate’s own experience rebuilding after toxic love and divorce
A listener question: “Why am I still grieving my breakup 8 months later?”
✅ We are biologically wired for connection — secure love lowers stress, supports resilience, and builds a sense of safety.
✅ Unstable or toxic love does the opposite — leading to burnout, anxiety, low self-worth, and trauma responses.
✅ Breakups trigger real brain withdrawal, so grief takes time — there is no deadline.
✅ Healthy love is rooted in inner safety: emotional regulation, clear boundaries, and honest conflict resolution.
✅ Protect your mental health by staying connected to yourself beyond the relationship.
Your mental health matters more than any relationship. Whether you’re falling in love, struggling in conflict, or healing from heartbreak — you deserve connection that supports your well-being, not drains it. This episode will help you better understand the relationship between mental health and romantic love, understand how toxic dynamics affect brain chemistry, and protect your own wellness at every stage of a relationship.
💌 Send your questions for future episodes: hello@katemarlenelove.com
🌐 Learn more or book a session: katemarlenelove.com
📲 Follow @katemarlene on TikTok
Slide into my IG DMs at @katemarlenelove
🎵 Music: "asleep next to you" by SSS — Bandcamp