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Sex, Love & Elephants with Dr. Cheryl · May 11 · 9 min

Marriage 911—Verbal Abuse

ON Saturday, May 16 from 10am–1pm PST join me, Dr. Cheryl, live on Zoom for a special FREE Relationship Reboot Workshop designed to help you take stock, reconnect, and create your next step as a couple. Previously only offered inside Become Passion, this live workshop will help you identify what’s working, what’s struggling, and where to focus! Are you and your sweetheart finally ready to join my Become Passion program? The doors open May 26, 2026— click HERE to join the wait list! Still not sure? Check out some testimonials from real couples just like you and your partner. Marriage 911! What's your emergency? So, you’ve just had a flooded argument… Even if you didn't resort to overt verbal abuse like yelling, swearing, or being especially cruel, you know that you said irrational things. But here’s the truth: It's not entirely your fault. When we’re dysregulated, we’re not rational. On today’s episode of Sex, Love, and Elephants, I’m teaching you about verbal abuse. Verbal abuse has the power to make us spiral—we go down the dark rabbit hole and end up rehashing every old wound, never seeming to get out of that same repeating argument. It isn’t always obvious but it does occur way too often—and it can absolutely destroy your relationship. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: (04:29) Verbal abuse can be bickering, criticizing and nitpicking, and using controlling language (04:57) Giving your partner the silent treatment or a severe lack of communication can also feel abusive (07:18) Learning to self regulate our emotions is one of the most important things we can do for our relationships (07:58) Be kind to your friend… And if you snap, apologize! Want to learn more about Buddhism and relationships? Cheryl's book Buddha's Bedroom is a great resource! Follow @drcherylfraser on Instagram Let's Connect! About Me Instagram Website - Sign up for Weekly LoveBytes here Facebook Page Youtube If you want to rate your relationship, take the Passion Quiz

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show notes

ON Saturday, May 16 from 10am–1pm PST join me, Dr. Cheryl, live on Zoom for a special FREE Relationship Reboot Workshop designed to help you take stock, reconnect, and create your next step as a couple. Previously only offered inside Become Passion, this live workshop will help you identify what’s working, what’s struggling, and where to focus!


Are you and your sweetheart finally ready to join my Become Passion program? The doors open May 26, 2026— click HERE to join the wait list! Still not sure? Check out some testimonials from real couples just like you and your partner.


Marriage 911! What's your emergency? 


So, you’ve just had a flooded argument… Even if you didn't resort to overt verbal abuse like yelling, swearing, or being especially cruel, you know that you said irrational things. But here’s the truth: It's not entirely your fault. When we’re dysregulated, we’re not rational. 


On today’s episode of Sex, Love, and Elephants, I’m teaching you about verbal abuse. Verbal abuse has the power to make us spiral—we go down the dark rabbit hole and end up rehashing every old wound, never seeming to get out of that same repeating argument. It isn’t always obvious but it does occur way too often—and it can absolutely destroy your relationship.


In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

(04:29) Verbal abuse can be bickering, criticizing and nitpicking, and using controlling language 

(04:57) Giving your partner the silent treatment or a severe lack of communication can also feel abusive 

(07:18) Learning to self regulate our emotions is one of the most important things we can do for our relationships 

(07:58) Be kind to your friend… And if you snap, apologize! 


Want to learn more about Buddhism and relationships? Cheryl's book Buddha's Bedroom is a great resource!

Follow @drcherylfraser on Instagram

Let's Connect!


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