What happens when your deepest fear hijacks your most important connections? In this honest and revealing episode of Tik-Tokophobia, Alexia and JJ get real about the ways tokophobia—the severe fear of pregnancy and childbirth—can quietly sabotage both romantic and platonic relationships. From silent avoidance to heartbreak, and from stalled intimacy to friendship breakdowns, this episode shines a compassionate (but bold) light on where reproductive anxiety actually starts pulling the strings in our personal lives.
Packed with lived experience and practical insight—not just theory—you’ll hear how phobia-fuelled decision-making can shape (and sometimes shatter) relationships, why this fear is so much more than “cold feet about parenthood,” and what it actually takes to break the cycle. This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt “stuck” and wondered: is it me, or is it the fear talking?
Key Discussion Points:
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How tokophobia can silently steer major life decisions and relationship conversations, often without us realising it
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The heartbreaking reality of marriages and partnerships failing because of unrecognised (and unspoken) fears
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What happens when the “baby conversation” never happens—and the ripple effect on intimacy, planning, and connection
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The knock-on impact of tokophobia on friendships—why those with reproductive anxiety often drift from friends starting families
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Family dynamics, judgement, and the all-too-familiar “But when are you having kids?” pressure
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The difference between emotional and physical intimacy—and how phobia can quietly block true connection
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Why it’s not a conscious choice: the battle between what you think you want and what fear actually allows
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What happens when fear, not desire, is in the driver’s seat—and the inner “flip-flopping” agony that creates
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The critical need for early healing and the hope that comes from naming, addressing, and systematically healing tokophobia
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Reframing tokophobia in the wider context of Reproductive Anxiety Disorder (RAD), with references to ground-breaking resources like The Case for RAD white paper
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Why healing is possible at any age, but earlier intervention can change lives
Who Is This Episode For?
This episode is a must-listen if:
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You constantly feel torn about having children and can’t tell if it’s fear or simply your true preference
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You’re trapped in relationship avoidance or find your partnerships struggling over “the kids question”
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You’re watching friendships or family connections cool off as everyone else enters parenthood…and you just can’t face it (or them)
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You’ve ever felt waves of shame, anxiety, or guilt around your place in your relationships, but can’t quite explain why
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You’re searching for hope, real talk, and resources to understand what might actually help—not fluffy tips or clinical detachment
Whether you want to heal, find understanding, or simply feel less alone, Alexia and JJ offer insight, humour, and an unvarnished look at life with (and beyond) tokophobia. If you suspect fear is making too many calls in your love life—or you’re silently aching to be heard—this episode hands you the torch.