Shows / Adult Child of Dysfunction
Adult Child of Dysfunction
“Child of Dysfunction” is your guide into the world of resilience and healing. Hosted by Tammy Vincent, the adult child of two alcoholic parents, this podcast delves deep into the experiences of growing up in a chaotic and dysfunctional environment, facing childhood neglect, abuse, and trauma while overcoming adversity. With personal insights and expert interviews, we explore the challenges and triumphs of adults who grew up in these toxic environments, and healed. We Learn how to navigate…
Episodes
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 392: Tammys Takes #56: When Did This Become My Normal?
Have you ever lived with something for so long that you stopped questioning whether it was actually normal? That was the thought I couldn't shake after my…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 391: The Lymph-Brain Connection: What Your Lymphatic System Could Be Telling You with John Ossipinsky
How much do you really know about your lymphatic system? Before this conversation, I knew the basics. I knew we had lymph nodes, I knew the lymphatic system…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 390: Tammys Takes #55: What If You Actually Trusted Yourself? | Rebuilding Self-Trust After Dysfunction
How often do you know something—and then immediately talk yourself out of what you know? For adult children of dysfunction, trusting yourself can be…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 389: E 389: When Trauma Makes You Stop Trusting Yourself: Reclaiming Your Intuition with Mindy Jackson
What happens when you've spent so many years being told not to trust yourself that you stop listening to your own inner knowing? For many adult children of…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 388: Tammys Takes 54: Why Am I THIS Upset? When Today’s Trigger Is Really an Old Wound
Have you ever had a huge emotional reaction to something seemingly small and thought, “Why am I THIS upset about this?” For adult children of dysfunction…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 387: EMDR Explained: Can You Heal Trauma Without Reliving It? with Rebecca Malley Fitzgerald
You've heard people talk about EMDR. Maybe you've even heard incredible stories about how much it helped someone heal from trauma. But what actually happens…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 386: Tammy's Takes #53: When You Know Better, You Can Choose Better: Stop Blaming Your Younger Self
Have you ever looked back at a younger version of yourself and thought, Why did I put up with that? Why didn't I say something? Why did I keep trying so hard…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 385: When Life Knocks You Down: The Power of Taking One Step Forward with Renea Linsom
What do you do when something happens that changes your life so completely that you don't even recognize yourself anymore? At just 21 years old, Renae Linsom…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 384: Tammys Takes #52 Are You Still Waiting for Them to Change Before You Can Heal?
What if the relationship you keep trying to fix isn’t the relationship you actually have—but the relationship you’ve spent years hoping it could become? After…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 383: When Loving Your Parents Hurts: Boundaries, Guilt & Going No Contact with Dr. Sharon Martin
What do you do when the relationship you're desperately trying to save is with the very people who hurt you in the first place? Maybe you've tried…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 382: Tammys Takes #51 Is This Really Me—or Who I Learned to Be?
How much of your personality is really you—and how much of it developed because of what your family needed you to be? Maybe you're the responsible one, the…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 381: The Past Is Still Present: Generational Trauma, Identity & Finding Yourself with Margaret Eastman Smith
How much of who you are is actually you—and how much was handed to you by your family, your culture, your religion, and generations that came before you? In…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 380 : Tammys Takes #50 Why Your Emotional Triggers Feel So Intense _ Childhood Trauma & the Nervous System
Have you ever had a relatively small situation create a surprisingly big emotional reaction? Someone doesn’t text you back. Your partner’s tone changes…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 379: Why Adult Children React Instead of Respond | Emotional Sobriety with Meagan DeMatteo
What does emotional sobriety mean for adult children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families? If childhood trauma taught you to stay on guard, people please…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 378: Tammys Takes #49: When Your Nervous System Learned That Silence Was Safer
Have you ever walked away from a conversation thinking, Why didn't I say something? I knew exactly what I wanted to say—why couldn't I say it? Maybe someone…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 377: Silence Was My First Language: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma & Addiction with Rich Dunning
What happens when silence becomes your first survival skill? Rich Dunning spent much of his childhood learning that staying quiet could keep him safe. Growing…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 376: Tammys Takes #48: Your Brain Keeps Rehearsing a Life That Isn’t Happening
Do you rehearse conversations before they happen, anticipate how someone will react, or find yourself worrying about problems that don't even exist yet? For…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 375: Did Childhood Trauma Teach You to Stop Trusting Yourself? Guest: Chris Wasko
What happens when you grow up learning not to trust what you see, feel, or know? In this episode of the Adult Child of Dysfunction Podcast, I sit down with…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 374: Tammys #47: What Is Your Behavior Trying to Protect You From?
Why do we keep doing things we know aren't helping us? Maybe you drink to relax. Maybe you reach for food when you're not hungry. Maybe you disappear into your…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 373: Binge Drinking, Childhood Pain & the Story Beneath the Behavior: Guest Colleen Clifford
Binge drinking, gray area drinking, childhood pain, shame, and the hidden reasons we reach for alcohol with Life Beyond the Binge author Colleen Clifford. You…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 372: Tammys Takes #46: When Did You Stop Trusting Your Own Voice?
Have you ever had something you desperately wanted to say... but stopped yourself? Maybe someone hurt your feelings and you immediately thought: “I'm probably…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 371: You Are More Than Your Diagnosis: BPD, Childhood Trauma & Reclaiming Your Voice with Dene Dubois
What happens when a diagnosis finally gives you an explanation for why you've struggled—but then starts becoming another label you carry? In this jpowerful…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 370: Tammy's Takes #45: What If They Misunderstand You?
Have you ever set a boundary... and then immediately felt the need to explain it? And then explain your explanation? Maybe you soften what you said, send…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 369: Becoming Trigger Proof/ Guest Nima Rahmany
Why do some relationships feel safe while others leave you anxious, overwhelmed, or constantly questioning yourself? The answer may have less to do with your…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 368: Tammy's Takes #44: Did Childhood Trauma Become Your Personality?
Have you ever stopped to wonder if the person you think you are... is actually the person you had to become to survive? In this week's Tammy's Takes, I'm…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 367: Inner Child Healing with Megan DeMatteo
Have you ever wondered why it's so hard to know who you really are after growing up in a dysfunctional family? Why setting boundaries feels uncomfortable…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 366: Tammys Takes #43: Healing Isn't A Race
Have you ever listened to a podcast, read a book, or had a conversation that unexpectedly left you feeling anxious, emotional, or overwhelmed? Maybe your first…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 365: You Can Heal After Trauma: PTSD, Self-Compassion & Finding Yourself Again with Rachel Buckmaster
What if healing from trauma isn't about becoming the person you were before it happened, but learning to understand and have compassion for the person you are…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 364: Tammys Takes #42: Trauma Isn't the Event—It's the Aftermathaudio
Have you ever caught yourself wondering, "Was my childhood really that bad?" Maybe you've compared your experiences to others and convinced yourself that…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 363: You Don't Need "Big Trauma" to Be Traumatized | Stacey Uhrig
What if your childhood trauma didn't look like trauma? Many adult children grow up believing they "didn't have it that bad." Yet they still struggle with…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 362: Tammys Takes #41 How Childhood Trauma Keeps Your Nervous System Stuck in Survival Mode
Why do so many adult children of dysfunctional families struggle with anxiety, people-pleasing, overthinking, and feeling like they can never truly relax? In…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 361: How Childhood Trauma Became Autoimmune Disease with Holly Haag
What if your body has been carrying your childhood trauma long after your mind tried to forget it? In this powerful episode, Tammy sits down with Holly Haag…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 360: Tammys 'Takes #40 Your Body Is Trying To Tell You Something... How About Listening
What if your anxiety, exhaustion, muscle tension, digestive issues, or chronic stress weren't random at all? What if your body has been trying to communicate…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 359: Your Body Never Lies: Guest Hannah Dalby
What if the anxiety, chronic stress, people-pleasing, relationship struggles, and even physical symptoms you've been carrying aren't personality traits at…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 356: Tammys' Takes #39 Your Triggers Aren't the Problem—They're the Clues
Have you ever wondered why something seemingly small can create such a big emotional reaction? In this Tammy's Take, Tammy builds on her conversation with…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 357: The Inner Child, Shame and Healing Guest David Deane Haskell
What if your struggles with food, addiction, relationships, or self-worth were never really about those things at all? In this powerful conversation, Tammy…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 356: Tammy's Takes #38: Healing Doesn't Always Start with Talking
What if healing doesn't begin with talking... but with expressing? In this episode of Tammy's Takes, I build on my conversation with poet and Positive…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 355: How Poetry, Purpose, and Self-Expression Can Help You Heal | with Michael Teferi
Can writing really help heal emotional wounds? In this episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, Tammy sits down with poet and Positive Psychology Coach Michael…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 354: Tammy's Takes #37: Why Trauma Hijacks Your Attention (And How to Reclaim It)
Have you ever wondered why your mind won't slow down? Why you replay conversations... Doom scroll... Jump from one task to another... Or constantly worry about…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 353: How Trauma, Brain Injury & Media Hijack Your Attention with Guest: Kira Shishkin
What if the most valuable thing you own isn't your time... but your attention? In this powerful conversation, Tammy welcomes Kira Shishkin, CEO of informed.now…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 352: Tammy's Takes #36: Your Triggers Are Trying To Tell You Something
Have you ever found yourself thinking... "Why did I react like that?" Maybe someone didn't text you back. Maybe your boss gave you feedback. Maybe your partner…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E351: Why Your Childhood Still Controls Your Reactions | David Deane Haskell
Have you ever wondered why something seemingly small can trigger such a huge emotional reaction? Why does being left out, criticized, or rejected sometimes…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 350: Tammys Takes #35: Why You Still Feel Invisible (Even as an Adult)
Have you ever walked into a room and immediately tried to make yourself smaller? Do you apologize when you've done nothing wrong? Stay quiet even when you have…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E349: From Childhood Trauma to Hope: Chris Milson on Suicide, Boundaries & Healing Your Mental Health
What happens when you spend your entire childhood feeling invisible? For many adult children of dysfunction, the deepest wounds aren't always physical—they're…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 348: Tammy's Take #34: The Childhood Voice That's Still Running Your Life
Have you ever caught yourself thinking... "I'm not good enough." "I always mess things up." "Why can't I get anything right?" What if those thoughts aren't…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 347: What If Your Biggest Setback Was Actually Your Greatest Gift? Guest Isabel Chiara
Many of us spend years trying to change our habits without ever changing the conversations happening inside our own minds.In this powerful episode, Tammy…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 346: Tammy's Take #33: 5 Signs Your Nervous System May Still Feel Unsafe
What if you're not actually healed... What if you've simply become really good at surviving? In this episode of Tammy's Takes, trauma-informed coach Tammy…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 345: From Teenage Homelessness to Healing: The Story Behind Girlbomb: Guest Janice Erlbaum
What does it take to survive an abusive childhood—and what does it really take to heal? In this deeply moving episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, Tammy…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 344: Tammy's Take #32: How To Change the Story Your Mind is Telling You
What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your past... It's the story your past taught you to believe? In this episode of Tammy's Takes, trauma-informed…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 343: Why You Keep Repeating the Same Unhealthy Patterns: Guest: Aaron Gilbert
What if the biggest thing holding you back isn't your past... It's the story your past taught you to believe? In this powerful episode of Adult Child of…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 342: Tammy's Takes #31: Why Adult Children Struggle to Trust Themselves
Have you ever noticed how quickly you ask everyone else what they think before asking yourself? If you grew up in a dysfunctional home, that isn't because…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 341: What If Healing Isn't About Fixing Yourself… But Finding Yourself Again? : Guest Shari Foos
n this heartfelt episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction, I sit down with therapist, author, and founder of The Narrative Method, Shari Foos, to explore how…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 340: Tammy's Take #30;The 5 Reasons Your Nervous System Won't Let You Rest
Have you ever been completely exhausted... but the moment your head hits the pillow, your mind comes alive? Maybe you replay conversations from the day. Maybe…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 339: Can't Sleep? The Natural Breathwork Method That's Helping Thousands Sleep Better/ Guest Tim Thomasaudio1930963873
Sleep isn't a luxury. It's the foundation of your mental health, emotional resilience, physical healing, and nervous system regulation. In this powerful…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 338: Tammy's Take #29 Notice, Name, Next Step: A Simple Tool for When You Feel Triggered
What if your thoughts are not always telling you the truth? For many adult children of dysfunction, anxious thoughts do not just feel like thoughts. They feel…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 337:You Don’t Have to Fix Your Thoughts to Heal: The Power of Psychological Flexibility Guest Elisabeth Morray
What if healing is not about getting rid of painful thoughts, fixing every feeling, or becoming a completely different person? In this powerful episode of…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 336: Tammy's Take #28: The Trigger-to-Truth Method: Why Your Past Is Still Running Your Present
Why does a simple text message, a difficult conversation, or a little bit of criticism sometimes feel so overwhelming? The answer may surprise you. In this…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 335: You Have Permission to Save Your Life, Guest: Sarah Hanson
What happens when the survival skills that protected you as a child begin holding you back as an adult? In this powerful episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 334: Tammy's Take #28: What Your Body Is Trying to Tell You (And Why You're Missing It)
What if anxiety isn't the problem? What if people-pleasing isn't the problem? What if overthinking isn't the problem? What if they're all messengers? In this…
- Adult Child of Dysfunction
E 333: The Hidden Cost of Staying Quiet: Guest Barbara McAfee
What happens when it isn't safe to speak? For many adult children of dysfunction, silence became a survival strategy long before they ever realized it. Whether…