In this episode, we’re joined by Annette Evans Wilson, an inspiring English teacher-turned-authenticity coach and founder of the YOU Life Skills and Leadership Educational Foundation. After overcoming personal and societal challenges, Annette dedicated her career to helping teens and young adults embrace their true selves, recognize their unique value, and step into their potential as future leaders. Annette’s powerful mantra, “Maybe I can’t, but I will,” has inspired countless students to face ...
Jan 17, 2025•24 min•Season 6Ep. 138
In this episode, we uncover the toxic manipulation tactic known as gaslighting—what it is, why it happens, and how to protect yourself from it. Gaslighting can make you doubt your reality, question your worth, and feel trapped in confusion. But here’s the truth: you’re not imagining things, and you’re not powerless. We’ll explore five clear signs that you might be experiencing gaslighting, including constant denial of your experiences, being told you’re "too sensitive," and having your words twi...
Jan 16, 2025•21 min•Season 6Ep. 137
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jill Rosenthal, an award-winning physician, best-selling author, and certified mindset coach with an inspiring journey of transformation. After a 35+ year career as a Harvard- and Stanford-educated physician, Jill retired and reinvented herself as a coach, helping women break free from stress, overwhelm, and burnout to love their lives again. Drawing from her personal experience as a stressed, overworked physician, wife, and mother—and her recovery from cance...
Jan 15, 2025•31 min•Season 6Ep. 136
In this solo episode, we’re diving deep into the experience of overwhelm—what it really is, where it comes from, and how to begin transforming it. Overwhelm isn’t just about having too much on your plate; it’s often your body’s protective response to unresolved fears or past experiences. It’s a part of you signaling that it feels unsafe. I’ll explore how childhood experiences can shape your nervous system’s response to stress, like growing up in a chaotic or high-pressure environment where you l...
Jan 13, 2025•16 min•Season 6Ep. 135
In this episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction: Thriving After Chaos , Tammy Vincent sits down with Kathi Sohn, a former U.S. Defense Department professional turned speaker, coach, and advocate for healing generational trauma. After retiring from her 36-year career in 2020 and being widowed in 2019, Kathi devoted her life to sharing the transformative work of her late husband, the creator of the Body Memory Process—a revolutionary method for uncovering and releasing childhood trauma and limiting ...
Jan 10, 2025•29 min•Season 6Ep. 134
Growing up in a dysfunctional household can shape a child's coping mechanisms, creating habits that once helped them survive but later become obstacles in adulthood. These learned behaviors, while crucial for navigating chaotic environments, can hinder emotional growth, self-acceptance, and healthy relationships. In this episode, we explore the common coping mechanisms adult children of dysfunctional families often carry into adulthood and how they can unlearn these patterns for healthier living...
Jan 08, 2025•27 min•Season 6Ep. 133
In this powerful episode, we welcome Beverly Armento, an inspiring author, motivational speaker, and advocate for children, teachers, and the power of resilience. Beverly's life story is one of profound hardship, courage, and eventual healing. From an early age, she was thrust into the role of caretaker for her blind, artistic, and mentally ill mother. Though Beverly excelled in school and in the world, she was privately suffocated by her mother's rage, delusions, and physical and emotional trau...
Jan 06, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 132
In this episode of Adult Child of Dysfunction: Thriving After Chaos , we’re exploring the overlapping behaviors of ADHD, bipolar disorder, and the experiences of children raised in dysfunctional or alcoholic families. These conditions and circumstances can often look similar, making it challenging to pinpoint the root cause of certain struggles. By comparing them side by side, we shed light on how to approach these challenges with clarity and compassion. The Overlapping Behaviors ADHD is often c...
Jan 03, 2025•26 min•Season 6Ep. 131
Jody Lamb, a personal growth author and advocate for adult children of alcoholics, shares her transformative journey of healing from the impact of her mother's alcoholism. Through her experiences and insights, Jody emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries and prioritizing self-care, which allowed her to reclaim her life and find happiness. She recounts her pivotal moment at the age of 26 when she realized that she needed to focus on her own well-being rather than trying to fix her mother....
Dec 30, 2024•36 min•Season 6Ep. 130
In this heartfelt episode, we welcome Sarah Shields, a Master Life Coach, communications consultant, and fervent learner, who shares her deeply personal journey of navigating a challenging family dynamic while learning to set boundaries and re-parent her inner child. Sarah opens up about the struggles of balancing her innate people-pleasing tendencies with the needs of her younger self, who desperately sought protection and validation. Growing up in a large Italian family, Sarah took on the role...
Dec 27, 2024•40 min•Season 6Ep. 129
In this episode, we sit down with Jim Hight, journalist-turned-author, whose debut novel Moon Over Humboldt weaves a powerful tale of addiction, recovery, and unlikely friendships. Drawing from his own 24-year journey of sobriety, Jim shares the inspiration behind his book, which explores the lives of an old-school logger and a young environmentalist in Humboldt County as they navigate the challenges of addiction through a 12-step program. You can grab his book here: https://amzn.to/3ZJhVPo Jim ...
Dec 22, 2024•45 min•Season 6Ep. 128
In this episode, we dive deep into the ways each of us can better understand and support those facing mental health challenges. From breaking down common myths about conditions like addiction, bipolar disorder, and anxiety, to offering practical tips for fostering empathy and reducing stigma, this conversation equips listeners with tools to create a more compassionate and informed world. We explore the power of active listening, the importance of using thoughtful language, and how to advocate fo...
Dec 11, 2024•33 min•Season 6Ep. 127
In this transformative episode of Thriving After Chaos , I’m joined by the incredible Katie Hunt , also known as The Peace Activator . Katie is a Reiki Master, Spiritual Life Coach, and Manifestation Guide dedicated to helping women break free from the internal barriers holding them back from living their ideal lives. Katie shares her expertise on using energy healing to release resentment, anger, and grief caused by family dysfunction , offering practical tools and strategies to help you find p...
Dec 04, 2024•41 min•Season 6Ep. 126
The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, but for those with toxic family dynamics, they can feel overwhelming, triggering, or downright exhausting. In this episode, I’m sharing my top 10 tips for navigating toxic families during the holidays so you can prioritize your peace, protect your mental health, and even find moments of joy amidst the chaos. From setting clear boundaries and limiting your time to having a foolproof exit strategy and creating your own traditions, we’ll dive into prac...
Nov 28, 2024•21 min•Season 3Ep. 125
In this episode, Tammy Vincent welcomes back Elizabeth Kipp for another insightful conversation on the stigma surrounding mental illness and addiction in dysfunctional families. Elizabeth shares her powerful story of growing up with two alcoholic parents, highlighting the silence and denial that defined her childhood. Together, they explore how societal attitudes and fear perpetuate stigma, making it difficult for families to seek help or even acknowledge their struggles. Tammy and Elizabeth als...
Nov 26, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 124
In this episode, we dive into a sensitive but essential topic: understanding your relationship with alcohol. Whether you're curious about your habits, noticing patterns, or wondering if drinking has a larger impact on your life, this episode offers a compassionate space to reflect. We discuss how alcohol can sometimes become a coping mechanism, why it’s important to notice patterns in your behavior, and how to approach self-assessment without judgment. You’ll also learn about emotional numbness,...
Nov 25, 2024•20 min•Season 5Ep. 123
In this insightful episode, we’re joined by Sherry McClurkin, a seasoned trauma coach and expert in helping Christian women heal the emotional roots of guilt, shame, anxiety, insecurity, and the pressures of living up to unrealistic expectations. Sherry is passionate about empowering women to reclaim their time, energy, and mental well-being, and she believes that setting boundaries is one of the most powerful tools for personal transformation. Through her 10+ years of experience as a trauma the...
Nov 24, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 122
This episode explores emotional numbness, a common protective mechanism for those who grew up in dysfunction and chaos. Emotional numbness—the inability to feel or express emotions—often develops as a survival strategy in response to fear, shame, and overwhelming stress. While it may have served a purpose in childhood, it can create challenges in adulthood, such as difficulty with relationships, self-expression, and mental well-being. We discuss the root causes of emotional numbness, how it diff...
Nov 21, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 121
In this powerful episode, I sit down with the inspiring Michael Morgan, who shares his journey of self-discovery, healing, and finding purpose. Michael’s message is clear: “No one’s coming to save you. You have to take the first step.” Drawing from personal experience, Michael emphasizes the importance of breaking free from negativity and embracing the abundance of support and healing methods available. He reflects on the challenges of compartmentalizing painful memories, a skill many of us deve...
Nov 20, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 120
In this episode, we dive deep into a question that plagues many adult children of alcoholics and dysfunctional families: Why do we attract the wrong people into our lives? Drawing from my personal experience and years of coaching, I explore the hidden patterns and subconscious forces that lead us to replicate unhealthy dynamics in our adult relationships. Understanding the Impact of Dysfunctional Families Childhood in a dysfunctional household teaches us how to survive, but those survival skills...
Nov 18, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 119
Stress—it’s something we all face, but for adult children of dysfunction, it can feel even heavier. Growing up in chaos often leaves us more reactive to life’s challenges. But stress doesn’t have to control you. Today, I’m sharing quick tools you can use to calm down in the moment." What Stress Is: Stress is your body’s natural reaction to challenges, triggering a fight-or-flight response. While this helps in emergencies, chronic stress—like ongoing worries—takes a toll on your body and mind. To...
Nov 15, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 117
Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s powerful, simple, and yet sometimes challenging to get into—meditation! Now, I know meditation can feel intimidating, especially if you’re just starting out, but I’m here to guide you through ten easy tips to kickstart your practice. These tips are designed to help you build a meditation habit that feels natural and achievable, so you can experience all the benefits without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you’re brand new to meditation or looking to restart, ...
Nov 12, 2024•18 min•Season 5Ep. 116
In this episode, we dive into the unique challenges that adult children of dysfunctional families face when it comes to cultivating an attitude of gratitude. Growing up in environments that were chaotic or emotionally neglectful often shapes how we view the world, leaving us with a focus on survival rather than appreciation. We explore the five main reasons why gratitude can feel especially difficult, including conditioned negativity, low self-worth, a lack of role models for gratitude, the fear...
Nov 08, 2024•16 min•Season 5Ep. 115
In this episode, Tammy Vincent welcomes holistic health expert Diane Langlois, a Certified Holistic Health Strategist, Bio-frequency Practitioner, Wellness Educator, and Herbalist. Diane shares her powerful journey of overcoming stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma through natural and holistic methods. Facing a grim prognosis with five children under ten, Diane refused to accept defeat. She explored diet changes, lifestyle shifts, and natural medicine, empowering her body to heal. Diane now dedicates ...
Nov 07, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 114
In this episode, we dive into one of the biggest struggles for adult children from dysfunctional families: setting and sticking to healthy boundaries. If you’ve ever found it challenging to maintain boundaries, you’re not alone. We explore five main reasons behind this difficulty, starting with the fear of rejection or abandonment. Often, those raised in dysfunctional environments feel they must prioritize others to avoid isolation, and that belief lingers into adulthood. We also discuss how a l...
Oct 31, 2024•15 min•Season 5Ep. 113
In this episode, we sit down with Stacy Blemaster, a licensed professional counselor, who shares her deeply personal story of mental health struggles and recovery. Stacy opens up about her crash into depression during her first year at Brown University, where she was eventually diagnosed with As-if Personality Disorder—a condition in which one lives a life of pretense, without a feeling of true authenticity. She connects this aspect of her disorder to her upbringing in a wealthy family that prio...
Oct 26, 2024•39 min•Season 5Ep. 112
In this powerful episode, we dive into the incredible story of Antoinette McInnes , a survivor of cancer and a highly functional BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder), who shares her transformative journey of healing mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2017, Antoinette began the tough process of facing her deep-seated trauma and toxic coping mechanisms that, unknown to her, had fueled both her illness and her outwardly "successful" life. For years, she li...
Oct 20, 2024•51 min•Season 5Ep. 111
In this episode Tammy welcomes Mark Entrekin, a leader with an impressive array of degrees, certifications, and a decade-long Toastmasters journey. Mark, fondly known by Tammy as the "king of acronyms," brings a wealth of experience from coaching top business leaders on Agile, Scrum, and high ROI productivity to guiding couples through difficult transitions like divorce. His company, Reality Focused Dynamics, helps professionals and leaders confront the truths that are often avoided or overlooke...
Oct 15, 2024•36 min•Season 5Ep. 110
In this episode, Tammy Vincent interviews Jodi Geline, a specialist in healing the emotional roots of chronic physical symptoms. Jodi shares her personal journey of struggling with health issues that no doctor could resolve, including extreme bloating that made her look nine months pregnant. Through discovering and developing her own healing methodology, Jodi transformed her health, achieving a flat stomach and overall wellness. Now, she helps others heal their chronic issues by addressing the e...
Oct 09, 2024•43 min•Season 5Ep. 109
In this deeply impactful conversation, hosts Tammy Vincent and Jessica Kazaniwskyj explore the realities of growing up with a narcissistic, bipolar parent. Tammy opens up about her own childhood experience, sharing how her mother’s mental health challenges and refusal to seek treatment led to an abusive environment filled with emotional turmoil. From being locked in closets to dealing with a constant cycle of manipulation, Tammy’s story is both heart-wrenching and inspiring. Together, Tammy and ...
Oct 03, 2024•40 min•Season 5Ep. 108
