Adult Child

Adult Child dives deep into the lasting effects of growing up in dysfunctional families—unpacking complex and relational trauma, codependency, toxic shame, and addiction patterns with raw vulnerability and unapologetic authenticity.

Hosted by Andrea Ashley, a recovering shitshow with 17 years sober, each episode shares unfiltered insights, expert conversations, and practical tools to heal your nervous system and break free from the cycles that hold you back.

Whether you’re an adult child of alcoholics or from a dysfunctional family, navigating toxic relationships, or healing your inner child, this is your no-BS space for healing. New episodes every Wednesday & Saturday.

And damn the join The Shitshow Healing Community for live support groups and connection with fellow cycle breakers.

Last refreshed: April 21st, 2026 at 10:30 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

7 - Adult Children of Alcoholics Pioneer Tian Dayton

💨 Breathe to Heal: A Somatic Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Child : Early Bird Pricing through July 10th - get your damn spot now! In today's episode, Andrea dives deep with author, speaker and Adult Child expert - Tian Dayton. Tian shares her wisdom on a variety of adult child topics - from how the movement began, the ACOA trauma syndrome, codependency and much much more! Tian's website Resources - The ACOA Trauma Syndrome: The Impact of Childhood Pain on Adult Relationships by Tian Dayton Emot...

May 12, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 7

6 - Codependency & Acting Drunk When You're Sober

💨 Breathe to Heal: A Somatic Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Child : Early Bird Pricing through July 10th - get your damn spot now! In today's episode, we take a deep dive into codependency. Andrea shares the rest of the Brian #2 story (!!!!), and then is joined by Nina Renata Aron, author of "Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love". Good Morning, Destroyer of Men's Souls: A Memoir of Women, Addiction, and Love by Nina Renata Aron Resources - Codependent-No...

May 05, 2021•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 6

5 - Broken Picker Syndrome & Cringeworthy Dating Stories

💨 Breathe to Heal: A Somatic Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Child : Early Bird Pricing through July 10th - get your damn spot now! In today's episode, Andrea shares more cringeworthy dating stories and about her broken man-picker. Then struggle us all about her "broken man-picker". Then, she talks to her BFF and broken picker syndrome survivor, Jessica, and how she was able to fix her picker. Episode Resources: Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—L...

Apr 28, 2021•58 min•Season 1Ep. 5

4 - Alcoholism, Why You Should be Grateful I Don't Drink & What Truly Lies Beneath Addiction

💨 Breathe to Heal: A Somatic Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Child : Early Bird Pricing through July 10th - get your damn spot now! In today's episode, Andrea shares about the hot mess she once was (is?!?) and why the world is a much better place now that she's sober. Then she speaks with TJ Woodward, the founder of Conscious Recovery, a recovery method that goes beyond simply treating symptoms and addresses the underlying root causes to addiction. https://www.tjwoodward.com/ Episode Resources: A...

Apr 21, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 4

3 - Toxic Shame, Slut Shaming & Being Gay When Your Dad is a Pastor

💨 Breathe to Heal: A Somatic Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Child : Early Bird Pricing through July 10th - get your damn spot now! In today’s episode, we take a deep dive into one of the most damaging repercussions of growing up in a dysfunctional family – toxic shame. We are talking about becoming the school slut in the 7th grade, being gay when your dad is a pastor, and what happens when shame becomes one’s identity. Episode Resources: Healing the Shame that Binds You by John Bradshaw It Wasn'...

Apr 14, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 3

2 - The Dysfunctional Family & the Scapegoat

💨 Breathe to Heal: A Somatic Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Child : Early Bird Pricing through July 10th - get your damn spot now! On this week's episode, we are digging in deep on the experience of growing up in a dysfunctional family. Andrea shares her experience of becoming the scapegoat ("identified patient") in her family, and then talks to her friend, Eric, who shares his experience of growing up in an abusive home. We also talk about why speaking our truth is the only path to freedom, but...

Apr 07, 2021•59 min•Season 1Ep. 2

1 - Why I’ll Never Date Another Brian

💨 Breathe to Heal: A Somatic Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Child : Early Bird Pricing through July 10th - get your damn spot now! In today's episode, Andrea tells you how she came to learn that she was an adult child and why she'll NEVER date another guy named Brian. Then she lays the groundwork for what lies ahead in the podcast - what is an adult child, where the term came from, and the common characteristics to help you determine whether or you're an adult child. Episode resources: Adult Chi...

Mar 31, 2021•42 min•Season 1Ep. 1

Coming soon: Adult Child (Trailer)

A deep dive into the impact of growing up in a dysfunctional family. Join Andrea and guests for vulnerable and filterless conversations about what it means to be an adult child - from codependency, toxic shame, addiction and much much more. Support the show Our Sponsors: * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy...

Feb 06, 2021•1 min

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