In this episode of Healing From Emotional Abuse, host Marissa F. Cohen sits down with Tammy Vincent, bestselling author, speaker, and coach, to talk about growing up as the adult child of two alcoholic parents and what that early chaos did to her sense of safety, love, and identity for decades afterward.
Tammy shares how she came to recognize complex PTSD in her own life, how dissociation became a survival tool she didn't even realize she was using, and what it was like to face a period of serious childhood harm with no way out. She also opens up about the moment she realized, at 26, that she didn't know what unconditional love was, and how that became the start of a decades long healing journey through Al-Anon, ACOA, therapy, and eventually coaching others through the same process.
This episode also covers the science behind generational trauma, including how trauma can physically shape the body and get passed down, and closes with Tammy's honest advice for anyone still in survival mode.
Content note: this conversation includes descriptions of childhood abuse and exploitation. Please take care while listening.
Connect with Tammy Vincent:
www.tammyvincent.com
Learn more about Foundations of Healthy Relationships, a six week guided experience to help you recognize unhealthy patterns, build stronger boundaries, and learn what healthy relationships look like. Link in the show notes and on our Instagram community.
Timestamps
00:00 Welcome and podcast mission
00:03 Meet Tammy Vincent
00:03 Growing up with two alcoholic parents
00:05 A childhood custody battle
00:06 Recognizing complex PTSD
00:07 A period of serious harm and exploitation
00:08 Dissociation as a coping mechanism
00:09 Sponsor message: Foundations of Healthy Relationships
00:10 How childhood trauma shaped her adult relationships
00:11 Becoming a parent and facing old patterns
00:12 The science of generational trauma
00:15 A study on inherited fear responses
00:17 Finding support through Al-Anon and ACOA
00:19 Trying every healing modality
00:20 Sponsor message: Foundations of Healthy Relationships
00:21 Mindfulness, letting go, and moving forward
00:22 Advice for survivors
00:23 Tammy's book and how to work with her
00:24 Closing thoughts
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please contact local emergency services. For confidential support, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is available at 1-800-799-7233.
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