Dear Little Me

Signs of a toxic family, signs of addiction, effects of childhood trauma

Did you feel total loneliness and abandonment growing up? Brooklyn is the sweetest soul you will ever meet. Before we met, Brooklyn sent me her most recent family photo which showed her mom and dad, her sister and brother-in-law, her own family and all the kids. Everyone is smiling and showing up as the happy family. But the truth is quite different. The reality is, Brooklyn's mom was an alcoholic. This was to be kept a secret her entire life. She could tell no one about the chaos that was unfolding every day in her family home, even to her closest friends. Brooklyn's mom was not there physically or emotionally. Her Dad was controlling, angry and triggered. He was unavailable emotionally or able to offer protection, care or love. And Brooklyn spent her life lurching from one crisis to another inside this chaotic family home. No safety, just fear. Trying endlessly to save her mom whilst trying not to trigger her Dad. And it has impacted everything about her life.

*another episode we recommend https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/156-how-trauma-leads-to-addiction/id1533741808?i=1000614770677

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me at www.instagram.com/mybigloveproject or send an email to [email protected]. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Signs of a narcissistic mother, effects of narcissistic abuse, signs of gaslighting, effects of gaslighting

Welcome back to PART TWO of Melissa's powerful and heart-wrenching story. In part one, we followed Melissa into the depths of the abandonment, abuse, shame, and humiliation that shaped her early life. Following a complete breakdown, and the realisation that she needed and deserved help, Melissa embarked on a journey of healing and self-discovery. Like many who have faced abandonment and abuse, Melissa had completely lost touch with who she was. Melissa's belief that she deserved the punishments inflicted upon her by her toxic aunt and family initially stopped her from reaching out for support. Despite these challenges, Melissa has undertaken significant healing and she wants you to know that you are not alone. She wants you to know that if she can heal, you can heal too. Melissa’s determination to reclaim the beautiful life that was taken from her is truly inspiring. You can connect with Melissa on her Instagram account here https://www.instagram.com/letmeglowyamind She would love to have you join her on this journey.

*see below for similar recommended episodes

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me at www.instagram.com/mybigloveproject or send an email to [email protected]. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

**Adriana Ep. 110

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/110-walking-away-from-a-narcissistic-mother/id1533741808?i=1000586990448

Alex Ep. 106

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000585356096

Melany Ep. 102

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000583704477

Michaila Ep. 44

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000535189512

Dr Melanie Salmon Ep. 42

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/42-how-does-a-narcissistic-mother-behave/id1533741808?i=1000533637884

Sarah Ep. 10

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000501656813

Erin Ep. 75

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000565399152

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to Season 7!  Signs of a narcissistic mother, effects of narcissistic abuse, signs of gaslighting, effects of gaslighting

From a very young age, Melissa suffered physical abuse at the hands of her mother. Melissa’s father was absent for work much of the time and Melissa’s parents marriage was highly volatile and chaotic. (**Trigger Warning**) The chaos reached a devastating peak when, at the age of 3 1/2, Melissa’s father murdered her mother. From that moment, Melissa was deeply traumatised. She had lost both her parents, her home, and was thrust into the midst of a highly sensationalised murder trial, and this was only the beginning of Melissa’s trauma. Melissa was placed with a new family who subjected her to years of shame and humiliation, encompassing many forms of abuse—physical, emotional, social, mental, and spiritual. As a young adult, Melissa was completely broken. However, this is not just a story of deep devastation and despair, this is a story of true resilience and empowerment. This is the story of one incredible human's decision to reclaim control of her life and create her own destiny. You can find Melissa at https://www.instagram.com/letmeglowyamind

*See similar recommended episodes below

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me at www.instagram.com/mybigloveproject or send an email to [email protected]. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

**Adriana Ep. 110

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/110-walking-away-from-a-narcissistic-mother/id1533741808?i=1000586990448

Alex Ep. 106

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000585356096

Michaila Ep. 44

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000535189512

Dr Melanie Salmon Ep. 42

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/42-how-does-a-narcissistic-mother-behave/id1533741808?i=1000533637884

Sarah Ep. 10

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000501656813

Erin Ep. 75

https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-my-parents-raised-me/id1533741808?i=1000565399152

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a huge expectation for all of us that Christmas equates to joy.  But it can just as easily equate to triggers, to feeling dysregulated because of past experiences with our families and I’ve heard from listeners how much they are dreading spending Christmas with people they find truly challenging.  People as close as their own parents and brothers and sisters. This is our final episode for 2023. Please join me for this chat on why you need to say 'no' these holidays.

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠ ⁠⁠⁠or send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part two of our 2023 wrap up!

Welcome to this special two part episode of the podcast, where we take a reflective journey back through the wisdom shared by our incredible guests over the past year. Every story involves a reveal of truth and the heart of healing lies in embracing these truths. Each guest has shared their own unique journey of navigating abuse, abandonment, judgment, and expectation. These experiences have imprinted trauma on their minds and bodies, yet the determination to take back control of their lives is inspirational. Each guest has made the decision to, not only heal themselves, but to share those experiences to empower all of us to heal, grow and thrive. I feel incredibly blessed to have sat down with each of these remarkable healers, witnessing the depths of their despair, loneliness, and brokenness. In their stories, we find true courage—the courage to choose a different path, not just for ourselves but for generations to come. Join me in honoring the courage in each story whilst recognising the strength within yourself to do the same.

Included episodes:

Wen Peetes - episode 206

Skadi - episode 198

Anna - episode 190

Amy - episode 182

Reagan - episode 204

Azzah - episode 150

Samantha - episode 146

Melissa - episode 202

Latoya - episode 172

Rev - episode 144

Coralee - episode 178

Becky - episode 170

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me at ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/mybigloveproject ⁠⁠or send an email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this special two part episode of the podcast, where we take a reflective journey back through the wisdom shared by our incredible guests over the past year. Every story involves a reveal of truth and the heart of healing lies in embracing these truths. Each guest has shared their own unique journey of navigating abuse, abandonment, judgment, and expectation. These experiences have imprinted trauma on their minds and bodies, yet the determination to take back control of their lives is inspirational. Each guest has made the decision to, not only heal themselves, but to share those experiences to empower all of us to heal, grow and thrive. I feel incredibly blessed to have sat down with each of these remarkable healers, witnessing the depths of their despair, loneliness, and brokenness. In their stories, we find true courage—the courage to choose a different path, not just for ourselves but for the generations to come. Join me in honoring the courage in each story whilst recognising the strength within yourself to also be courageous. 

This episode is divided into two parts. Part two releases later this week.

Included in this episode:-

Lauren - episode 139

Christina - episode152

Jana - episode 154

Constance - episode 156

Beck Thompson - episode186

Natasha - episode124

Stephanie - episode180

Victoria - episode 166

Reagan - episode 204

Dr Mariel Buque - episode 192

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me at ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/mybigloveproject ⁠⁠or send an email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Heather Browne's Mom was magical, exquisite, cultured, and a joy to be around. However, amidst the beauty, Heather's mother struggled with schizophrenia. Heather's childhood unfolded in the magical realm her mother created, offering Heather a unique perspective on the fluidity of our sense of reality and the profound influence we hold over our own perceptions. Today, Heather is renowned as the Reframe Queen of Orange County, encouraging us to introspectively connect with questions like 'What am I thinking?' 'What am I choosing?' and 'Why am I choosing this?' These inquiries ultimately lead to a pivotal question: 'Are my thoughts allowing me to heal?’ In this quick chat episode, Heather shares about the transformative power of reframing your thoughts and the impact it can have on our journey towards healing. You can find Dr Heather Browne at her ⁠WEBSITE

Listen to her TED TALK HERE

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠ ⁠⁠⁠or send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Wen Peetes, Intuitive Healing Coach, courageously opens up about the childhood trauma she endured from both parents. Trapped in a world of expectation and appearances, everybody wore a mask. This is a story of how truth heals. At a critical point in her life, Wen faced a complete breakdown—a moment often triggered by the confrontation of truth. Lives can fracture when confronted with reality because, for many of us, our existence revolves around safeguarding secrets, burying memories, wearing masks, and maintaining a facade of smallness and silence. Wen has dedicated years to embracing her truth, granting herself the freedom to speak, live, and embody her authentic self. At its essence, this journey is about truth and cultivating self-trust. This is a story of resilience, self-discovery, and the empowering journey toward authenticity. You can find Wen ON HER WEBSITE on INSTAGRAM on FACEBOOK. You can find her book INNER CHILD HEALING: heal your wounds, train your mind, create a new you HERE

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me on ⁠⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠ ⁠⁠⁠or send an email to ⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Constance Scharff’s father was highly abusive resulting in Constance taking her first drink at age 11. By the time she was in college, Constance was drinking two litres of hard liquor a day. She firmly believed she did not have long to live and friends expected she would not make it through her twenties. As a small child, Constance was abandoned and uncared for. She was lost in a family who did not protect her or keep her safe. In this quick chat episode, Constance shares some simple practices she has learnt and used over many years in addiction recovery and in her work with the Institute for Complementary and Indigenous Mental Health Research, of which she is the Founder. Dr Constance Scharff has been sober for 25 years and is passionate about the topics of addiction, recovery and mental health. You can find Dr Constance Scharff on her WEBSITE and on INSTAGRAM You can find her BOOKS HERE.

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me at ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/mybigloveproject ⁠⁠or send an email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode Reagan, a listener of this podcast, courageously steps forward to share her story. It's heartwarming to witness the incredible community we've built, where listeners like Reagan generously contribute their narratives in the hope of helping others. Your support truly makes this podcast exceptional. Reagan's journey is one of profound resilience, particularly in navigating the complexities of her relationship with her mother. From a young age, Reagan found herself shouldering immense responsibility due to her mother's struggle with addiction. The household dynamics were far from ordinary, with Reagan taking on the role of caregiver for her younger sisters and her mother, who, in the throes of addiction, grappled with anger and irresponsible behaviours. Living in the orbit of addiction is an experience fraught with challenges. Reagan's story serves as a beacon for those going through similar traumas, a reminder that you are not alone and there is power in realising that you have the choice and the opportunity to shape your life on your terms.

If you have a story to share for this podcast please connect with me at ⁠⁠www.instagram.com/mybigloveproject ⁠⁠or send an email to ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠. I would LOVE! to connect with you.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.