In this episode of "Tammy's Takes," host Tammy Vincent reflects on a powerful conversation with guest Holly Hague, who survived childhood abuse and rebuilt her health by healing emotionally and physically. The central takeaway is Holly's phrase, "I had to become my own safe person," which Tammy believes is essential for anyone raised in dysfunction. She explains that persistent struggles like anxiety, overthinking, and difficulty setting boundaries are not signs of weakness but signals that the nervous system is still waiting for safety. Often, the very people meant to protect us—parents or caregivers—were unavailable due to their own pain, forcing us to develop survival strategies that no longer serve us.
Tammy emphasizes that healing isn't about changing thoughts alone; it's about giving the body new experiences of safety. This means becoming the safe adult your younger self never had, through small daily choices like setting boundaries, speaking kindly to yourself, or honoring your needs. She offers a practical exercise: when overwhelmed, pause, place a hand on your heart, and ask what you're feeling, what you need, and what you'd say to your wounded child self—then say those comforting words aloud. Each safe choice sends a message to the nervous system that you are protected now. Healing is gradual, built on countless small moments, not a single breakthrough. Tammy concludes by offering her course "Trials to Triumph" at a discount and free clarity calls, encouraging listeners to take the next step toward transformation.
Welcome to the Adult Child of Disfunction Podcast, where we untangle the past, rewrite the
present, and reclaim our future.
I am your host, Tammy Vincent, and together we will break free from old patterns, heal
wounds, and create new narratives.
Are you ready to transform the effects of your dysfunctional past into your superpowers?
Are you excited to get back in touch with your true authentic self?
So, then hit subscribe and join me weekly on the Adult Child of Disfunction Podcast.
Here we will learn from experts as well as experienced drivers, how to turn our trials into
smiles while living our most authentic and joyful lives.
Hello everybody and welcome back to another episode of Tammy's Takes, where we take powerful
conversations with our guests and turn them into practical strategies you can use right
here right now.
So first of all, I want to talk a little bit about Tammy's Takes because a lot of people
are like, what the hell is Tammy's Takes?
Every time I have a guest on, I lay in bed at night and I think about our conversation
and things just come through my head and I'm always constantly thinking, thinking, thinking.
And what I realized is those thinking things that I'm thinking about are things that I
want to teach you guys are things that I want to put into simple strategy, simple techniques,
simple things that you can do on a daily basis to make your life a little easier, a little
simpler and maybe move forward into this whole healing game a little quicker, right?
So that's what Tammy takes it, Tammy's Takes is.
And I think there's about 40 of them now at this point and you can literally go back
and binge watch all 40 of them, they're only five to seven minutes, they're real quick,
but it's just something that I want to teach real quick from the episode that happened before.
Today's episode actually comes from the conversation that I had yesterday with Holly Hague and if
you did not listen to the conversation yet, I encourage you to go back and listen to it.
Holly shared an incredible story of surviving childhood abuse living with autoimmune disease
and ultimately rebuilding her health by healing both emotionally and physically.
But there was one sentence that she said that I haven't been able to stop thinking about.
She said I had to become my own safe person and I thought, oh my gosh, that might be one
of the most important lessons that any adult child of dysfunction will ever learn because
here's but no one tells us the reason that you struggle with anxiety, the reason you overthink
everything, the reason that you have a hard time setting boundaries, the reasons you say
yes, when you want to say no, the reason you feel responsible for everybody else's situations
is because your nervous system is still waiting for someone to tell you that it's safe,
that it's safe to just exist. Most people think people are looking for confidence or motivation
or happiness, but really what we're looking for is just simply one word and that is safety.
Think about your childhood, just a minute. Just a minute. Who was your safe person? Was
it your mom, your dad, your grandma, your grandpa, your aunt, your uncle, a teacher? Who
was it? Maybe you never had one. But if you're anything with like the clients that I work
with, it doesn't matter. You, you can find one, right? And if you can't find one, maybe
you just have to be that safe person for yourself because honestly, maybe a lot of times and this
happened in my case, the people that were supposed to protect me and the people that were
supposed to be the safest in my world were the people that I needed protection from. And
I look at my dad, like my dad was not abusive in any stretch of the imagination, but he was
emotionally unavailable. So he still wasn't my safe person. Sometimes you're struggling with
things. You're growing up with addiction with parent, you grew up with parents that struggled
with mental illness or depression. It's not your fault. And sometimes your parents or your
caregivers or the people that were supposed to keep you safe were so wrapped up in their own
pain that there simply wasn't room for you. So your nervous system adopted. It did what it had to do.
It survived. It became brilliant at surviving. It learned a couple things, though. And a couple
things if these resonate with you, let me know how many times of you thought to yourself or how
many times of you say it to yourself, if I can just make everyone happy, things will be good.
If I don't make anyone mad, things will be safe. If I read the room before I walk into it,
no danger can come to me. What about when they asked you who you are and you say, I can become
whoever you need me to be? Because it feels safe. How many times of you told yourself or thought
to yourself or even put yourself in a situation and you thought that might make me feel safe?
The problem is your nervous system has not gotten the message yet that you're not seven anymore.
You're not five. You're not three. You're not two. You're not all of those ages at which you
learn these adaptive skills of staying safe. So it still feels as if there's danger around every corner.
That's why healing isn't about just changing your thoughts. Healing is teaching your body a new
safe experience. A brand new experience. Some of you may never have even thought about experiencing.
One where, and I guess the easiest way to put it is you need an experience where you become
the safe adult you're younger self needed and never had. I tell my clients all the time. Healing
begins the day you stop asking who's going to rescue me, who's going to save me, start asking how
can I show up for myself today? How can I not abandon myself today? Because every single time that
you do that, every single time, whether it's setting a boundary, whether it's saying no without guilt,
whether it's nourishing your food, yourself with proper food, nutrition, exercise, whatever it is,
even the times that you have that little critic sitting on your shoulder and you decide to
instead of entertaining their thoughts, just speak kindly to yourself. How about every time
you just apologize for existing? These are the things that we do and it's because our nervous system
doesn't feel safe. But every time you change and every time you stop abandoning yourself in those
situations and you help yourself, you're sending one very powerful message to your nervous system,
my friends. You're saying I got you. I'm not going anywhere. I'll protect you now. I know the
things that happened to you weren't your fault, but I'm here now. And let's go. That's really what
you're telling it. That is how you build trust with yourself. Not overnight, not one decision.
This is going to take time, guys. This is going to take time, but it's one safe choice at a time.
So today, you know I give exercises, everything's all about an exercise and I'm going to give you
something to do today. The next time you feel overwhelmed, do not immediately jump in to how you
can fix it. Just pause, put your hand on your heart, take a deep breath and ask yourself three
questions. First, one, what am I feeling? Not what am I thinking, but what am I feeling? What am I
actually feeling in my body? Two, what do I need right now? What do I need? What do I need?
It's going to make me even just one percent better. Maybe it's a glass of water. Maybe it's going
for a walk. Maybe it's phoning a friend. Maybe it's letting yourself cry or beat up your pillow,
whatever it is. Just do it. Ask yourself what do I need and then honor the answer that you get.
And number three, ask yourself if the wounded little child version of myself and it doesn't
matter whether they're two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, whatever they are. If they were
standing right in front of me at this moment, what would I say to them? Because I guarantee
you wouldn't tell them that they were stupid. You wouldn't tell them to get over it. Of course,
not. You wouldn't do that. You have to start treating yourself like your own best friend. So ask
yourself what would I say to my little self right now? Think about that. What would you say?
You're going to say it's okay, baby. I got you. We're safe. We're here. You don't have to do
this alone anymore. So here is the important part though. Say those exact words. Say them to
yourself. Feel them. Feel that love because your nervous system doesn't know whether the words
are coming from a place of forced. It doesn't know if it's coming from a place of your seven-year-old
self or it doesn't know if it's coming from you. It only knows one thing and it knows that the
message feels safe. And that is what we're trying to do. We're trying to get a safe message out
there to your body, to your nervous system. So when Holly was talking, one of the things that I
absolutely loved that she said, and it again reiterates everything I'm always trying to say here,
is that healing doesn't happen in one moment. It doesn't happen in one choice. It doesn't happen
at. There's no one big aha of hitting the head with a two-by-four transformation when it's healing.
It is literally about making small tiny choices over and over again. And I agree 100% with that.
You probably, if you've listened to any of my other episodes, you know that I say this a lot.
Healing isn't a breakthrough. It's a thousand tiny moments where you choose yourself
over abandoning yourself or you choose yourself over those survival patterns that you have so
beautifully adapted, but we need to work on getting rid of. So it's a deep breath. It's setting a
boundary. It's a healthy meal. It's just being kind to yourself. It's going for a walk.
These are the moments that are going to start telling your nervous system that you are safe.
You just need a moment, a moment where your body says, I am worth taking care of. I'm worth it.
And
And you know, I'll tell you all day long you're worth it, but you have to believe it.
You have to truly believe it in your heart or you're not going to act like you are.
So if you're thinking about that and you're thinking, oh my God, that is so me.
I say these things to myself all the time and I'm constantly abandoning myself.
I'm glad you're here because you're in the right place because awareness is where healing
begins.
Awareness is the first step.
So if you're saying, oh my goodness, what do I do?
You need a roadmap.
You need a roadmap, right?
It's not an A to Z plan, but it helps to have a roadmap.
That's exactly why I created a course I have.
It's called trials to triumph.
It's an adult child's beginning roadmap to your healing journey.
So I create it literally specifically for people who are just starting to see, oh my gosh,
my dysfunctional childhood did have a big impact on me.
It did change the way I look at the world.
It did change the way I'm showing up in the world and you want to change, right?
So it's not about fixing you because you're not broken and I want you to hear that.
It's not about fixing you.
It's about helping you understand why you became the way you became and giving you practical
tools to get back to the world you were before life life done you.
So I want everybody to have access to this program.
I think it's incredibly valuable.
It's an eight-week self-guided program.
You go through it on your own right time, you have constant access to me to talk about
to ask questions to get whatever you need.
But right now, I'd like to offer it to you in the show notes at 90% off the normal price.
So for just pennies, literally pennies, you can begin on your healing journey and you
can start to get some of those tools that might just jumpstart that journey for you.
If you'd rather hit me up personally and talk to me personally, I'm 100% cool with that
too.
Next we'll call, it's a complimentary clarity and call, calm call, we just get on, we chat
about whatever you want to know.
And the next steps, because like I said, a little guidance, a little help, a little road
map along the way will never hurt anybody, right?
So it doesn't matter whether it's working with me, taking the course, just staying on my
podcast and listening, looking up other podcasts, reaching out to other coaches, whatever
it is, just keep taking the next step because you so deserve it.
Like I said, and I've mentioned a thousand times, Holly talked about it again, healing
doesn't happen all at once.
It happens one safe choice at a time.
So thank you so much for spending time with me today, these three few minutes.
I know these timmy takes are very quick.
But if you get one thing from them, if you get one little thing, I've done my job.
So if this episode spoke to you, please do me a favor, share, subscribe and pass it along
to someone who might be struggling, pass it along to someone who might be interested in
what we have to say.
And until next time, remember, you are enough, you always have been, you are worthy of every
good thing that is coming your way.
You all have a blessed and amazing day, and I will see you back soon.
Take care.
Before you go, if this episode helped you, please like, subscribe and share it with someone
who needs to hear it.
And if you're wondering what patterns your mind and body may still be holding on to, I'd
love to invite you to a complimentary clarity and calm call, or even a bio-frequency voice
scan.
Together, we'll identify what's been keeping you stuck and talk about how you can begin
to break free.
You can book yours using the link in the show notes.
Until next time, remember, awareness is just the beginning.
Transformation truly begins with action.
And never forget, you are worthy, you are enough, you are way more than enough, and you always
have been.
See you on the next episode.
Podcast Summary
Key Points:
The episode is a "Tammy's Takes" segment where host Tammy Vincent distills key lessons from a previous interview into practical strategies.
The main lesson comes from guest Holly Hague's statement
Many struggles—anxiety, overthinking, poor boundaries, people-pleasing—stem from a nervous system still seeking safety, not a lack of confidence or motivation.
Childhood caregivers often failed to provide safety, leaving individuals to adapt survival patterns that persist into adulthood.
Healing requires teaching the body new safe experiences, not just changing thoughts; it involves becoming the safe adult your younger self needed.
Tammy offers a three-question exercise
Healing is a gradual process of small, repeated choices—like setting boundaries or self-kindness—that signal safety to the nervous system.
Tammy promotes her course "Trials to Triumph," an eight-week self-guided program, currently at 90% off, plus free clarity calls for additional support.
Summary:
In this episode of "Tammy's Takes," host Tammy Vincent reflects on a powerful conversation with guest Holly Hague, who survived childhood abuse and rebuilt her health by healing emotionally and physically. The central takeaway is Holly's phrase, "I had to become my own safe person," which Tammy believes is essential for anyone raised in dysfunction. She explains that persistent struggles like anxiety, overthinking, and difficulty setting boundaries are not signs of weakness but signals that the nervous system is still waiting for safety. Often, the very people meant to protect us—parents or caregivers—were unavailable due to their own pain, forcing us to develop survival strategies that no longer serve us.
Tammy emphasizes that healing isn't about changing thoughts alone; it's about giving the body new experiences of safety. This means becoming the safe adult your younger self never had, through small daily choices like setting boundaries, speaking kindly to yourself, or honoring your needs. She offers a practical exercise: when overwhelmed, pause, place a hand on your heart, and ask what you're feeling, what you need, and what you'd say to your wounded child self—then say those comforting words aloud. Each safe choice sends a message to the nervous system that you are protected now. Healing is gradual, built on countless small moments, not a single breakthrough. Tammy concludes by offering her course "Trials to Triumph" at a discount and free clarity calls, encouraging listeners to take the next step toward transformation.
FAQs
Tammy's Takes is a segment where host Tammy Vincent turns powerful conversations with guests into practical strategies and simple techniques. These are short, 5-7 minute episodes designed to help listeners move forward in their healing journey.
Becoming your own safe person means learning to provide the safety and comfort for yourself that you may not have received in childhood. It involves showing up for yourself, setting boundaries, and speaking kindly to yourself to reassure your nervous system that you are safe.
They struggle because their nervous system is still waiting for someone to tell them it's safe to exist. These adaptive survival skills, like people-pleasing or hypervigilance, were learned in childhood and haven't yet caught up with the present reality.
Healing begins by teaching your body a new safe experience. This involves making small, safe choices daily, such as setting boundaries, saying no without guilt, nourishing your body, and speaking kindly to yourself, which sends a message of safety to your nervous system.
When overwhelmed, pause, place your hand on your heart, and take a deep breath. Then ask yourself three questions: What am I feeling? What do I need right now? What would I say to my wounded inner child? Honor the answers and speak comforting words to yourself.
Trials to Triumph is an eight-week self-guided course created by Tammy Vincent for adults starting their healing journey. It helps you understand why you became who you are and provides practical tools to return to your authentic self, offered at a discount in the show notes.
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