Adult Child Shitshow Saturday #189 - The Many Faces of Dysfunction
Jan 31, 2026
A roundup of six family dysfunction stories, from intergenerational trauma after political collapse to addiction and secrecy. Conversations touch on narcissistic parenting, scapegoating, and emotional abandonment. Listeners hear about religious abuse, somatic memory, and reclaiming boundaries. Recovery threads include therapy breakthroughs, reconciliation, and tracking long-term impacts.
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Post‑Soviet Trauma And A Brother's Addiction
- Marina describes growing up in post-Soviet hardship with a brother who developed a heroin addiction in his early twenties.
- She remembers being parentified, witnessing chained/detox attempts, and learning silence was safer than questions.
Scapegoat Role Creates Deep Programming
- Guest (long-form contributor) explains scapegoating and family roles create lifelong programming that feels impossible to escape.
- Reconnecting with parents later revealed layers of generational trauma and the need to take responsibility for change.
The Blanket That Meant 'Not Enough'
- Marina recounts feeling emotionally neglected by her mother who once gave Marina's blanket away on a school trip and left her freezing.
- That memory persisted as proof she wasn't valued and shaped how she interpreted parental care.