Shitshow Saturday #209 - Ana S.Shitshow Saturday #209 - Ana S.
Adult Child
Ana shares her story of childhood abuse, foster care, self-harm and rage in motherhood, alongside the gradual relief she finds through somatic work and community support. The conversation focuses on how growing self-compassion and connection can shift long-standing patterns for adult children of dysfunctional families.
23:40•13 Jun 2026
From Foster Care to Healing Circles: Ana’s Journey on Shitshow Saturday
Episode Overview
- Childhood abuse and foster care can shape lifelong beliefs about worth, safety and love, even when those events are barely remembered.
- Head-based healing alone can leave people stuck in hypervigilance, self-sabotage and a relentless inner critic; body-based work can add a crucial piece.
- Community support offers powerful relief from isolation by showing that others share similar experiences and emotions.
- Parenting can become more patient and connected as unresolved rage and shame begin to soften through ongoing healing.
- Self-compassion and recognising personal strengths, such as empathy and creativity, are important parts of rebuilding a sense of self.
“I felt so much lighter, like I have more space. It’s like I increased my capacity to do things and be a person.”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety and emotional healing? This Shitshow Saturday brings Ana into the spotlight, sharing a childhood story that many adult children of dysfunctional families will recognise straight away. The episode opens with Andrea speaking directly to anyone who’s been stuck in their head-based healing: years of therapy, plenty of insight, yet still living in hypervigilance, self-sabotage and a brutal inner critic.
Her straight-talking rundown of “if this is you…” sets the stage for a chat that hits both body and heart. Ana then walks through her past with calm honesty.
She talks about growing up with military-style punishments, being taken into foster care at around three years old, and realising, even as a child, that “my family’s weird.” One of the most painful memories she shares is standing in a stranger’s home thinking, “why does she like you, but she doesn’t like me?” while looking at another child. That early sense of being unwanted echoes through later years of self-harm, disordered eating and chaotic relationships.
As an adult, Ana describes feeling rage during pregnancy and motherhood, yelling over small things and drowning in shame: “I’m such an awful person. I’m a terrible mom.” Her recent healing work, plus being part of Andrea’s community, has helped her feel lighter, more patient and more connected to her daughter. Group calls were “terrifying, but really great”, showing her how much changes when you heal alongside others instead of white-knuckling it alone.
If you’ve ever felt broken, too much, or stuck in old patterns despite all your efforts, Ana’s story might leave you asking: what if the next step is letting yourself be seen and supported, just as you are?
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