Digging Through Dominoes cover art

Digging Through Dominoes

Digging Through Dominoes

Written by: Teri Anderson
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Are you constantly wondering what the hell is wrong with me? Why don’t I trust people? Why do the same things keep happening over and over again? Is there something wrong with me? Why don’t I ever feel like I’m enough? HOW DO I CHANGE MY LIFE?! Then it’s time to grab your coffee, or wine, or whatever you need and curl up on the couch with these real and inspiring conversations with Teri Anderson of Digging Through Dominoes. Don’t be surprised if you see glimpses of yourself as Teri shares her very real (sometimes hard to believe) stories. From childhood neglect to abusive relationships, she’s seen her fair share of hardships and KNOWS the feelings of unworthiness, hopelessness and despair. But she fought her way through to where she is today – fighting the good fight to live a good life, learning about herself and how to love herself. More importantly, she wants to share that hope and optimism that she’s gained through enduring the hardest of times. In a world where depression and anxiety are growing, and PTSD is finally being recognized, we all need a safe place to go and be heard and understood. Digging through Dominoes is that place. It’s the place to be if you’ve experienced any sort of mental, physical or emotional trauma. It’s a safe haven that welcomes you in, but isn’t afraid to talk about what hurts the most. The stories may be hard but they are REAL and there is hope at the end of the day! Teri’s mission is to let you know that you’re safe, you’re definitely not alone, and to never give up because there is always hope!Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Self-Help Social Sciences Success
Episodes
  • Is THIS the Key to a Happier Life? S5 E3

    Is THIS the Key to a Happier Life? S5 E3
    May 22 2026
    Expectations can quietly destroy us. They can ruin relationships, fuel resentment, trigger childhood wounds, and keep us trapped in cycles of abandonment, trauma, and emotional pain. In this episode, I want to talk about expectations, especially for those of us who grew up with childhood neglect, abuse, abandonment, emotional trauma, or complex PTSD. Many of us learned very early that our needs wouldn’t be met. Some of those wounds began before we could even speak. When a baby cries, they expect comfort. They expect safety. But for many of us, those expectations were broken long before we understood why we felt unsafe in the world. For years, I expected people to heal me. I expected doctors to fix me. Back in 2008, after being misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder, I was heavily medicated with medications that nearly destroyed my life. Years later, a psychiatrist finally told me the truth: “You don’t have bipolar disorder. You have Complex PTSD.” That moment changed everything. Suddenly I understood that so much of my suffering came not from who I was — but from what had happened to me. And expectations were at the center of all of it. I realized I spent most of my life expecting love from people who were incapable of giving it. Expecting validation from people who never saw me clearly. Expecting family members to become emotionally healthy when they had no desire to heal themselves. That realization hurt. But it also freed me. This year, during my birthday trip, I started seeing expectations differently. I went away alone like I usually do — something I began years ago because birthdays carried too much pain and disappointment at home. I expected to spend my time taking photographs, staying isolated, controlling my environment so I wouldn’t get hurt. But life interrupted my plans in unexpected ways. I ended up at a poetry reading in Palm Springs that completely shattered my assumptions. I walked in expecting pretentious performances and emotional distance. Instead, I heard raw humanity. One man told a story about his grandmother dying while insisting someone leave the television on so she could make sure the Yankees lost. It was funny, heartbreaking, deeply human — and completely unexpected. That night forced me to realize something important: Every artist had their own voice, their own rhythm, their own imperfections. And I realized how much of my own life I had spent comparing myself to others — photographers, artists, friends, even strangers online. Trauma teaches us to shrink ourselves. To believe we’re only valuable if we become what someone else wants us to be. But healing begins when we stop trying to imitate other people and start allowing ourselves to exist authentically. I also realized how expectations had shaped my relationships. Growing up with an alcoholic father and a mother who emotionally neglected me left wounds I carried into adulthood. When you grow up feeling unwanted, you unconsciously recreate those dynamics later in life. You chase people who withhold love because some part of you still hopes you can finally earn it. We create silent contracts in our minds that nobody else agreed to. We expect people to love us the way we love them. We expect loyalty, honesty, effort, emotional maturity — even from people who have never demonstrated they’re capable of those things. One of the most healing moments of my life happened recently through something I never expected. My youngest son reached out to me after years of distance. At first I was guarded. Trauma teaches you to brace for betrayal. But he kept showing up. He told me he finally understood what I had been carrying while raising multiple children, navigating mental illness in the family, chaos, hospitals, conflict, and survival. He told me he saw now what I had gone through. I cannot explain how healing that was. Not because it erased the pain — but because it reminded me that life still has room for unexpected grace. Healing isn’t about becoming fearless. It’s about loosening your grip on expectations. It’s about learning that your self-worth cannot depend on whether other people finally choose to see your value. The truth is, many of us were taught to live inside emotional boxes built by other people’s cruelty, neglect, criticism, or abuse. But we don’t have to stay there. You are not broken because someone failed to love you correctly. You are not unworthy because someone projected their poison onto you. And you do not need to keep shrinking yourself trying to earn love from emotionally unavailable people. Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is release the expectation… and finally choose ourselves. Healing is possible. You are valuable. Life is not over because someone failed to see your worth. FB https://www.facebook.com/DiggingThroughDominoes/ IG https://www.instagram.com/diggingthroughdominoes/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@falcongirl.gsd #podcast #expectations #trauma...
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    50 mins
  • The DARK Truth About Her Hidden, Haunting, History S5 E2

    The DARK Truth About Her Hidden, Haunting, History S5 E2
    Mar 23 2026

    This episode of Digging Through Dominoes tells a deeply emotional, hidden truth, about her personal story of betrayal, trauma, survival, and healing.

    The speaker begins by explaining that a canceled podcast episode and something upsetting on social media triggered intense emotions, leading her to share a story she has never fully told before.

    She recounts leaving home at 18 due to a difficult, emotionally neglectful upbringing. With no real guidance or life skills, she quickly became involved with an older man she barely knew. Their relationship escalated into marriage and severe abuse almost immediately. He was controlling, criminal, and violently abusive—physically assaulting her, manipulating her, and attempting to force her into prostitution. She lived in constant fear and survival mode, moving with him from Texas to Nevada.

    Despite multiple warning signs and opportunities to leave, she felt trapped due to fear, lack of support, and emotional conditioning. The turning point came when she became pregnant—this gave her the strength to escape. She returned to her parents’ home, though their response was emotionally distant and lacked understanding or support.

    She describes ongoing harassment from her abuser, legal and financial fallout from his actions, and her determination to protect her child, including refusing to name him as the father. Over time, she reflects on her childhood, recognizing patterns of emotional neglect, lack of structure, and generational trauma that left her vulnerable.

    The episode also explores:

    How trauma shaped her identity and decisions The long-term psychological impact of abuse Her complicated feelings toward her parents—both anger and eventual compassion Her healing journey through therapy, support systems, and self-reflection The role of her child in motivating her survival and escape

    She ends by emphasizing resilience: despite everything, she survived, healed over time, and continues to grow. She hopes sharing her story helps others feel less alone and shows that it’s possible to make it through even extreme trauma.

    DIGGING THROUGH DOMINOES MAIN PODCAST PAGE: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4A3V8sW0X5c1QZGqQfBqXw

    COMMON THREAD OF TRAUMA TATTOOS: https://youtu.be/K2PTqmvhxWE My Trauma Tattoos: Story of Healing and Hope - My Tattoo Tour: https://youtu.be/-gjjry83qUI

    FB https://www.facebook.com/DiggingThroughDominoes/ IG https://www.instagram.com/diggingthroughdominoes/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@falcongirl.gsd

    In this video, I share a personal story, reflecting on past experiences and how they've shaped my emotional well-being. It's a journey of self-discovery and a form of storytelling that helps process complex emotions. This narrative, much like a bedtime story for adults, helps in understanding personal history. 💔

    adverse childhood experiences betrayal narcissist hidden history survival
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • How Childhood Events Hijack Our Adult Lives Without Us Knowing S5 E1

    How Childhood Events Hijack Our Adult Lives Without Us Knowing S5 E1
    Mar 6 2026

    Teri Anderson shares her profound journey through childhood trauma, family dynamics, and healing. Reflecting on her experiences, she explores how childhood events shape our adult lives and the importance of reparenting ourselves for emotional well-being.

    keywords

    childhood trauma, family dynamics, healing, self-awareness, emotional health

    key topics

    Childhood trauma and family dynamics The process of healing and self-awareness The importance of reparenting and emotional self-care

    Titles

    Healing from Childhood Trauma: A Personal Journey Reparenting the Inner Child: Insights from Teri Anderson

    sound bites

    "My mother was angry whenever we got sick." "I thought that was normal, but it wasn’t." "We need to reparent the child within us."

    Chapters

    00:00 Reflections on Childhood Trauma 08:38 The Impact of Parental Neglect 16:27 Understanding Family Dynamics 24:42 Healing and Moving Forward

    FB https://www.facebook.com/DiggingThroughDominoes/ IG https://www.instagram.com/diggingthroughdominoes/ TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@falcongirl.gsd
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    42 mins
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