We explore the tale of violence and abuse prevalent in teen mothers' lives and explain how unhealed trauma continues to affect adult mothers physically, emotionally, and mentally decades later.

• Nearly two-thirds of teen mothers experience sexual or physical abuse at some point in their lives.
• Traumatic experiences leave imprints on the nervous system that persist even when "out of sight."
• Trauma is overwhelming and terrifying, causing us to protect ourselves through shock, denial, or dissociation.
• Some people suffer more than others due to differences in traumatic events, individual makeup, and spiritual responses.
• Hidden trauma may be repressed or normalized but still affects the nervous system and overall functioning.
• Healing involves facing painful emotions but leads to integration that makes suffering finite rather than lifelong.
• You can't change what happened, but you can change trauma's imprint on your body and mind
  
  Email us at info@teenmomsA.org or contact us via our website teenmomsA.org with questions or topics you'd like discussed. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @TeenMomsAnonymous and subscribe to our blog and podcast to stay connected on your healing journey.

When a teenage girl becomes a mother, her life transforms in ways she never anticipated—often amid judgment, shame, and overwhelming challenges. But what happens when this young mother carries unhealed trauma into her parenting journey? The impacts can ripple through generations.

Dr. Chris joins J'Michael with 107.3 JAMZ - Greenville, SC to share the powerful mission behind Teen Moms Anonymous, where we are creating sacred spaces where teen mothers and adult women who became mothers in their teens can find healing, support, and empowerment. With authentic vulnerability, Dr. Chris reveals how her difficult relationship with her own mother—a teen parent—became the catalyst for her life's work.

"Your greatest ministry will come out of your greatest pain," she shares, describing the moment she discovered how unresolved trauma from violence and abuse impacts a young mother's ability to form a secure attachment with her child. This understanding transformed her personal pain into purposeful action, creating resources that interrupt generational cycles of trauma.

The conversation offers practical wisdom for families navigating a teen pregnancy, with Dr. Chris outlining three essential steps: parents must first regulate their own emotions, then emotionally support their daughter, and finally develop a concrete plan utilizing available resources. From medical partnerships like Nurse Family Partnership to educational advocacy with school counselors, she outlines a comprehensive support system for young families.

What makes this interview particularly valuable is the balance of compassionate understanding with actionable guidance. Dr. Chris doesn't just acknowledge the emotional wounds teen mothers carry—she provides pathways to healing through our organization's weekly blogs, podcasts, and confidential support groups.

Whether you're a parent, educator, community leader, or someone who cares about supporting vulnerable families, this conversation offers profound insights into breaking cycles of trauma and building healthier futures for young mothers and their children.

Connect with Teen Moms Anonymous through our website teenmomsA.org and discover how emotional healing creates stronger families across generations.

Toxic shame—that intensely painful belief that we are fundamentally flawed and unworthy of love—keeps us hiding in the shadows of our lives. For teen mothers and those who became mothers in their teens, especially survivors of abuse and violence, this shame can become the very core of identity, fueling destructive patterns and preventing authentic connection.

In this final episode of our five-part series "Healing the Shame That Binds You," Dr. Chris unpacks three powerful methods for externalization—bringing toxic shame out of hiding where it can finally be healed. Drawing from John Bradshaw's groundbreaking work and her own experience with Celebrate Recovery, Dr. Chris demonstrates how 12-step programs create the perfect environment for shame healing by combining honest social contact with the power of being mirrored and accepted by non-shaming others.

The 12-step journey restores four fundamental relationships broken by toxic shame: our relationship with God or a higher power, our relationship with ourselves, our relationships with others, and our relationship with the world around us. Unlike quick-fix approaches, this healing process takes time and commitment, but offers genuine transformation through its structured pathway from admission of powerlessness to spiritual awakening.

What makes recovery groups uniquely suited for healing toxic shame is their non-judgmental atmosphere. In these spaces, everyone has experienced the agony of toxic shame, creating a sanctuary where you're embraced rather than judged for your struggles. As Bradshaw notes, "As I confessed how badly I really felt, I saw acceptance and love in the mirroring eyes of others...I began to feel like I mattered."

Connect with Teen Moms Anonymous for resources, support groups, and community. Subscribe to our podcast and follow us on social media to continue your journey toward emotional health and wellness. Your healing not only transforms your life but creates a healthier foundation for your children.