What if the fastest way out of resentment, anxiety, and emotional spirals was the one thing most of us avoid? In this episode, Finn and Dr. Sarah break down why speaking directly to the person who upset you is one of the most powerful tools in codependency recovery. With real-life stories, humor, and practical guidance, they show how confronting discomfort leads to clarity, intimacy, and emotional freedom—and why avoiding the conversation costs you far more in the long run.

Takeaways

• Making up stories in your head creates resentment, not safety

• Avoidance is a core codependency pattern that keeps you stuck

• Speaking directly builds intimacy—even when it feels risky

• Preparation matters: regulate before you communicate

• Short-term discomfort creates long-term emotional freedom

Key Timestamps

[00:01] Why we avoid the person who upset us

[00:03] The danger of making up stories in your head

[00:05] Deciding if a relationship is worth addressing

[00:07] How to prepare emotionally before the conversation

[00:10] Speaking without blame or defensiveness

[00:12] Choosing courage over gossip and resentment

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud – Author of Co Crazy

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If this episode hit home, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone who’s been stuck rehearsing conversations instead of having them.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

Episode Description

If you’ve ever rushed in with advice when someone you love was hurting—or felt shut down when you just wanted to be heard—this episode is for you. Finn and Dr. Sarah break down one of the most common (and damaging) traits of codependency: the need to fix other people’s feelings. Through real-life stories, honest reflection, and practical tools, they explain why fixing kills intimacy, what it creates instead, and how learning to listen can transform your relationships.

Key Takeaways

• Trying to fix someone’s feelings often makes them feel unseen and alone

• Most people don’t want solutions—they want validation and presence

• Fixing is usually about managing your discomfort, not helping them

• Asking “Do you want support or feedback?” can change everything

• Listening builds intimacy; fixing creates resentment

Key Timestamps

• [01:00] — The core codependency trait: trying to fix people

• [02:00] — Finn’s story: when advice shut down connection

• [04:00] — Why validation matters more than solutions

• [07:00] — Asking what someone needs instead of assuming

• [08:30] — Fixing as emotional self-protection

• [10:00] — How fixing creates distance and resentment

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Leaving CrazyTown Podcast on YouTube

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If this episode hit home, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone who’s tired of feeling unheard.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into dysfunctional relationship patterns, emotional recovery, and reclaiming your voice—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.

What happens when you quit drinking—but life still feels unbearable? In this raw, deeply validating conversation, Dr. Sarah Michaud sits down with sobriety coach, author, and creator of the Soberful podcast with Veronica Valli, to unpack the missing link in recovery: emotional sobriety. From early addiction and fear-driven coping to codependent relationships and subconscious attachment wounds, Veronica shares why so many people get sober yet still feel stuck—and what actually creates lasting freedom. This episode is for anyone who’s sober, sober-curious, or emotionally exhausted from repeating the same relationship patterns and wondering, “Why am I still hurting?”

Key Takeaways

• Why sobriety without emotional recovery can feel worse over time

• How fear—not alcohol—is often the real addiction

• The connection between codependency, attachment wounds, and relapse

• Why movement and the body are non-negotiable in healing

• What “emotional sobriety” actually looks like in real life

Key Timestamps

[00:02:00] Veronica’s early drinking and fear-based coping

[00:06:00] The moment she realized fear—not alcohol—was the root

[00:08:30] Emotional sobriety vs. white-knuckling recovery

[00:11:30] Why relationships stay chaotic even after getting sober

[00:14:30] The five pillars of emotional sobriety

[00:18:00] Why movement and the body matter more than we thinkNotable Resources & Guest Links

• Veronica Valli — Sobriety Coach & Author

• Book: Soberful

Podcast & YouTube: Soberful

If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with someone who’s sober but still struggling.

Leaving CrazyTown is a raw, real-talk podcast hosted by Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud, two recovering addicts turned relatable guides on the wild ride of codependency healing. Each episode dives deep into the chaos of dysfunctional relationships, identity loss, and emotional recovery—with humor, honesty, and hope. Subscribe and buckle up—we’re leaving CrazyTown.