In this episode, we discuss the concept of being 'hijacked' by past trauma and its impact on our current reactions. We share personal experiences and strategies to recognize, manage, and heal from these hijacking moments.

Key Takeaways:

- Trauma Hijack: Understand how past traumas can take over in the present, making you feel unsafe and disconnected.

- Activation Awareness: Learn the difference between feeling activated and being fully hijacked by trauma.

- Self-Compassion: Explore the importance of being kind to yourself and recognizing that the reactions are rooted in old wounds.

- Strategies for Healing: Discover methods to regain safety and process old traumas, such as seeking a safe environment, expressing vulnerability, and therapeutic writing.

Quotes:

"When you're hijacked by trauma, you're no longer centered and in that peaceful place that we all like to be." – Finn

"You can't go back to yesterday with today's knowledge. So you can't blame yourself for where you were at." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

Reflect on a recent moment when you felt hijacked by past trauma. Write down the experience and identify the underlying old wound. Share your insights with us on social media using #HealingHijacks.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com

In this episode, we explore the concept of "Making Up Stories" in our daily interactions and how these fabricated narratives can affect our relationships. We provide practical tools to identify and counteract these stories for a healthier mindset and improved communication.

Key Takeaways:

- Fantasyland Delusion: Understand how our past experiences shape the stories we create in our heads.

- Reality Check: Learn the skill of reality checking to confront and clarify the assumptions we make about others.

- Managing Fear: Recognize how fear can drive us to fabricate stories and ways to address it.

Hosts:

Finn and Sarah, experienced life coaches specializing in emotional and mental wellness.

Quotes:

"Most of our thoughts are not real; start double-checking the facts." – Sarah

"A healthy relationship begins with clear and honest communication." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

This week, practice the reality check technique by questioning one story you’ve made up in your head and seeking clarity from the person involved. Share your experience using the hashtag #ClearMindPodcast.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com

In this episode, we explore techniques to help you voice your needs and set boundaries, crucial steps in healing from codependency. From managing difficult conversations with parents to embracing the discomfort that comes with change, we provide strategies to help you move forward with assertiveness and minimize guilt.

Key Takeaways:

- Setting Boundaries: Understand the importance of establishing limits and communicating them clearly with others.

- Overcoming Discomfort: Learn why feeling uncomfortable is a natural part of change and how to navigate through it.

- Speaking Up: Discover practical tools and phrases to help you express your needs and emotions confidently.

Quotes:

"Speaking up, saying what you need, what you think, what you want is the quintessential component to healing from codependency." – Sarah

"When I say no, it's because the answer is no for me; it's not about the other person at all." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

This week, practice saying no in a situation where you usually find it difficult. Share your experience and what you learned on social media using #AssertiveLiving.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com

In this episode, we explore how to identify bait in conversations, its impact on our reactions, and the best ways to respond. From understanding unintentional bait to mastering the art of non-reaction, we share insights on maintaining healthy boundaries in relationships.

Key Takeaways:

- Recognizing Bait: Learn to identify when someone is inadvertently or intentionally trying to provoke a reaction.

- Non-Reactive Techniques: Discover strategies, such as pausing and letting statements die on the branch, to avoid taking the bait.

- Asking Clarifying Questions: Understand how using the Columbo technique can help neutralize bait without escalating the situation.

Hosts:

Finn and Sarah

Quotes:

"Bait is when you get hooked by something, and usually, you know you're getting hooked when you have some type of intense reaction in your body." – Sarah

"It's okay for other people to have feelings and take responsibility for themselves." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

This week, practice identifying moments of bait in your interactions and make a conscious effort to pause and not react. Share your experiences and strategies with us on social media using #LeavingCrazyTown.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com

In this episode, Finn and Sarah explore the vital role of self-compassion amid personal challenges. They share a real-life example of grappling with frustration while on vacation, shedding light on how to manage feelings of shame and embrace self-care.

Key Takeaways:

- The Importance of Self-Compassion: How treating yourself with kindness can help you navigate difficult emotions and situations.

- Managing Triggers: Understanding and addressing triggers that lead to negative self-talk and overreactions.

- Asking for What You Need: Recognizing that it's okay to have needs and to assertively communicate them without guilt.

Quotes:

"Have some compassion for yourself. You're not sleeping, you're upset. You deserve to be able to sleep." – Sarah

"You don't have to justify your existence. You're entitled to have your needs met." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

This week, practice self-compassion by acknowledging and validating your needs. Share how this practice has impacted you on social media using #CompassionChallenge.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com

In this episode, Finn and Sarah unpack the complexities of people pleasing and its true intentions. They delve into how people pleasing often stems from a desire to control and explore the dynamics of 'rage helping' and its implications.

Key Takeaways:

- True Intentions: Understand how people pleasing is often more about controlling one's own discomfort rather than genuinely helping others.

- Rage Helping: Learn about the concept of rage helping, where help is offered out of frustration rather than kindness.

- Control Mechanisms: Explore various ways people may try to control situations and emotions, and how this affects relationships.

- Asking Once: Discover the importance of asking for help once and trusting the response you get.

Guest:

None

Quotes:

"Part of people pleasing is about control. We're trying to control someone else because we're uncomfortable with what's happening for us." – Sarah

"Rage helping is when you resentfully offer help because you can't tolerate the discomfort of watching someone struggle, even if they didn't ask for your help." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

This week, practice asking for help only once and trust the answer you receive. Share your experiences with us on social media using #LeavingCrazyTown.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com

In this episode, we explore the do's and don'ts of dating, offering practical advice on how to navigate new relationships while avoiding codependent behaviors. From setting boundaries early on to gathering information about your date, we provide actionable tips to help you foster healthy interactions.

Key Takeaways:

- Setting Boundaries: Establish clear boundaries from the beginning to avoid complications later in the relationship.

- Be Authentic: Wear what you like, eat what you like, and be honest about who you are to avoid sacrificing yourself for acceptance.

- Notice Red Flags: Pay attention to red flags and acknowledge the truth early on instead of rationalizing or ignoring them.

- Gather Information: Ask questions and follow-up questions to truly get to know your date without monopolizing the conversation.

- Avoid Comparisons: Refrain from talking excessively about your ex or comparing your date to past relationships.

Quotes:

"What you do at the beginning is so critical; it sets the tone for the entire relationship." – Sarah

"Fear of not being liked can make us lose track of our own needs and desires." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

This week, focus on being authentic on your dates. Share with us on social media how it felt to be genuine and honest using #DatingWithFinnAndSarah.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com

In this episode, we explore the experience of being transgender in recovery and what it means to transition out loud. Finn shares his journey and challenges, as well as some important etiquette for interacting with transgender individuals.

Key Takeaways:

- Open Discussion: Finn emphasizes the importance of talking about one's true self in recovery groups to encourage others and build acceptance.

- Etiquette: Learn respectful ways to interact with transgender individuals, including avoiding questions about their pre-transition life and medical details.

- Community Support: Recovery communities can be incredibly supportive, but it's key to navigate potential ignorance or insensitivity with patience.

Guest:

Finn, co-host and transgender individual sharing his recovery and transition experiences.

Quotes:

"I can always muster up a little energy to share who I am and be open about it if it's going to help other people." – Finn

"Take a chance on yourself. We have one chance at being happy." – Finn

Listener Challenge:

This week, practice using correct pronouns and being mindful of transgender individuals' privacy. Share your reflections on this exercise with us on social media using #LeavingCrazyTown.

Connect with Us:

• Website: https://www.leavingcrazytown.com/
• YouTube: @leavingcrazytown
• Facebook: @leavingcrazytownfinnandsarah
• LCT on The Sober Curator

Leaving CrazyTown is a Podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to helping individuals navigate life's challenges, especially codependency. Created by Dr. Sarah Michaud and Finn Allen, they offer unfiltered insights and strategies from personal experiences and mental health expertise. The episodes cover anxiety, depression, relationships, and self-improvement to guide and motivate listeners toward better mental health and overall well-being. Join the Leaving CrazyTown community and take the first step towards a happier, healthier life.

Support the Show:

If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Your feedback helps us improve and reach more listeners.

If you have a show idea, feedback, or just want to connect, email host Dr Sarah Michaud: smichaud113@comcast.net or Finn Allen: finntastic818@gmail.com