In this powerful, unfiltered conversation, Dr. Sarah sits down with The Mental Illness Happy Hour host Paul Gilmartin for an honest look at trauma, recovery, intimacy, and the long-term impact of childhood wounds. Paul shares how early emotional experiences shaped his patterns in adulthood—and how compassion, boundaries, and accountability became the tools that changed everything. Together, Paul and Sarah explore the messy, courageous work of healing from codependency, breaking survival-mode behaviors, and learning to build relationships rooted in honesty, repair, and self-respect.

Takeaways

• Childhood emotional wounds often shape adult patterns more deeply than we realize.

• Healing requires honesty, humility, and a willingness to take responsibility for our part.

• Boundaries are essential—not just with others but with ourselves.

• Intimacy becomes possible when shame decreases and self-awareness increases.

• Repairing ruptures in relationships builds trust and strengthens connection.

Key Timestamps

• [00:01:00] Listening to hundreds of stories: how Paul protects his emotional battery

• [00:05:00] Early recovery and uncovering deeper issues beneath addiction

• [00:09:00] Learning boundaries, accountability, and the meaning of true intimacy

• [00:14:00] Communication without blame: why timing and tone matter

• [00:18:00] Childhood wounds, emotional responsibility & recognizing patterns

• [00:36:00] Why Paul still loves doing the work—and the stories that keep him going

• [00:42:00] Universal tools: finding language for your needs and setting respectful boundaries

Notable Resources or Guest Links

• Paul Gilmartin – The Mental Illness Happy Hour

• Dr. Sarah Michaud – Author of Co Crazy

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

=Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co Crazy Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with a friend ready to reclaim their voice and leave confusion behind.

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.

The holidays can feel like a warm hug… or a codependent meltdown waiting to happen. In this episode, Finn and Dr. Sarah break down the five biggest shifts that help codependents survive (and seriously enjoy) the holiday season. From asking for what you actually want, to ditching rituals that don’t serve you anymore, to saying “no” without the spiral — these tools help you stop overgiving, overspending, and overextending so you can create a holiday grounded in sanity and joy.

Takeaways

• Ask for what you want — clarity prevents resentment.
• Set a spending limit early to avoid overgiving and January shame.
• “No” is an option — and a powerful one.
• Update or ditch family rituals that drain you.
• If you’re not having fun, you're probably abandoning yourself.

Key Timestamps

• [00:42] Why holidays activate codependency more than anything else

• [02:20] Tip #1: Asking for what you want (without guilt)

• [04:47] Tip #2: Stopping overspending & overgiving

• [07:05] Tip #3: Learning to say no

• [11:36] Tip #4: Ditching old rituals & building new ones

• [13:45] Tip #5: Fun, humor, and joy as recovery tools

Notable Resources & Links

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

• Follow Leaving CrazyTown on YouTube: @leavingcrazytown

Share this episode with a friend who needs permission to enjoy their holidays without losing themselves.

Notable Resources Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co Crazy Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with a friend ready to reclaim their voice and leave confusion behind.

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.

In this Leaving CrazyTown x Eternally Amy crossover, Dr. Sarah Michaud joins Amy Liz Harrison for a Boozeless Book Club deep dive into Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love” aftermath and the complex layers of love addiction, codependency, and emotional recovery.Together, they unpack how relationships can become the new addiction — and how self-awareness, radical honesty, and recovery tools can pull us back from the brink. It’s a raw, funny, and deeply human conversation about obsession, boundaries, and learning to let go with love.

Key Takeways

1. Codependency isn’t care — it’s control in disguise. We rationalize, rescue, and lose ourselves believing we’re helping.

2. Love addiction mimics substance addiction. That chemical “high” of early romance can hijack logic and keep us stuck in fantasy.

3. Denial runs deep. Whether it’s alcohol, love, or someone else’s chaos — our minds will justify anything to avoid loss.

4. Recovery is responsibility. Owning “my part” doesn’t mean taking all the blame — it means claiming my healing.

5. Letting go isn’t abandonment. It’s choosing freedom over fantasy, truth over chaos, and peace over control.

Key Timestamps

• [00:02:10] The reality of codependency: it’s not just about addicts

• [00:06:45] Love addiction and that early “high”

• [00:12:00] Denial, rationalization, and the bitters metaphor

• [00:22:30] The trap of self-abandonment in relationships

• [00:33:00] Boundaries, separation, and self-responsibility

• [00:46:00] Recovery tools from the Big Book that still hold true

• [00:52:00] Owning your part, making the call, and telling the truth

  Amyiz Harrison “Eat, Pray, Love” and related works

• Women, Sex, and Addiction by Charlotte Kasl

• Co Crazy by Dr. Sarah Michaud

• Al-Anon & SLAA resources

• Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (contrast discussed)

Resources & Mentions

• Amy Liz Harrison “Eat, Pray, Love” and related works

• Women, Sex, and Addiction by Charlotte Kasl

• Co Crazy by Dr. Sarah Michaud

• Al-Anon & SLAA resources

• Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins (contrast discussed)

If this episode hit home, share it with someone who’s learning to love without losing themselves. 🧠 Subscribe, rate, and review Codependency Recovery: Leaving CrazyTown wherever you listen — and join the conversation on YouTube @leavingcrazytown.

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. If you loved this conversation, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown—and share it with a friend ready to reclaim their voice and leave confusion behind. 🔗 Website: drsarahmichaud.com | YouTube: @leavingcrazytown