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.