Episode Description

What happens when you’ve done “everything right” in recovery — and it still isn’t enough? In this deeply honest conversation, Dr. Sarah sits down with author Patti Clark to explore long-term sobriety, relapse after 13 years, emotional bottoms, motherhood shame, loneliness, and the quiet moments that can pull us back into addiction. Patti shares the raw truth behind her relapse, the power of connection, and why recovery is about becoming whole — not perfect.

Takeaways

• Why relapse often begins long before the drink

• How loneliness can become an emotional bottom

• The hidden shame many mothers carry in addiction and recovery

• Why connection — not discipline — sustains sobriety

• How creativity and writing can support emotional healing

Key Timestamps

• 01:00 Patti’s recovery origin story and family alcoholism

• 11:00Loneliness, disconnection, and leaving meetings

• 13:00Relapsing after 13 years sober

• 18:00Motherhood, shame, and hidden drinking

• 24:00Emotional bottoms and forgiveness

• 37:00Writing The Recovery Road Trip and “now what?” recovery

Notable Resources & Guest Links

• The Recovery Road Trip by Patti Clark

• Website: https://pattyclark.org

• TikTok: @recoveringwoman

• Instagram/Facebook: Patti Clark, Author

If this episode resonated, subscribe, rate, and review Leaving CrazyTown — and share it with someone navigating recovery, relapse, or emotional burnout.

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.

How often do you say “I’m fine” when you’re anything but? In this episode of Leaving CrazyTown, Finn and Dr. Sarah unpack the many meanings behind those two deceptively simple words—and why asking for help can feel harder than suffering in silence. With humor, honesty, and lived recovery wisdom, they explore what makes some requests easy, others terrifying, and how emotional pain often hides behind self-sufficiency. This conversation is for anyone learning how to name their needs without shame and step out of survival mode.

Key Takeaways

• “I’m fine” is often a protective shield—not the truth

• Asking for help feels easier when it benefits others, not ourselves

• Illness and emotional pain trigger deep autonomy and boundary issues

• Recovery trains us to ask for help—but only in specific lanes

• Emotional honesty requires safety, timing, and trust

Key Timestamps

• [00:01] What “I’m fine” really stands for

• [00:03] Why service-based asks feel safer

• [00:05] Illness, isolation, and control

• [00:07] Emotional pain and selective vulnerability

• [00:09] The recovery paradox: trained to ask, still afraid

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

If this episode hit close to home, subscribe, rate, and share it with someone who’s tired of pretending they’re fine.

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 have a way of turning up the volume on codependency — expectations, guilt, fear of disappointing others, and the pressure to “just make it work.” In this honest holiday wrap-up, Finn and Dr. Sarah Michaud review what actually helped, what didn’t, and how clear communication became the difference between resentment and relief. From navigating COVID plans to managing adult kids’ expectations, this episode offers real-life examples of boundaries in action — imperfect, human, and effective.Takeaways

• Clear communication prevents resentment — even when it feels uncomfortable

• Being honest about what you want doesn’t make you selfish

• Boundaries work best when you release the need to control others’ reactions

• Avoiding discomfort creates long-term emotional “ick”

• Holidays don’t require self-abandonment to be meaningful

Key Timestamps

• [00:01:00] Why being “wishy-washy” fuels codependency

• [00:02:30] Navigating COVID, family expectations, and guilt

• [00:04:00] Saying what you want without managing others’ feelings

• [00:06:30] Holiday spirals and parental guilt

• [00:07:30] Choosing clarity over emotional chaos

Notable Resources

• Dr. Sarah Michaud — Author of Co Crazy

• Follow @leavingcrazytown on YouTube

• Website: https://drsarahmichaud.com/

If this episode resonated, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who’s still unpacking their holiday “stuff.”

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.