How People-Pleasing Hijacks Your Choices (and How to Take Them Back)

In this raw, relatable episode, Finn and Dr. Sarah unpack two deceptively simple moments that sent them spiraling onto the “crazy train.” What begins as a casual invite — coffee or walk? — becomes a full-blown internal crisis about likability, expectations, and imagined judgments. Together, they reveal how codependency sneaks into everyday interactions, why old fears get activated, and how to pause long enough to choose clarity over chaos. Expect laughter, truth bombs, and practical tools for stepping off the train and back into your life.

Takeaways

• Codependency often shows up in micro-moments, not just big relational crises.
• If a simple question feels hard to answer, you may be basing your response on imagined reactions, not your actual preference.
• Old stories (like fear of being “lazy,” “difficult,” or “high maintenance”) often drive our present-day behavior.
• Pausing before responding is a powerful tool for reclaiming agency and reducing reactivity.
• Progress isn’t perfection — noticing the pattern is the breakthrough.

Key Timestamps

• [00:00] — Welcome to Leaving CrazyTown

• [01:00] — Finn & Sarah confess: We briefly hopped back on the crazytrain

• [02:00] — The “coffee or walk?” question that triggered a codependent spiral

• [04:00] — Imagined judgments, old fears, and why simple choices feel impossible

• • [07:30] — How childhood conditioning shows up in adult relationships
  • [08:30] — Why awareness — not perfection — marks healing

  
  

  Notable Resources / Guest Links

• • Dr. Sarah Michaud, Author of Co Crazy

  • Follow on YouTube: @leavingcrazytown

  If this episode hit home, share it with a friend who answers questions based on fear instead of preference. And don’t forget to subscribe and review — it helps more people leave CrazyTown.

  
  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.