When a Psychologist’s Life Blows Apart: Codependency & Addiction - Dr. Sarah Michaud

What happens when anaddiction psychologist with 30 years of clinical experience and 40 years ofpersonal sobriety watches her own life blow apart when her husband relapses onprescription opioids—and why does intellectual textbook knowledge completelyfail to protect us from the chaotic grip of codependency? Dr. Sarah Michaud is a licensed clinical psychologist, author,and co-host of the recovery YouTube channel and podcast Leaving CrazyTown. Despite maintaining long-termsobriety since age 24 and leading a thriving private practice treatingdual-diagnosis addiction and family dysfunction, Dr. Sarah experienced adevastating bottom when her partner’s hidden opioid relapse unraveled theirhome. Recognizing that her own people-pleasing, denial, and urge tocontrol were symptoms of severe codependency, she dropped the "perfectpsychologist" mask to write Co-Crazy: One Psychologist's Recovery fromCodependency and Addiction. Today, she helps individuals andfamilies dismantle unconscious relational patterns and reclaim emotionalfreedom.  In this episode of FailCraft, Dr. Sarah joins Ezekiel to pull back thecurtain on addiction, enabling, and boundaries. She explains why codependencyis an addiction to fixing others, why shielding addicted loved ones fromconsequences actually prevents their recovery, how suppressing personal angerleads to resentment and relapse, and how to stop basing your self-worth on theemotional states of the people around you. In this episode of FailCraft,you will discover:·        TheLimits of Textbook Psychology: Facing personal collapse when a partner relapses [01:56 /05:47]. ·        TheAnatomy of Opioid Addiction & Denial: Why active users lie to protect their substance [05:47 /06:27]. ·        DecodingCodependency: Understanding"if you are okay, then I am okay" people-pleasing [06:46 / 09:32]. ·        TheEnabling Trap for Parents:Why keeping struggling loved ones at home can be deadly [09:46 / 11:14]. ·        Droppingthe Clinical Mask: How personal rockbottoms made Dr. Sarah a more authentic therapist [11:34 / 14:42]. ·        TheLink Between Resentment and Relapse: Why ignoring your own needs fuels emotional burnout [14:42 /15:01]. ·        LeavingCrazyTown: Using humor and opendialogue to navigate recovery without shame [15:28 / 19:35]. ·        RedefiningSuccess: Moving from external validationto internal self-honesty and peace [19:52 / 21:09]. Connect With Dr. Sarah Michaud:·        WebsiteHub: Explore articles, media interviews, and book orders at drsarahmichaud.com.  ·        Book: Co-Crazy: One Psychologist'sRecovery from Codependency and Addiction (Available on Amazon, majorretailers, and via her website).  ·        YouTube/ Podcast: Watch Leaving CrazyTown with Finn and Sarah on YouTube (@LeavingCrazyTown) and all major podcastplatforms. ·        Articles: Read Dr. Sarah's columns on TheSober Curator. Support the Show:·        Fuel the FailCraftMission: https://iferia.nestuge.com/supportme ·        Subscribe, leave areview, and share this episode with anyone struggling with relationshipboundaries, family addiction, or codependency! Chapters:00:00 Introduction:Dr. Sarah Michaud & Co-Crazy01:56 When thePsychologist’s Life Blows Apart: Facing a Partner's Relapse06:46 The Root ofCodependency: Basing Your Self-Worth on Others09:46 Why SettingBoundaries Is Crucial: Breaking the Enabling Cycle for Parents11:34 Dropping theProfessional Mask: Personal Rock Bottoms & Clinical Empathy14:42 The ResentmentTrap: Why Dismissing Your Needs Risks Relapse15:28 Inside theMemoir "Co-Crazy" & The "Leaving CrazyTown" YouTubeChannel19:52 RedefiningSuccess as Internal Emotional Freedom and Self-Honesty21:35 Connect with Dr.Sarah Michaud & Leaving CrazyTown