In this episode, Finn and Sarah tackle the common sentiment "I hate the holidays" and explore why this mindset isn't helpful. They discuss the origins of these feelings, including childhood experiences and grief, and offer strategies for shifting to a more positive outlook. By sharing personal stories and effective tips, they help listeners create new traditions and enjoy the holiday season without the usual stress and negativity.

What You’ll Learn:

• Common reasons why people develop negative feelings towards the holidays.

• The impact of childhood trauma and grief on holiday experiences.

• Strategies for creating new, enjoyable holiday traditions.

• The importance of recognizing and managing your feelings around the holidays.

• How to cut out unrealistic expectations and avoid overcommitting.

• The benefits of focusing on what makes you happy rather than trying to please everyone else.

Listener Challenge: Identify one new tradition you'd like to start this holiday season that will bring you joy and reduce stress. Share your experience with a friend or on social media.

Connect with Us: Follow us on YouTube @leavingcrazytown

In this episode of Leaving Crazy Town, Finn and Sarah dive into the complex dynamics of giving and receiving, especially through the lens of codependency. They explore the motivations behind why we give gifts, how we handle receiving them, and the often uncomfortable feelings that can arise during these exchanges. With the holidays approaching, this discussion couldn’t be more timely. Finn and Sarah also share personal anecdotes and practical insights for navigating these social nuances in a healthier way.

What You’ll Learn:

• The underlying motives behind over-giving, especially during the holidays.

• Why some people struggle with receiving gifts and how to practice gracious acceptance.

• The difference between giving out of obligation versus giving from a place of genuine joy.

Listener Challenge: Take a moment to reflect on your own giving and receiving habits. Write down three feelings you experience when giving and receiving gifts. Compare these feelings to what Finn and Sarah discussed and consider how this awareness might guide your actions during the holiday season.

Connect with Us: Follow us on YouTube @leavingcrazytown

In this episode of "Leaving Crazy Town," Finn and Sarah explore how past traumas subtly interfere with our present lives, often without us recognizing it. Through personal anecdotes and therapeutic insights, they uncover the signs of living with past activations and the journey towards self-soothing and freedom from old wounds.

What You’ll Learn:

• Understanding the concept of being "activated" by past experiences.

• Recognizing symptoms that indicate past traumas affecting your present.

• Strategies for self-soothing and processing old wounds.

• The impact of taking risks and confronting fears on personal growth and joy.

Listener Challenge: Reflect on an area of your life where you experience disproportionate anxiety or emotional intensity. Identify if it might be linked to a past experience and take a small step towards confronting and soothing this old wound.

Connect with Us: Follow us on YouTube @leavingcrazytown

In this episode, we explore the importance of physical boundaries and how recognizing and respecting them can impact our well-being. From understanding personal space to handling unexpected touch, we share actionable insights on asserting your boundaries and responding effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• Recognizing Violation: Understand how emotional responses can signal when your boundaries have been crossed.
• Consent and Boundaries: Learn the importance of ongoing consent, even in established relationships.
• Personal Space Awareness: Discover ways to identify your comfort zone and communicate your need for personal space effectively.

Quotes: "The bottom line is we have control over our own bodies and we get to decide who touches us and when." – Sarah Michel "It's not just about how you feel in the moment; you have the right to change your mind about being touched at any time." – Finn

Listener Challenge: This week, pay attention to your emotional responses when someone enters your personal space or touches you. Share your experiences and how you handled them on social media using #BoundaryAwareness.

In this episode, Finn and Sarah explore the various ways control manifests in relationships and personal behavior. From manipulation to passive aggressiveness, they provide insights and examples to help listeners identify and address controlling tendencies.

Key Takeaways:

• Manipulate People: Understand how subtle manipulation can affect relationships.
• Anger as Control: Learn how expressing anger can be a form of control, especially in parent-child dynamics.
• Passive Aggressiveness: Recognize the subtle ways passive aggressiveness can control and affect others.
• Crisis Creation: Discover how constant drama and crises are used to control social interactions.
• Unwanted Advice: Find out why giving advice unsolicited can be a form of control and how to address this behavior.

Quotes:

“These origins of these ways you control have compassion for yourself. Absolutely.” – Sarah

"Passive aggressive people never go to therapy, but the people that are passive aggressive with are always in therapy because we're always thinking we're crazy." – Finn

Listener Challenge: Identify one controlling behavior you might exhibit and consciously work on reducing or eliminating it this week. Share your journey with us on social media using #ControlFree.

In this episode, Finn and Sarah tackle the challenges of Thanksgiving, whether you choose to attend family gatherings or spend the holiday on your own. They discuss strategies to navigate potentially stressful situations and share ideas for enjoying the day in your own way.

Key Takeaways:

• Setting Time Limits: "If you're at a family event from 12 to 6, you can plan to leave at 4. You don't have to stay the whole time."
• Handling Old Dynamics: “Just remember, what's happening with your family is more about them than about you.”
• Food Challenges: "If you have special food issues, bring something so you're not reliant on others understanding your needs."

Listener Challenge: This week, decide in advance how you want to spend Thanksgiving and share your plans with us on social media using #CrazyTownThanksgiving.

In this episode, we explore different approaches to handling Thanksgiving, whether you're spending it with family or choosing to spend it alone. From setting boundaries to creating new traditions, we discuss strategies to help you make the most out of the holiday season.

Key Takeaways:

• Set Time Limits: Establish a clear plan for how long you'll stay at family events to manage your comfort and boundaries.
• Detach with Love: Learn how to navigate tricky family dynamics without taking things personally.
• Create Your Own Traditions: Discover ways to spend Thanksgiving alone that bring you joy, like volunteering or trying new activities.

Quotes: "What your family is doing is not about you; it's about them. They're just going to do what they've always done." – Sarah "You can do whatever you want on Thanksgiving. It's about finding what brings you joy." – Finn

Listener Challenge: This Thanksgiving, try setting a firm boundary or creating a new tradition and share your experiences with us on social media using #LeavingCrazyTown.

In this episode, we discuss the concept of freedom in the context of codependency recovery. Learn how to identify your needs, set boundaries, and achieve a sense of liberation akin to wild mustangs running free.

Key Takeaways:

• Importance of Freedom: Understanding that recovery from codependency is about gaining personal freedom and self-expression.
• Self-Identification: The first step to freedom is knowing what you want and need.
• Breaking Codependent Patterns: Examples of how acknowledging and setting boundaries leads to breakthroughs.
• Handling Pressure: Strategies for dealing with self-imposed pressure and learning to prioritize your own needs.

Listener Challenge: This week, take a moment each day to pause and ask yourself, "What do I want? What do I need?" Share your journey towards freedom with us on social media using #FreeFromCodependency.