In this rendition of The Way Out I’m ecstatic to bring you my interview with psychologist, author of the new book Co-Crazy One Psychologist’s Recovery from Codependency and Addiction: A Memoir and Roadmap to Freedom, and person in long term recovery Dr. Sarah Michaud. Dr Sarah shares her journey to and through recovery from addiction and codependency to this point with us in a way that really helps us understand both in an extremely beneficial way. On its face, addiction and codependence appear to be polar opposites of one another. Addiction involves the compulsive use of a substance or behavior to change one’s feelings, or default state of mind and body. Codependency on the other hand, is on its surface, about trying to change the addict or alcoholic. Underneath this behavior, however is a compulsion that is precisely the same but looks very different on the surface. Co-dependent behavior ultimately is about trying to change others in order to change one’s own feelings. It often manifests like this: I feel a compulsion to fix or save a loved one from pain or discomfort. This seems like a straightforward act of love and helpfulness, however the driving force behind this act is not about them. In reality, it’s about me. My inability to sit with the discomfort and dis-ease of watching a loved one experience pain or adversity. Ultimately, the desire to control people, places and things is about trying to change others so I can change my feelings. The good news is, just as the root of codependency and addiction are strikingly similar, so are the principles and practices we adopt to recover from each affliction Dr. Sarah’s message about the truth of addiction and codependency, how she found The Way Out, and how you can too is instructive, enlightening and downright inspirational so listen up.

Contact Dr. Sarah Michaud and learn more about Co-Crazy One Psychologist’s Recovery from Codependency and Addiction: A Memoir and Roadmap to Freedom:

http://drsarahmichaud.com

Learn more about the YouTube Channel, Leaving Crazy Town:

https://youtu.be/JJduEQzfstE

Recovery Literature (Quit-Lit) Recommendations:

Big Book - https://www.aa.org/the-big-book

Comfortable with Uncertainty by Pema Chodron - https://pemachodronfoundation.org/product/comfortable-with-uncertainty-book/

The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo - https://marknepo.com/books_awakening.php

The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie - https://melodybeattie.com/books/language-letting-go-hazelden-meditation-series/

Best Piece of Recovery Advice: This too shall pass

Song that symbolizes Recovery to Dr. Sarah:

Amazing Grace: https://youtu.be/Obp-9BEZe1c

Don’t forget to check out “The Way Out Playlist” available only on Spotify. Curated by all our wonderful guests on the podcast!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6HNQyyjlFBrDbOUADgw1Sz

(c) 2015 - 2023 The Way Out Podcast | All Rights Reserved Theme Music: “all clear” (https://ketsa.uk/browse-music/) by Ketsa (https://ketsa.uk) licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd)