Finn and Sarah get real (and really funny) about health anxiety—the mental habit of turning every ache into catastrophe—and share how recovery tools like reality-checking, perspective, and self-compassion can break the spiral. You’ll hear outrageous mind-movies, why our brains escalate to “late-stage everything,” and simple practices to build a looser, friendlier relationship with your thoughts.

Takeaways

• Thoughts are not facts; feelings are not emergencies—build space before reacting.

• The mind loves worst-case stories (“late stage everything”); humor shrinks their power.

• Reality-check: get clarity with a call or simple test before catastrophizing.

• Past losses/trauma can prime health anxiety; name the trigger to lower intensity.

• Self-permission helps: if you do overreact (ER calls, extra vet visits), meet it with compassion and learn.

Key Timestamps

• 00:00 — Welcome & “I thought it was an aneurysm” opener.

• 02:00 — Why the brain jumps to late-stage diagnoses.

• 04:05 — The dog-at-the-vet spiral (and the bill).

• 05:10 — The “black spot” baby story: a washcloth cure.

• 08:00 — Panic calls after family loss—when trauma fuels alarms.

• 11:10 — Tools: clarity calls, humor, and perspective practice.

If this episode resonated, share it with a friend who might be stuck in their own CrazyTown—and don’t forget to subscribe for more raw recovery talk.

Come for the truth bombs, stay for the laughter, and leave with a renewed sense of agency. Subscribe and review the podcast, watch on YouTube @leavingcrazytown, and share episodes with a friend who’s ready to leave CrazyTown.