Sarah Fader, author, blogger and staunch warrior in the fight for education and openness about mental illness, is my first guest on SelfWork. Her work was featured in a powerful piece on The Washington Post as she speaks candidly about her own diagnoses — Anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Bipolar Disorder — (which can be confusing in and of itself) and her creation of the website StigmaFighters, where I and many others have told of their own very personal mental illness journey. She’s the author of several books, including #This Is What Anxiety Feels Like, Three Year-Olds Are A..holes, and her most recent venture, a workbook for those with depression and anxiety, The Ten Step Depression Relief Workbook, co-written with Dr. Simon Rego.

Listen in as we chat about treatment plans, the confusion of multiple diagnoses, some of the consequences of being open about your own mental struggles, and the unusual way we became friends. Let’s just say we had a rocky start. As always, thanks for listening to SelfWork.

You can hear more about mental health and many other topics by listening to my podcast, SelfWork with Dr. Margaret Rutherford. Subscribe to my website and receive one weekly newsletter including my weekly blog post and podcast! If you’d like to join my FaceBook closed group, then click here and answer the membership questions! Welcome!

My new book entitled Perfectly Hidden Depression has arrived and you can order here! Its message is specifically for those with a struggle with strong perfectionism which acts to mask underlying emotional pain. But the many self-help techniques described can be used by everyone who chooses to begin to address emotions long hidden away that are clouding and sabotaging your current life.

And there’s a new way to send me a message! You can record by clicking below and ask your question or make a comment. You’ll have 90 seconds to do so and that time goes quickly. By recording, you’re giving SelfWork (and me) permission to use your voice on the podcast. I’ll look forward to hearing from you!