Season Three, Episode 3: "But, Would You Tell Me If You Were Thinking About Suicide?"

Today’s episode was made for you, the listener. You, personally, I mean. You see, my dear listeners, I know who you are and what you struggle with. I know that you constantly strive to make your outside prettier than your inside, because damn, although mental health is important – and you know this – but, you live in a time or a town or a world where women are not supposed to age at all, and certainly not gracefully. You juggle a million hats. You have an idealized version of mom and wife and friend and daughter that you will never quite achieve. You don’t get sad, you go to the gym. You don’t get angry, you weigh your food and count your macros. You shrug off the shame that still lingers from your childhood or adolescence or 20something life. Maybe the shame is the result of something you did. Maybe it was something that was done to you, through no fault of your own. And yet, you power on. But for how long? Dr. Margaret Rutherford is a seasoned psychologist and the author of Perfectly Hidden Depression. As psychologists, and as people, we have been taught what depression looks like. And if your outside doesn’t match your inside, if our view of depression doesn’t match what a person is putting out there, than these people, these feelings, maybe even your feelings, dear listener, are left overlooked and untreated. Dr. Rutherford’s book, and my conversation with her, proved to be an eye-opening experience. I now ask my patients not only “Have you had thoughts about suicide?” but also, a follow up question, “Would you tell me if you did?” For more information about Dr. Rutherford and this syndrome of Perfectly Hidden Depression, check out the links in the show notes. Usually I say that I hope you enjoy this episode. In this case, I hope you hear this episode with an open mind, and a new perspective on what you and/or your loved ones may be going through. Website:  https://drmargaretrutherford.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrMargaretRutherford Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmargaretrutherford/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/doctor_margaret --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/neuroticnourishment/support