171: Using Perfectionism to Mask Depression with Dr. Margaret Rutherford

Margaret Robinson Rutherford Ph.D., a clinical psychologist with thirty years of experience, is also an author, TedX speaker, and podcast host. Her book, Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism That Masks Your Depression, has reached thousands here in the US, as well as having an international impact, with translations reaching from Korea to Italy, Turkey to Germany. Her highly popular podcast, The SelfWork Podcast, has been continuously rated as one of the best podcasts for mental health and depression, and her TedX talk hit the top 50 in 2023.

Dr. Margaret’s known for her vibrantly engaging and theoretically well-crafted presentations, whether live or virtual. Whether her diverse audiences are made up of mental health professionals, construction workers, or office managers, her passionate message is that healthy mental and emotional lives can be created through becoming more transparent with one another. Sharing who you really are with those you trust is a huge step toward connection and good mental health. Rates of depression and suicide are skyrocketing. And there’s something we can do!

She’s further challenging the mental health profession to question their overreliance on the official symptom checklist for diagnosis. Instead, we need to create normalcy around suicidal feelings, listen to each person’s actual experience of their life, and respond with safety and compassion, rather than stigmatizing this very real and excruciatingly painful part of human existence.

*Though I usually don't do this, I wanted to be sure to put in a content warning here for discussion of self-harm and suicide.*

In this episode, we cover:

- how she pivoted from a career in music to psychology

- why people use perfectionism to mask depression

- the story behind her book - Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism That Masks Your Depression

- how you can start to express and accept yourself

... and more!

You can connect with her over on Instagram: @drmargaretrutherford

Or check out her website: drmargaretrutherford.com

You can learn more about me by following on IG @imperfectlypaigewellness or by checking out my blog, freebies, and offers on my website: https://imperfectlypaigewellness.com

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