In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I talk about the quiet shame so many of us carry when we live with anxiety or panic. These are the parts we often try to hide—the intrusive thoughts, the body symptoms (dodgy bowels, hello 🙋‍♀️), the overwhelming emotions. But what if naming them out loud is actually what helps us heal?

Reflecting on my own journey with toilet anxiety videos and blogging about my mental health, I discuss how sharing our inner experiences, especially the ones we feel most alone in, can create powerful moments of connection and relief.

If you've ever felt like your anxiety made you un-relatable or unworthy of support, this one's for you.

As always, if you feel called to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com.

I would love to have you!

Lauren Rose and the Us Anxious Folk podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

My Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenr_rose

My Book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Here-You-Are-Courageous-Relationship/dp/1401994415

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I sit down with Sarah from Melbourne, who shares her raw and honest story of navigating postpartum depression.

We talk about that emotional crash so many new mums experience — but for Sarah, it went beyond the so-called "baby blues." Despite a smooth pregnancy, strong support system, and prior experience with children, Sarah opens up about the overwhelming sadness, the sudden loss of appetite, and those confronting moments of wondering if she'd made a mistake becoming a parent.

Together, we explore what it feels like to not instantly bond with your baby, how unhelpful the societal expectations around motherhood can be, and why saying “this is hard” is sometimes the bravest thing you can do. Sarah speaks openly about the decision to stop breastfeeding, the lifesaving role her husband and community played, and the importance of seeking help quickly.

We also touch on identity, parenthood as a working mother, and letting go of the idea that motherhood has to look a certain way, including what it means to be a “good” parent—even when it doesn’t feel natural.

If you’ve ever felt like you weren’t sure where you fit in the chaos of new parenthood, or if motherhood hasn’t felt like the magical transformation people say it should be, this conversation is for you. It’s messy, unfiltered, humorous, and a deeply real conversation about identity, expectations, and mental health.

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com. I would love to have you!

If you are struggling with an anxiety disorder, PLEASE don't be afraid to seek help. You can get help RIGHT NOW from Beyond Blue - call 1300 22 4636, or visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support?&gclid=CjwKEAjwkPS6BRD2ioKR7K245jASJAD1ZqHOKpibw-KeAuRr2anqlMlyC8Kg0qn04AeBkubgTE1xhBoCN0Xw_wcB

My Website - http://iamlaurenrose.comMy Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenr_roseMy Book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Here-You-Are-Courageous-Relationship/dp/1401994415

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I dive deep into the topic of fear — how it shows up for those of us living with anxiety, how we try to suppress it, and the creative ways it leaks out into our lives.

I talk about my own experiences with the fear as an emotion, and how I've learned that pushing it down can turn into irrational thoughts and slew of spicy physical symptoms. I discuss the idea of making space for fear instead of battling it — letting it speak, acknowledging its presence, and recognizing the deeper fears beneath our surface worries.

We'll go through a journaling exercise of writing a letter to fear, and how doing this it helped me see that so many of my anxieties come back to a core fear of not being accepted or making the wrong choices.

If you’ve ever felt like fear was something you just can't escape from, I hope this episode gives you some food for thought and some compassion for yourself along the way. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com.I would love to have you!If you are struggling with an anxiety disorder, PLEASE don't be afraid to seek help. You can get help RIGHT NOW from Beyond Blue - call 1300 22 4636, or visithttps://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support?&gclid=CjwKEAjwkPS6BRD2ioKR7K245jASJAD1ZqHOKpibw-KeAuRr2anqlMlyC8Kg0qn04AeBkubgTE1xhBoCN0Xw_wcB