Perfectly Hidden Depression with Dr. Margaret Rutherford

In the Wake

Dr. Margaret Rutherford has been a psychologist in private practice for over twenty-five years and is the author of Perfectly Hidden Depression: How to Break Free from the Perfectionism That Masks Your Depression, which was published in November 2019.
Margaret has been researching and writing on this topic for over five years, and she’s passionate about the message that although depression can be heavily masked by perfectionism, its damage can still be devastating to that someone who’s trying so hard to smile their way through growing loneliness and despair.
In this episode, Margaret helps break down perfectly hidden depression with me and provides some incredible insights including the following:

• Dangerous forms of perfectionism
• What denial of depression or perfectionism entails and why people may be in denial
• Denying struggle hidden through toxic or rigid positivity
• Factors of perfectly hidden depression
• Difference between self perfectionism, other perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism
• Treating perfectly hidden depression

"Jon Kabat-Zinn uses the term 'Rigid Positivity,' because you can stay so rigidly in the mindset of 'Everything's great and I don't want to focus on anything bad, sad, or what make me angry because then I'm not being appreciative enough.' That is just as dangerous as someone who's constantly negative, constantly sad, or constantly looking for their victimization in their life. There should be a balance. I think healthier people most often stay in the glass half full but part of mental health is also being able to connect with what hurts, what's disappointing, or what you're afraid of. Connect with it, feel those feelings, and then move back to the glass half full. Recognize, understand, and respect that you have some hardship in your life -- we all do!" --Dr. Margaret Rutherford quoted from this episode.
Tune in to hear more from the wise Dr. Rutherford herself!
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Connect or work with Dr. Rutherford:

• Website: drmargaretrutherford.com
• Book: Perfectly Hidden Depression by Dr. Margaret Rutherford
  • Questionnaire
• Podcast: The Self Work Podcast
• Instagram: @drmargaretrutherford
• Facebook: Dr. Margaret Rutherford
• YouTube: DrMargaretRutherford

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Song: Tapestry by Carole King

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