logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
57m 4s

Matt Haig: Self-criticism, anxiety trigg...

Fearne Cotton
About this episode

The bad times are intimately connected to the good. Author Matt Haig thinks happiness is only happiness because sadness exists.

 

In this chat, Fearne and Matt talk about how hindsight can be an incredibly healing perspective shifter. He’s found closure, progress, and contentment by revisiting memories that were previously traumatising.

 

How good are you at facing up to your traumas rather than running away? Matt explains how he stopped finding excuses and blaming external factors – people or places – when really there was internal work to do. Plus, by trying to avoid triggers, are we just making ourselves more anxious?

 

Fearne and Matt also chat about our ever-shifting notions of success, and why it’s useful to feel like a failure sometimes.

 

Matt’s novel, The Life Impossible, is out on August 29th.

 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains frank chat about suicidal ideation.



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
Your mental state manifests physically! How your body impacts your brain
Do you notice your body telling you when your brain is struggling? We’re headed back to this year’s Happy Place Festival in Gunnersbury Park, where loads of our guest speakers took to the Talk Stage to talk about the power of the mind-body connection... In this episode – - Breath ... Show More
41m 5s
Aug 21
Sara Cox: I need to be left alone! How to take your holiday reading seriously
Are you obsessed with finding the best books – yes, multiple – to read on holiday? Broadcaster Sara Cox is!Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne and Sara share their thoughts on how to take your holiday re ... Show More
40m 30s
Aug 18
Why don’t you like yourself? Gabby Bernstein: How to stop numbing difficult emotions
Getting lost in anxiety, shame, or self-loathing? Spiritual leader Gabby Bernstein wants you to acknowledge all the messy parts of your true character. Spoiler: you’re not going suddenly to like yourself overnight, but acknowledging the uncomfortable bits will get you there soone ... Show More
57m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 28
(Matt Monday): How to Break the Cycle & STOP Chasing the WRONG Person
Why do we keep crashing into the same walls in love? In this conversation with Chris Williamson on his Modern Wisdom podcast, we explore the patterns that keep us stuck—whether it’s chasing unavailable partners, mistaking chaos for passion, or repeating cycles that leave us unful ... Show More
19m 13s
Jun 3
Depersonalisation — when Nathan lost his sense of self and nothing felt real
In 2008 Nathan Dunne was night swimming in Hampstead Heath in the middle of winter when a psychological catastrophe struck him. He felt his sense of self split in two, and an unbearable pain overtook him. He couldn’t work out what had happened to him, and neither could the doctor ... Show More
51m 54s
Apr 2024
023. From Shadows to Light: Navigating Anxiety w/ Ryan Kavanaugh & Chris Johnso
Today, we explore the complex world of anxiety. Ryan Kavanaugh and Chris Johnson delve into how anxiety affects us at different levels, the importance of recognizing its presence in our lives, and the various coping mechanisms individuals have developed over time.  We shed light ... Show More
16m 52s
Dec 2020
72: *SPECIAL EPISODE* - Q&A Ask Matt Anything! (with Stephen Hussey)
It's finally happened... Matt and I are back in the same room, together at last! And we're taking YOUR questions. In this special Q&A episode, we talk: How to communicate when you have different expectations from a guy you're dating Matt's #1 secret to overcoming your deep insecu ... Show More
45m 13s
Mar 2020
SPECIAL EPISODE! How To Fail: Alain De Botton on embracing vulnerability in the age of Coronavirus
In the second of two special episodes, the renowned philosopher Alain de Botton, returns to How To Fail With Elizabeth Day to talk about how to be human and how to stay (relatively) sane in the grip of a global pandemic. We talk about the fact that, right now, it's rational to be ... Show More
1 h
Feb 2024
#470 Pain Is Inevitable, But Suffering Is Optional
Pain is inevitable because it's a natural part of being human. We experience challenges, losses, and setbacks, leading to unavoidable emotional and sometimes physical pain. Suffering, however, is not just the pain itself. It's the mental and emotional anguish we create around the ... Show More
14m 42s
Nov 2024
The Truth About Modern Anxiety, A Surprising Way To Find Joy and Meaning & How To Transform Your Relationships with Alain de Botton #495
Have you ever wondered why, despite all our modern comforts, so many of us still struggle with unhappiness and anxiety? What if a more fulfilling life isn't about constant positivity but rather a form of ‘cheerful pessimism’? Today's guest is Alain de Botton. Alain is the founder ... Show More
1h 54m
Jan 2025
429: Coping with the Cruel World & Enduring Heartbreak
In this solo Q&A episode of the Hardcore Self Help Podcast, I answer two deeply personal and important listener questions. The first comes from a trans man struggling with the impact of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, fear for his safety, and overwhelming feelings of hopelessness. We ta ... Show More
29m 27s
Jun 2024
Dr Samir Parikh Explains About Sadness, Anxiety & Depression, Types of ADHD | The Ranveer Show
Check out our podcast with Havovi Hyderabadwalla:- Modern Relationship Dynamics- Psychologist Explains | Loyalty, Infidelity & More | Havovi H | TRS 279:- https://youtu.be/OsWaoCQOwzM Science Behind Happiness: Psychologist Explains Mental Health & Therapy | Havovi H. | TRS 277:- ... Show More
1h 29m
Dec 2024
Dr. Martha Beck (Oprah's Life Coach): I Nearly Died, So I Stopped Lying! Why You're Anxious & How To Fix It! Fix Your Childhood Trauma!
The world is becoming increasingly stressed and anxious, according to Oprah's life coach the solution to coping with modern times involve changing your brain Dr Martha Beck is a Harvard-trained sociologist and founder of the ‘Wayfinder Life Coach Training’ platform. She is host o ... Show More
2h 17m