The SelfWork Podcast

Latest Episodes:

517 SelfWork: Challenging Your Fear and The Underlying Assumptions That Keep It Alive Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

There’s a word for intense fear of change. Metathesiophobia.

That’s when your fear of change is so strong and affects your life so intensely that you’ve developed an actual phobia around change. If that has become the case, then you’d avoid any change in your life as much as possible and stay in a constant state of agitation or vigilance about potential change.

But change is inevitable. Time brings change. People change. Children change. Circumstances change. Cultures change. Even beliefs can change.

Yet you could live a life denying change. You could keep treating your kids like kids, instead of seeing them grow into their own beings. You could fight your body changing and aging with all sorts of anti-aging products. You could see cultural change and fear it so much that you become paranoid about its impact and fight against it, surrounding yourself with people who share your beliefs. And share your fear.

In this episode of SelfWork, we’ll tackle this very important distinction: how you’re fearing something because of the limited information you have about it, not realizing how your own assumptions about it are keeping you afraid.

Important Links:

Click here to order the PHD Workbook!

Click here to find out more about Dr. Margaret's PESI course on perfectionism and depression on November 2, 2026! It's virtual!

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516 SelfWork: Panicked About Panic: 5 Surefire Ways to Calm Your Nervous System Sep 18, 2026

Show notes

Having a panic disorder is bad enough.

You may be able to anticipate it happening; for example, if you tend to panic when you see a spider or a snake.

But other times, panic attacks – the sudden onset of intense symptoms of anxiety, such as trouble breathing, your heart racing, feelings of wanting or even needing to flee, tunnel vision, sweating, trembling – these very unwelcome and unexpected feelings come upon you like a freight train suddenly roaring toward you - going its fastest speed. It can truly feel as if you’ve been invaded by some other being and the attacks themselves can be very frightening, especially if you have no idea what they are.

Panicked About Panic...

Yet what can easily begin to happen - after you’ve had a few of these highly unpleasant and even humiliating attacks – you can begin to fear them. You can see ahead and realize that you might have to deal with one at a time when you have responsibilities, duties, things to do.

And so… you become panicked about panic.

In this episode of SelfWork, we'll focus on five surefire ways to calm your nervous system and deal with "panic about panic."

Episode -Specific Links:

Dr. Saunders' YouTube video on these five calming techniques!

Goodreads recommendations for "best self-help books for panic disorder"

Important Links:

Click here to order the PHD Workbook!

Click here to find out more about Dr. Margaret's PESI course on perfectionism and depression on November 2, 2026! It's virtual!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

515 SelfWork: Enhance Your Skills: Listening Someone Into Existence with Doug Noll Sep 11, 2026

Show notes

Today we'll focus on how to listen to someone so that they feel truly understood and seen.

And it may not be a kind of listening that you know about. It's a method called "affect labeling" - meaning labeling the emotions of the person you're listening to. And our expert today is Doug Noll, who teaches this method all over the world.

This episode will teach you this new way of listening that is amazingly effective!

Order The Perfectly Hidden Depression Workbook - A stand-alone workbook exploring the ten traits of Perfectly Hidden Depression, with guided exercises to help you decide what to keep from your drive and perfectionism, and what to let go.

Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.

Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork!

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514 SelfWork: Three Essential Questions to Identify Your Role Model Sep 04, 2026

Show notes

Today I'm focusing on three role models in my own life and the questions you can ask to help you identify your own.

Who are they? Dolly Parton. Maya Angelou. And a woman named "Snooky."

How does someone become a role model for you?

Someone in your life may know that you look up to them, that you want to emulate them in some way.

Others role models will never know it. You simply know of them. Or you’ve read their writings. Heard their songs. Watched them from afar.

This episode will help you find your own role models and begin to put the values you choose into your life!

Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.

Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork!

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513 SelfWork: Inside A Psych Ward: A New Book by JaKob Williams, Chock Full of Nuts Aug 28, 2026

Show notes

You may never have been on the inside of a psych ward. In his new book, JaKob Williams takes you there.

Or at least, he takes you to his version of a residential psych ward.

He's an interesting guy. Brilliant. Sarcastic. Successful. Driven. Creative. Funny.

And he has bipolar disorder, which sometimes gets the better of him. He becomes manic, and even psychotic. As he says...

"You talk about PHD. Perfectly hidden depression. I'm POM. Perfectly obvious mania."

Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.

Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork!

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512 SelfWork: CBT for Insomnia and Its 100% Effective Cure: Dr. Nick Wignall Aug 21, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Nick Wignall continues as Dr. Margaret's guest this week, as we switch from focusing on emotional fitness to the 100% effective CBT tool for curing insomnia, called sleep compression.

It's hard to believe that in ten years of doing SelfWork, I don't remember an episode where we were focusing on insomnia, although I hear about it on a regular basis all the time. We've talked about "sleep disturbance" frequently in the context of classic depression, bipolar disorder, nightmares, or anxiety. So when Nick told me one of this areas of expertise was insomnia, I jumped at it.

How does sleep compression work?

Nick goes on to describe the technique called sleep compression (a term I'd never heard) that is a CBT - or cognitive behavioral therapy tool - that is 100% effective for insomnia. It's fascinating to hear and makes such common sense.

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511 SelfWork: Emotional Fitness and Being The Hero Of Your Own Life: Dr. Nick Wignall Aug 14, 2026

Show notes

Dr. Nick Wignall speaks about the vital importance of emotional fitness and becoming the hero of your life. This whole concept is intriguing and suggests that finding and maintaining your own sense of agency - of having some sense of and belief in your ability to have an impact on your life.

Understanding emotional fitness is not just about recognizing the feelings we experience but also about actively managing them. Many people find themselves in situations where they feel overwhelmed by their emotions, which can lead to stress and anxiety. By implementing practices that enhance emotional fitness, individuals can learn to navigate these challenges more effectively.

Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.

Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

510 SelfWork: Ted Lasso, The Pandemic and The Power of Secrets Aug 07, 2026

Show notes

This week – in fact to be punctual about it – on August 5^th, 2026 – the first episode of the new Ted Lasso season will be released. Today, we're going to focus on the meaning of so many of Ted Lasso characters having secrets that they're keeping.... and the freedom they discover in the telling of them.

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509 SelfWork: EMDR Therapy: How It Can Help Fill Emptiness and Release Grief with Dr. Laurel Parnell Jul 31, 2026

Show notes

EMDR Therapy is known for its treatment of trauma. Dr. Laurel Parnell teaches and demonstrates how it can be healing for emptiness and grief - when relationships were never loving and for when they're gone.

Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.

Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

508 SelfWork: The Eye-Opening Grief of Disillusionment and Heartbreak Jul 24, 2026

Show notes

Disillusionment is defined in psychology as a "belief collapse." And the grief that that implosion can cause can be very hard to work through.

Today's focus will be on how to do just that - get through disillusionment.

What is disillusionment?

Disillusionment happens when something you desire or believe strongly is true and right – something that you’ve worked hard to create or to build - crashes into a harsh reality.

So many of my clients through the years have been disillusioned, demoralized people. They have reached a level of pain in their hearts and very souls that feels overwhelming.

Be a part of the conversation and join Dr. Margaret’s newsletter for one weekly email featuring the latest blog post and podcast episode.

Have a question or comment? Send a voice message for possible use on the podcast. By recording, you give permission for your voice to be used on SelfWork!

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands