145: Mental Health Awareness, Designing a Business and Life That Supports Your Mind and Body

In this heartfelt and vulnerable episode, Shaun and Rebecca open up about their personal mental health journeys and how those experiences impact their lives as interior designers and creative entrepreneurs. In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, they shed light on how common mental health struggles are within the design industry, and how important it is to build a life and business that supports your mind and body.

Together, they share their own stories of burnout, depression, therapy, and medication, while encouraging fellow designers to normalize conversations around emotional well-being. This isn't about quick fixes—it's about real talk, compassion, and taking steps (big or small) toward mental resilience in a creative industry that often demands so much.

In this episode they discuss:

• Why it's important to name and acknowledge your emotional state without shame
• The emotional crash that can follow the adrenaline of busy periods and client work
• Tips for recognizing and responding to situational versus long-term depression
• The benefits of therapy, medication, and consistent mental health check-ins
• How somatic stretching and body awareness can support emotional release
• Drawing boundaries with email, social media, and business energy drains
• The struggle of detaching your identity from your business and client feedback
• Finding healing and connection through your design community and close friends

Mentioned:

• BetterHelp
• TalkSpace
• Psychology Today

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