Ladies, We Need To Talk Mental health: Anxiety and how to beat it
Oct 20, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Professor Bronwyn Graham, a behavioural neuroscientist and clinical psychologist, explains the biology of anxiety and its various forms. Chef and author Julie Goodwin shares her journey through severe anxiety, revealing how perfectionism impacted her experiences on MasterChef. They discuss practical strategies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy and lifestyle changes, that can help manage anxiety. The importance of supportive relationships and the impact of hormones on mental health are also key talking points.
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Perfectionism Triggered Physical Collapse
- Julie Goodwin felt like she was "underwater" during MasterChef, experiencing dissociation and breathlessness.
- Years of perfectionism and relentless work led to panic symptoms and physical breakdowns like shaking and boils.
Hormone Fluctuations Influence Anxiety
- Sex hormones help regulate fear and anxiety, so symptoms often worsen when hormone levels decline.
- Perimenopause and the perinatal period commonly trigger first-onset or worsening anxiety in women.
Worry And Rumination Are The Same Loop
- Worry and rumination are the same repetitive negative thinking process but focus on future versus past.
- This shared thinking style explains why anxiety and depression commonly co-occur.
