Challenging Childhood and Battling Depression with Ruby Wax | Happy Place Podcast

Have you noticed yourself repeating negative patterns of behaviour throughout your life? Comedian and best-selling author Ruby Wax has become aware she was doing this in order to feel safe after a tumultuous childhood.
In this chat with Fearne, Ruby acknowledges that her depression will most likely always come back, but working to understand it means she has the tools to cope a little better each time it does. They also talk about why it’s so important for mental health that we allow people to be multi-faceted humans.
You can pre-order Fearne’s new book Speak Your Truth here: amzn.to/2HwAkek
Listen to the Happy Place podcast here podfollow.com/happyplace or you can watch it on KZbin here: bit.ly/3pSerHr
ABOUT HAPPY PLACE
Fearne's HAPPY PLACE is a place to celebrate honesty, authenticity and community. Fearne delves into life, love, loss and everything in-between by chatting to inspiring individuals who have made a change in their own lives or help other people to find different ways of seeing life as she reveals what happiness means to them.
Happy Place is a space that is safe for all where difference is celebrated and the extraordinary is discovered. A place to focus on the positives and to help you find the joy every day - big or small.
Still haven't subscribed to Fearne Cotton's Happy Place on KZbin? ► bit.ly/371zqza
ABOUT FEARNE COTTON
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter, mother, broadcaster, writer and founder of Happy Place, a place where Fearne holds difficult but important conversations to encourage self-care and self-appreciation, creating a positive impact on the world, giving everyone a voice and actively listening.
CONNECT WITH FEARNE COTTON
Instagram: / fearnecotton
Facebook: / fearnecotton
Twitter: / fearnecotton

[@redcropuk]

Didn’t know she’d had recent troubles and didn’t know she’d written a new book. I’ve just ordered a copy. I’ve read them all. Fern Cotton is a great interviewer, something else I didn’t know. Her ego doesn’t get in the way. Breath of fresh air.

[@daniel11v33]

Thoroughly interesting interview. Fascinating lady. I was intrigued by Ruby Wax in the 90's, still am. A person who you could sit down with and listen to for hours and be thoroughly entertained. Hope she finally conquers her demons and finds peace.

[@carolmccabe4359]

Ruby is so transparent and human. I’m mad about her. Fearne let the convo flow …….

[@charlie_says3841]

Totally agree. FC is so annoying i can't....

[@voulafisentzidis8830]

My understanding is that the voices in our heads telling us we're worthless, replace the negative voices of our parents or other adults around us, when we were growing up. I've not heard them since my midlife crisis 30 years ago. As part of my recovery, when I'd initially hear them, I'd thank them for sharing and respond that it's not quite that way. I've been the sanest I've ever been for 20 years.

[@Tawadeb]

Thanks

[@1Thedairy]

I really like Ruby Wax as she’s so honest and funny. She has done very well to survive such a dysfunctional childhood.

[@tinagriffiths7593]

Love Ruby Wax she’s so honest & strong which is so refreshing it just shows you how her parents damaged her as a child .

[@lifeontheround]

So love Ruby. Tears of a clown like many comedians. Excellent, informative interview ❤

[@lottiebutcher9711]

Thank you both. My Dad has battled depression for many years - we need to talk more openly about it to fight the stigma.

[@charlie_says3841]

I'm sorry. Seeing someone you love suffering is so difficult. X

[@rose_quartz_loveandlight]

love ruby so much, so sincere and talented ❤☺

[@dawnbowdich8992]

I could listen to Ruby all day i find her so interesting.

[@janegoodfellow1529]

Incredible insight and self-awareness. I'm in that tribe.

[@helenamccullagh9553]

Ruby rocks. What an inspirational woman. ❤️

[@happygoat28]

That was fantastic. Ruby's honesty and compassion touched me deeply.

[@tehteh25]

she is sadly hilarious! a turly inspirational woman, thank you for this!

[@Catty_1133]

That separation from being famous and looked after to having to then go to being on own sounds like the ptsd that ex soldiers experience after leaving army

[@izindawo8363]

Beautiful, honest convo between 2 resilient, real & gorgeous women!

[@Lilaplaytime]

Have ptsd an bpd, living is so difficult 😞 I was meditating before an I am just going to surrender to my feelings instead of constantly fighting them, a bit like the 12 steps

[@karentonks7581]

Depression is not quite understood by mental health professionals in many ways

[@allan4054]

I've got PTSD and bi polar and Anxiety.What keeps me as sane as possible is exercise. It works properly 70/80% of the time. Love your podcasts because you can always learn new techniques to keep on living the best possible life 💖

[@dottieparker7274]

I don't exercise regularly at all, but whenever I've had little spurts of wanting to exercise and actually doing it, my mind felt SO much better in every single way. This needs to be talked about more often and openly. However, there's an awful lot of money making involved with improving mental health, and I sometimes this is purposely kept a secret so that people continue spending money on therapists and meds.

[@Tawadeb]

​@dottits true exercise is an antidepressant. ieparker7274

[@sneshead3326]

My mum loves Ruby Wax absolute legend!

[@susancoffey419]

Simply brilliant interview. Ruby is a gem and so brave. Fearne is a revelation and the best interviewer. Thank you ladies.

[@clarabow11]

Great interview with two strong women who are openly sharing their own lives and the conversation is so easy, such a flow. I've recently wondered about some of the great interviews I've seen and felt saddened by the fact that there is a big empty hole in the industry for people to interview, Fern , has really surprised me, what an interesting lady, such depth and sincerity in her way of interviewing. Ruby is heartfelt, real, broken yet unbroken, she opens up in such a way that she normalises depression and takes away the horror and shame of it. Ladies thank you for your honesty and being so utterly real. ❤️

[@CJ-ft9yo]

It annoyed me when Bill Bailey roasted her regarding his time on a music quiz as if she was nothing, but I’d never seen her before.

[@sallydacre438]

That was so interesting. I can empathise with Ruby. I wish I could be so free.

[@ingridmagee]

I love Ruby. I loved her interviews too. So funny and asking questions normal people would ask. She is still so entertaining and seems so genuine.

[@IrishSuzyAM]

Great chat! Enjoyed attending Ruby Wax’s talk in Dublin this Summer and got my copy of her book signed too ✨😊

[@mathewhalpin]

I loved Ruby as a kid and she is still wonderful!

[@rms4406]

I’ve done the TMS ruby. I didn’t finish my sessions but It Was helpful. It hurt so bad. It was as if someone was tattooing the left side of my head. And they map out how often the taps need to be done in a minute. EMDR is a whole Other thing. My brain has had a rough time with EMDR. My brain/body doesn’t want to touch the trauma that I somehow have managed to block out in order to stay alive. I’m gna buy your book. Thanks for bringing the awareness.

[@jeanniecampbell1374]

Love Ruby and fern is a natural ...Thanks for this .

[@Juliebaynes]

been watching ruby since GIRLS ON TOP ❤

[@haleemahsaida9772]

Fearne let ruby finish a thought!!!

[@railwaychristina3192]

So many gifted comedians had depression..Tony Hancock Spike Millligan, Hattie Jacques.

[@lisaharradine5208]

Love Ruby 🥰

[@susangargett2185]

Thank you ladies, just what I needed ❤

[@simonjones3871]

Ace is the word ❤🌻♥️🌻♥️

[@w.urlitzer1869]

she seems unwell. I hope she is doing better now. my experience is similar; anti-depressants 1997-2011, then fine, meditation, emdr, cbt. lately depression seems to be rushing back in.

[@justinegowers6542]

i met ruby at wimbledon when she came with ben elton and jeffrey archer cx

[@ambershepherd2389]

Ruby Wax is such a magnificent woman x

[@patsyballantyne9886]

❤Ruby

[@spokeinsight]

Loved it! ❤

[@normasarsby1350]

❤ruby two

[@shelaghward9621]

Such a great interview !

[@wonderwoman5528]

Ruby’s depression sounds like how Denise Welch described it; Extreme depression, debilitating and a serious illness that a human being could only go through once or twice in their lifetime

[@lynndenault4212]

Oh more than once or twice.

[@teresamuriniti5026]

Love Ruby, great interview, this young lady looks and sounds like Kate winslet🥰

[@phylliscove6919]

Amazing.intresting.❤

[@ncurra]

Love Ruby Wax 😊

[@Everyone_Everyone]

I Love Ruby Wax ♥️ an amazing lady.

[@railwaychristina3192]

If it's not one thing it's your mother.

[@sophieWright-di8xn]

I like ruby was nice lady great interview

[@Tawadeb]

My mother treats me like an idiot too and always replaces me as a daughter.

[@ClaireL77777]

If you get chance, see if you can interview Bruce Lipton. Another wonderful human who changes lives oh and Dr Joe Dispenza ❤

[@bryan7938]

I’m in the UK so counselling and therapy are, in the mainstream, a new medium. I had loads but ended up being given psychodynamic psychotherapy. Like Ruby says, and they did warn me, my memories started to change. I know who abused me but I was starting to see other things which I knew were untrue but if they were….I didn’t want to know. So I left as I would’ve killed myself.

[@w.urlitzer1869]

if you hover over section 2 it says "Interview with Louis Armstrong" 🧐

[@carolburke9153]

I enjoyed listening to Ruby... no time for fearne cotton...

[@ClaireL77777]

Why no time for Fearne? What are you thinking Carol?

[@rachelle88818]

Does anyone know what poem she was referencing?

[@centralviva]

Does anybody know the name of the poem that Ruby is speaking of starting at 18:15? Thanks

[@charlie_says3841]

No, but it might well be named in the book.

[@aka44441]

I sometimes wonder if the depression could also be linked to borderline autism ?!

[@davidlee6720]

it's obvious looking back knowing what we know now - Ruby gotta be a manic depressive - Remember her crazy skits- very funny but obviously on a high - counterbalance then to come down - no in between- no normality - suicide often the outcome - glad she has come through - such a nice person - my favorite comedienne - but what a price she has had to pay -

[@sararichardson737]

Sound quality on Fearne is yuk

[@grai]

the mic is right in front of her face

[@georginahartsuiker8812]

ruby..you cool, but you should give more kindness to this lovely interviewer, less me me me