My Website - http://iamlaurenrose.com My Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenr_rose My Book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Here-You-Are-Courageous-Relationship/dp/1401994415

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I’m joined by Flo Hohenleitner, who spent years climbing the corporate ladder after moving to Malta a decade ago, eventually stepping into leadership roles—while privately battling severe anxiety. A breaking point came in New York, where a major panic attack pushed him to make a life-changing choice: to face his anxiety head-on. That decision led him to Bali, where he immersed himself in mindfulness, wellness, and connection-based practices. Today, he’s an event organiser and the host of Grow with the Flo, a podcast exploring how to grow with more presence, openness, and intention. Flo opens up about his 10-year journey with anxiety—particularly toilet anxiety and panic—and the ways it shaped his daily life, relationships, and ability to travel. From worrying about using bathrooms while apartment hunting with his girlfriend, to panic attacks in taxis, restaurants, and even while abroad, his story is both raw and deeply relatable.

We dive into:

* How anxiety can intensify over time, and what it looks like when it begins to dominate everyday life.

* The turning point when a panic attack in New York forced Flo to confront his fears, eventually leading him to build a new life in Bali.

* The complicated impact of toilet anxiety—from romantic relationships to the constant fear of being an “inconvenience” to others.

* The importance of vulnerability, openness, and self-compassion in managing anxiety and connecting with others.

* Practical ways Flo manages his anxiety today: mindfulness, movement, focusing on the present, and speaking openly about his experiences.

Flo’s story is a reminder that even when life looks “successful” on the outside, it’s possible to be overwhelmed on the inside—and that both truths can exist at once. His journey shows the power of hitting rock bottom, choosing presence over fear, and learning to live with anxiety rather than against it. You can find Flo on instagram https://www.instagram.com/grow.with_the.flo/ YouTube @GrowWithTheFloPodcast and Spotify

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com. I would love to have you!

For all enquiries, please email me at "hello@iamlaurenrose.com"

If you are struggling with an anxiety disorder, PLEASE don't be afraid to seek help. You can get help RIGHT NOW from Beyond Blue - call 1300 22 4636, or visit https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/get-immediate-support?&gclid=CjwKEAjwkPS6BRD2ioKR7K245jASJAD1ZqHOKpibw-KeAuRr2anqlMlyC8Kg0qn04AeBkubgTE1xhBoCN0Xw_wcB

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In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I talk about a concept that has been really helpful for me lately — the idea that two completely opposite truths can be true at the exact same time.

When you live with anxiety or panic, it’s easy to get stuck in “either/or” thinking — I have to fix this before I can do anything or I have to push through fear no matter what. But what if it’s actually possible to hold both: I’m anxious and I can still do this?

I share how this shift has shown up in my own life — from managing toilet anxiety to rethinking my morning routine — and how embracing this “dual truth” approach has given me more flexibility, more self-compassion, and way less pressure to get it “all right” before I live my life.

If you’ve ever felt like your anxiety leaves you stuck between doing nothing or burning yourself out by doing everything, this episode might just give you the middle ground you’ve been looking for. And, as always, if you feel called to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, I’d love to hear from you — you can reach me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com.

Lauren Rose is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode of Us Anxious Folk, I sit down with Michele from Canada to learn all about her journey with health anxiety. Michele shares how her experience with health anxiety began, how it shaped her, and how she’s learned to live alongside it with compassion (and a great sense of humour, too!)

We explore the impact of peri-menopause, the gaps in the medical system, and why common tools like meditation and breathwork don’t necessarily work for everyone. Michele speaks to the importance of intention, self-trust, and redefining what a “good” life looks like on your own terms.

This conversation had me in tears: from the moment we started chatting, Michele was someone I just knew I was going to adore. I hope this episode serves as a reminder that you’re not broken—and that even in the midst of anxiety, life can still be soft, joyful, and your own.

If you would like to be a guest on the podcast and share your anxiety story, please get in touch with me at hello@iamlaurenrose.com. I would love to have you!

My Website - http://iamlaurenrose.com

My Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/laurenr_rose

My Book - https://www.amazon.com.au/Here-You-Are-Courageous-Relationship/dp/1401994415

Lauren Rose is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.