Peter Sutton: Strength, Resilience and Letting Go - Pretend Heart Attacks and All

Despite his calm exterior, Peter Sutton is a self-described experience chaser. His consistent need to seek out new experiences has seen him, along with partner Natalle, live across the globe before finally settling on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with their two boys. It sounds like an idyllic existence, and for the most part, it has been. Sunshine and surf aside, last year Pete dealt with a severe decline in his mental health that saw him completely depleted of energy, suffering severe depression, anxiety attacks, an inability to sleep and a three-week stint at a mental health facility, which he sees in retrospect as a traumatic but beautiful experience. Pete is first to admit that his tendency as a high performer is to overwork himself, to constantly chase a new benchmark, and to miss the warning signs of declining mental health that appeared along the way. Pete’s most recent experience with depression was not his first, but he hopes will be his last, with the red flags now a little clearer. Pete takes us through his mental health journey with an open calmness that he hopes may simply encourage someone else to start a conversation with their friends, family or a professional. Please be warned that we do discuss topics that may cause distress for some people, including a brief conversation about suicidal ideation, which Pete did experience. Please remember, if you or anyone you know is dealing with a mental health concern, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. There are some incredible pearls of wisdom in this remarkably open chat. If you or someone you love have ever experienced a mental health crisis, I’d encourage you to grab a cuppa and have a listen. If you enjoy this podcast, don't forget to hit that follow button. You can also stay up to date with what's happening on the show on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/jamiestedo/ The Whole Human podcast is a proud part of the Slice Radio family, check them out at www.sliceradio.com or download their app. See you next time!