The Anxiety of Being the “Only”

Being the “only” in the workplace — the only woman, the only person of color, the only one openly suffering from a mental or physical illness — can contribute to existing mental health issues. At the same time, bringing your whole self to work — even when you are an “only” and might be the only person struggling with clinical depression or anxiety — can be a huge strength in the business world.

In this episode, we’ll look at anxiety and depression through the lens of being an “only” or a “first” at work. Host Morra Aarons-Mele speaks with two experts on the topic: Angela Neal-Barnett, an award-winning psychologist and expert on anxiety among African-Americans, and author of “Soothe Your Nerves,” and Nilofer Merchant, the author of “The Power of Onlyness.”