The Anxious Achiever "For 20 years I just pretended like there was nothing wrong with me." How this CFO Stopped Hiding His Anxiety and Depression with Adam Nemer
Sep 23, 2025
In a candid discussion, Adam Nemer, Founder of Simple Mental Health and former CFO, opens up about his 20-year battle with anxiety and depression. He emphasizes that true leadership stems from self-awareness, sharing practical daily self-care strategies. Adam reveals how normalizing mental health conversations can enhance team engagement and productivity. He also explores the importance of therapy and offers tactics for managing stress during meetings. This insightful dialogue encourages embracing mental health for stronger leadership and personal growth.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Diagnosis Came After 20 Years
- Adam was diagnosed with depression and anxiety eight years ago after 20 years of hiding symptoms.
- He calls the diagnosis a gift because it explained long-term suffering and allowed targeted treatment.
High Performance Can Hide Deep Struggle
- You can function and achieve at work while still struggling deeply with depression and anxiety.
- That mismatch often produces presenteeism: showing up physically but not fully present or productive.
Buy Time With Simple Questions
- Use simple conversational techniques to buy time in meetings: ask the person to repeat and ask
