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Behind the facade
I’m Lauren, a digital storyteller from Portland, OR. Within this personal collection, you’ll find the stories that are helping me heal.
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Loving and Losing My Soulmate
Loving and Losing My Soulmate
On August 1st, 2017, just weeks after I returned from Greece, Gigi died in my arms.
Lauren Bartleson
Jun 26, 2022
Doing things that scare you
Doing things that scare you
Including publishing the most raw, open, and honest memoir
Lauren Bartleson
Mar 17, 2022
On setting digital boundaries
On setting digital boundaries
This is a long one. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and settle in!
Lauren Bartleson
Mar 2, 2022
Riptide: a short story
Riptide: a short story
There’s sand filling my lungs. I can’t breathe, I can’t see, and the world is spinning as I tumble underwater.
Lauren Bartleson
Feb 27, 2022
Facing my fear: the emergency room
Facing my fear: the emergency room
After five days of immense pain, I drove myself to the one place I feared the most.
Lauren Bartleson
Jan 29, 2022
The Year of Me
The Year of Me
This year, I’m skipping the resolutions and, instead, diving in with four ambitious projects and some health goals. Wish me luck!
Lauren Bartleson
Jan 5, 2022
What am I doing here?
What am I doing here?
A rant, a promise, and what I’m focusing on in 2022.
Lauren Bartleson
Dec 14, 2021
Embracing the life hangover
Embracing the life hangover
We’re taught that burnout applies to work-related activities only, but I’m proof that it can apply to personal life as well.
Lauren Bartleson
Jul 5, 2021
When anxiety hits
When anxiety hits
I’m literally typing this in real-time.
Lauren Bartleson
Jun 14, 2021
The COVID anxiety is real
The COVID anxiety is real
I’m fully vaccinated yet beyond nervous to go back to “real life”
Lauren Bartleson
Jun 10, 2021
Saying goodbye
Saying goodbye
Four years ago, I lost my best friend. Although we knew it was coming, I never said goodbye — not really.
Lauren Bartleson
Jun 9, 2021
Behind the Facade
Behind the Facade
Opening up about my struggles with anxiety, depression, insomnia, extreme burnout and two autoimmune diseases.
Lauren Bartleson
Jun 7, 2021
Breaking the stigma in the workplace
Breaking the stigma in the workplace
I have to believe that executives see us as human, not just a number on a spreadsheet.
Lauren Bartleson
Jun 6, 2021
I see myself in you, Honey Girl
I see myself in you, Honey Girl
A letter to a fictional character and the author who created her.
Lauren Bartleson
Jun 3, 2021
I was okay an hour ago — now I’m not.
I was okay an hour ago — now I’m not.
The emotional rollercoaster is exhausting.
Lauren Bartleson
May 22, 2021
I spent 6 weeks grieving a woman I’ve never met
I spent 6 weeks grieving a woman I’ve never met
A heartfelt tribute to YouTuber Lee MacMillan
Lauren Bartleson
May 20, 2021
Why is talking about mental health still taboo?
Why is talking about mental health still taboo?
I don’t get it.
Lauren Bartleson
May 19, 2021
Honestly? I’m fucking exhausted.
Honestly? I’m fucking exhausted.
Excuse my language but I needed a personal intervention ASAP.
Lauren Bartleson
May 13, 2021
When social media obsession becomes an addiction
When social media obsession becomes an addiction
It’s a spider web that I’m always caught in.
Lauren Bartleson
May 10, 2021
Why friendships fade
Why friendships fade
The life-changing realization I had at 4:30 am.
Lauren Bartleson
May 7, 2021
The first step in my mental health journey
The first step in my mental health journey
It would be years before I’d learn how to prioritize mental health, but asking for support was the first step.
Lauren Bartleson
May 3, 2021
A downward spiral caused by… the scale
A downward spiral caused by… the scale
It shows more than just a number.
Lauren Bartleson
Apr 30, 2021
The first sip of coffee + 99 other small things that bring me joy
The first sip of coffee + 99 other small things that bring me joy
The title says it all.
Lauren Bartleson
Apr 22, 2021
How I accidentally meditated for 90 days straight
How I accidentally meditated for 90 days straight
I hate meditation — or at least I thought I did.
Lauren Bartleson
Apr 13, 2021
How do you summarize who you are in a 160-character bio?
How do you summarize who you are in a 160-character bio?
Labeling myself is a challenge I’ve struggled with my entire life.
Lauren Bartleson
Apr 11, 2021
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