Behind the Facade

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Raw real and heartbreakingly honest <em>Behind the Facade </em>is one woman's journey of overcoming everyday trauma.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>To the outside world Lauren Bartleson had it all: her dream job an award-winning blog and a picture-perfect marriage. Online and in person she put on a smile trying to convince herself as much as others that she was okay. In reality she was anything but.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Behind the facade Lauren was struggling to manage two autoimmune diseases insomnia chronic anxiety deep depression debilitating pain and the long-term effects of extreme bullying betrayal and losing her soulmate. In her darkest moments she considered suicide on a daily often hourly basis. No one not even her family knew how much she was suffering. </span></p><p><br></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>In </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Behind the Facade: A Mental Health Memoir </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Lauren</span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>pulls</span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> </em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>back the curtain giving a glimpse into the memories that she buried deep inside never to see the light of day. By sharing the stories that are helping her heal Lauren hopes to do her part in breaking the stigma around mental health and inspire others to feel less alone in their journey.</span></p>