In a world that often feels overwhelmingly chaotic, finding a sense of happiness and calm can seem like a distant goal. Dr Alex George, the former Love Island star turned mental health advocate, has teamed up with psychotherapist Anna Mathur to offer practical, evidence-based strategies for emotional wellbeing. Their conversation, featured on Friday 5 December 2025 on The Independent's Well Enough podcast with host Emilie Lavinia, cuts through the noise of toxic positivity to provide genuine tools for all ages.
The Science of Emotional Regulation
Dr George, whose new book Happy Habits is aimed at children but contains universal advice, explained our emotional states using a powerful analogy. He described the mind as a control room with various levers for happiness, anger, sadness, and guilt. "Every emotional state has its role," he stated. The key is not to be perpetually stuck on one setting, especially sadness or anhedonia—the inability to feel pleasure.
"We do want to be in a state where when the time comes that we would normally be happy – maybe on holiday with a group of good people – that we are able to access that feeling," George emphasised, highlighting a struggle many face in today's high-pressure environment.
Breaking Down Barriers to Joy
Psychotherapist Anna Mathur, author of The Uncomfortable Truth, explored the internal barriers that prevent us from leaning into positive experiences. She identified a common pattern of living in a "waiting room for bad things to happen," a state of constant bracing that blocks joy.
Mathur stressed that true happiness requires a foundation of safety. When our nervous system is in a heightened fight-or-flight state, accessing ease and contentment becomes significantly harder. She warned against confusing quick dopamine hits from social media or shopping with genuine, sustained emotional wellbeing, a distinction that causes widespread confusion.
Embracing Messiness and the Power of Rest
Both guests championed authenticity over a curated facade of wellness. Dr George reflected on his decision to share a photo of his antidepressants, sparking the #postyourpill movement. "Life is very messy. People are messy," he said. "And often the people that seem to have it most together often really don't." He shared this to dismantle the myth that mental health advocates, or anyone, must be "fixed" all the time.
Anna Mathur spoke candidly about rejecting the burden of toxic positivity and re-framing rest as a critical tool for resilience, not a guilty pleasure. Their combined advice underscores that wellbeing is a practice, not a permanent state.
The discussion also covered their personal non-negotiables for mental fitness, including spending time in nature and regular walking. Dr George concluded that had he understood the hard science behind these emotional patterns as a child, much of his suffering could have been reduced. The full episode of Well Enough is available on all major podcast platforms and YouTube.
