How to Deal With Depression: Sarah’s Honest Story of Coping and Recovery

What does depression really feel like? For Sarah, it’s more than sadness—it’s a sudden drop into worthlessness, hopelessness, and suicidal thoughts. In this deeply honest conversation, Sarah shares her “no BS” approach to talking about depression, how stigma makes asking for help harder than fixing a leaky faucet, and why naming depression out loud helps strip it of its power.

She opens up about her support group, pug videos, exercise, and the role humor plays in survival. Sarah also reveals how hormonal birth control triggered one of her darkest depressive episodes—and why she wants other women to be aware of the risks.

This is a raw, brave, and ultimately hopeful story about living with depression, fighting suicidal thoughts, and finding light in community and honesty.

Primary Topics Covered:

• What depression really feels like vs. “just sadness”
• How suicidal thoughts can appear suddenly and without warning
• The stigma of asking for help vs. the ease of fixing “a leaky faucet”
• Why humor and pug videos matter in survival
• Coping strategies: support groups, movement, sleep, connection
• Talking back to depression’s lies
• Hormones and birth control’s impact on mental health
• The mantra: “Depression can’t kill me unless I let it.”

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro & Fundraising Note
00:33 Why Sharing Stories Matters
02:14 Meet Sarah – Loud, Proud & Honest About Depression
03:07 When Disappointment Turns Into Worthlessness
03:50 Using Humor to Talk About Suicidal Thoughts
04:47 Stigma, Patriarchy & Why We Hide Mental Illness
05:40 The Shame Around Asking for Help
06:36 Learning to Ride the Ups & Downs of Depression
07:53 Talking Back to Depression’s Lies
08:21 The Impact of Hormones on Mental Health
09:43 Sarah’s Suicidal Crisis Linked to Birth Control
10:43 Hormones, Menopause, Pregnancy & Depression
11:15 Why Naming It Out Loud Helps Heal

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