Mothering Through Mental Illness: Surviving Depression While Raising Neurodivergent Kids

Michelle is a mom living with depression, anxiety, and ADHD — and raising children diagnosed with OCD, ADHD, and DMDD. In this candid and compassionate episode, she describes how she juggles emotional overwhelm, fights toxic productivity, and clings to small moments of self-care. You’ll hear real strategies from her therapy sessions, how she recognizes early signs of a crash, and why talking to yourself with kindness matters. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep parenting through your own darkness, Michelle’s story will speak to you.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Parenting with depression, anxiety, and ADHD
• Raising kids with OCD, ADHD, and DMDD
• Feeling physically and emotionally weighed down by depression
• Therapist advice that actually helps
• Learning to speak to yourself with compassion
• Setting boundaries and making space for your own needs
• Managing toxic productivity and self-worth
• The power of naming what your soul needs
• Creating emotional check-in routines with your partner
• The importance of showing kids real coping strategies

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:12 Parenting with Depression and Mental Illness in the Family
02:12 Michelle’s Mental Health Journey Begins
03:10 Physical and Emotional Experience of Depression
04:14 Caring for Young Kids When You Feel Weighted Down
05:40 Therapist Tips for Self-Care Amidst Chaos
07:03 Learning to Speak Kindly to Yourself
07:59 How Michelle Manages Intrusive Thoughts
08:52 Daily Emotional Dump Strategy with Spouse
09:41 Empathy as a Parenting Tool (and Challenge)
10:22 Balancing Self-Care and Motherhood
12:32 Early Warning Signs of a Depressive Episode
14:03 Preparing During the “Good” Days
15:35 ADHD and Depression: Coexisting Conditions
16:59 Medication Helps — But It’s Not a Cure
17:24 Micro-Actions to Shift Out of a Depressive Fog
18:50 What’s Missing? Soul-Check Questions
21:27 DMDD Explained (Childhood Mood Disorder)
24:10 Toxic Productivity and Survival Mode
25:41 “Pain is Pain” – Validating Emotional Struggles
26:00 Closing: You're Not Alone

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