What Does Depression Feel Like? Terry’s Honest Story of Living, Healing, and Recovering

What does it really feel like to live with depression — and how do you fight back against its lies?

In this deeply personal episode, Terri, co-host of Giving Voice to Depression, shares her own battle with mornings, dark thoughts, and the exhaustion of living with depression in silence. She opens up about the moment she realized her thinking had turned dangerously unhealthy, the decision to return to medication, and how that choice saved her life.

Her journey from despair to founding this podcast is a testament that recovery is possible. If you’ve ever wondered how to deal with depression or doubted your worth because of it, Terri’s story is a powerful reminder: depression lies, and you are not alone.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Terry’s struggle with depression’s toxic “morning mantra”
• What depression really feels like day after day
• Recognizing unhealthy thinking and a near crisis point
• Choosing to seek medical help and return to antidepressants
• How medication and therapy can be lifesaving tools
• Founding Giving Voice to Depression as an act of recovery
• Why sharing stories reduces stigma and isolation
• The truth: depression is an illness, not a personal failing
• Building resilience through community and hope

Timestamps:

00:00 Terry explains pausing new episodes to prioritize rest
 01:14 Revisiting one of the podcast’s very first episodes
 02:03 Terry introduces her personal story of living with depression
 03:11 Depression’s toxic “morning mantra” and daily struggles
 05:10 How depression convinces us we’re not enough
 07:03 Terry’s near crisis moment with physical health and dark thoughts
 09:15 Calling her doctor and choosing to return to antidepressants
 10:34 Founding Giving Voice to Depression as a way to make meaning
12:00 Why sharing stories breaks stigma and builds connection
13:35 The importance of medication and self-care in recovery
15:04 The truth about depression: it lies — you have worth
16:22 Bridget and Terry reflect on the courage of telling our stories
18:05 Closing message: speak up, listen up, you are not alone

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/