Living With Depression and Anxiety: Tara’s Journey From Panic Attacks to Resilience

Tara has lived with depression and anxiety since childhood — beginning with panic attacks at age four after a traumatic accident. For decades, she carried shame, exhaustion, and guilt, especially as a mother who felt she couldn’t live up to the “supermom” image.

In this honest and heartfelt conversation, Tara shares how she finally found words for what she was experiencing, why asking for help changed everything, and how she’s learning to accept her own version of “normal.” From surviving panic attacks to redefining success as cooking meals or simply getting out of pajamas, Tara’s story is a reminder that living with depression is not weakness — it’s courage.

Her journey also highlights the importance of supportive friends, family, therapy, and medication — and why telling your truth can reduce shame and stigma.

Link to one of Alex's articles: https://alexandriabrown12.medium.com/truth-be-told-my-depression-actually-does-define-me-27ef27107f0e

Link to Alex's book: https://www.amazon.com/You-Me-Depression-Battle-Heart-ebook/dp/B07531N5TM

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why asking for help with depression and anxiety is not weakness
• Tara’s early childhood trauma and the onset of panic attacks
• The long road to finally having words for what she was experiencing
• How anxiety and depression often go hand in hand
• College years, stigma, and being forced to leave school due to depression
• The impact of multiple personal losses on her mental health
• Parenting with depression and explaining it to her children
• Redefining “normal” when living with depression
• The importance of therapy, medication, and supportive family
• How choosing to stay alive every day is an act of resilience

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and purpose of sharing stories
 01:22 - The difficulty of starting conversations about depression
 01:42 - Tara shares feelings of guilt and shame as a mother with depression
 02:23 - Why asking for help is so important
 05:02 - Tara’s first panic attacks at age four
 05:55 - Traumatic childhood accident and early PTSD
 07:02 - Discovering the term “panic attacks” at age 14
 08:04 - Relief in finally having words for her symptoms
 08:56 - Depression intensifies during college years
 09:39 - Loss of loved ones and impact on her mental health
 10:12 - Struggling to work full-time while living with depression
 11:33 - Parenting with depression and explaining it to her kids
 12:55 - Medication, therapy, and redefining “normal”
 14:17 - Choosing every day to keep going as resilience
 15:16 - Closing reflections: asking for help and telling your truth

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