How to Cope With Depression Triggers: Planning Ahead for Mental Health

What if you could predict and prepare for depression triggers before they hit? In this powerful conversation, Terri opens up about her own experience anticipating grief around her mother’s passing and the steps she took to avoid being blindsided by depression.

Alongside psychologist Dr. Anita Sanz, we explore the concept of stress and energy forecasting—a proactive mental health tool that helps you recognize high-risk periods, create support plans, and reduce the likelihood of a depressive episode.

Whether you’re coping with grief, relationship stress, or sudden life crises, this episode will give you practical strategies to strengthen your mental health resilience and protect your well-being before it spirals.

Primary Topics Covered

• Terri’s personal story of anticipatory grief and depression risk
• What “stress and energy forecasting” means for mental health
• How to prepare for grief, loss, and life’s hardest moments
• The difference between grief, sadness, and depression
• Why pacing your emotions can prevent relapse into depression
• Building a proactive plan for unexpected crises
• Tools for self-care during stressful seasons
• How preparation can reduce the impact of triggers

Timestamps

00:00 - Introduction and why this episode is different
 01:30 - Terri’s story: preparing for her mother’s death and grief
 02:44 - What is stress and energy forecasting?
 03:16 - Comparing mental health planning to weather forecasting
 04:24 - Anticipatory grief and pacing difficult emotions
 05:36 - How therapy and open conversations can help
 06:54 - Why practicing feeling sadness strengthens resilience
 08:42 - The difference between grief, sadness, and depression
 10:24 - Using pacing to prevent depressive relapse
 11:27 - How to respond to unexpected crises and stressors
 12:23 - Creating a written crisis plan and identifying supports
 14:08 - Forecasting for predictable stresses like relationships and work
 14:36 - Self-care prioritization: what really matters during crisis
 15:48 - Final reflections on stress forecasting and resilience

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