How to Recover from Depression After Loss and Setbacks with Johnny Crowder

What happens when everything falls apart at once? 

Musician and mental health advocate Johnny Crowder recently faced that exact reality—losing his home, his band, and his relationship (with the woman he expected to marry,) all within days.

In this 25-minute episode, he talks about the depression that followed ("a bear he has wrestled many times before,") and the mindset shift that helped him rebuild and reconnect with hope. 

If you’ve ever felt like you couldn’t find your way out of a dark place, Johnny’s story—and the practical strategies he shares—will remind you that healing is possible, one step at a time.

Link to Johnny Crowder's Website: https://johnnycrowder.com/

Link to Johnny Crowder's 1st TEDx Talk: Why I Don't Want to Die Anymore:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e612-OTu-SA

Link to Johnny Crowder's 2nt TEDx TalkTEDx Talk: How to Grow as a Person (and Why it Sucks) : https://www.ted.com/talks/johnny_crowder_how_to_grow_as_a_person_and_why_it_sucks

Primary Topics Covered:

• Depression recovery after multiple major life losses
• Johnny’s story: hurricane, relationship ending, and band breakup
• How depression resurfaced and what it felt like this time
• Why fighting depression doesn’t always work
• Reframing loss as an opportunity for growth and change
• Asking trusted friends/family for reminders of past resilience
• Depression’s lies: hopelessness, time distortion, and lack of joy
• The importance of acceptance and patience in healing
• Tools like writing, reflection, and Cope Notes for daily support
• Self-compassion and practicing early intervention strategies

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction to the episode and Johnny Crowder  
01:26 – Johann Hari’s view on depression as a response to abnormal experiences  
02:11 – Johnny’s background: survivor, musician, and advocate  
03:12 – Hurricane destroys Johnny’s home and sparks reflection  
04:16 – Band breakup, relationship loss, and simultaneous crises  
06:00 – Depression returns after years of stability  
08:36 – Avoidance, denial, and the first signs of depression  
10:58 – Processing loss and the fear of not rebuilding  
11:45 – What’s different this time: hope instead of suicidal thoughts  
13:55 – Building resilience through past experiences and evidence  
14:07 – Writing, speaking, and developing new coping frameworks  
15:50 – Asking others to reflect resilience back to you  
17:30 – Depression’s lies: hopelessness and distorted time  
18:59 – Building an “emergency box” for future depressive episodes  
20:56 – Awareness, timing, and early intervention  
22:39 – Closing thoughts and links to Johnny’s work (TEDx, Cope Notes)  

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