Giving Voice to Depression

When your depression is long-lasting it can be easy to believe that since nothing has helped much yet, nothing ever will. Then hope becomes a very difficult thing to hold onto.In the months between our first interview (episode 248- When You Feel Unfixable) and the conversation summarized in this episode, our guest Lori went to a 3-week treatment facility. She learned some new ways of thinking, found some new "tools" for mental health management, and met some people who, like her, live with chronic or persistent depression. She did not get "cured." But she did make and experience some shifts that let some light (albeit pinpricks) and hope return her darkness.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

You hear it all the time: Hold on. Like storms, your depression will pass. But what if it doesn't.For millions who experience persistent depressive disorder (PDD,) formerly known as dysthymia, depression can last for months or years.Symptoms of PDD are similar to major depressive disorder (MDD,) but are milder and persistent (chronic.)People with this condition may also have bouts of major depression at times.This week's guest Lori lives with chronic depression. She has also had MDD, and the differences are clear to her. This 25-minute episode describes how being chronically depressed can erode hope, as well as aspects of life.More info: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/dysthymiahttps://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

One of the many things depression and other chronic or invisible illnesses steal from us, is our energy. In this 17-minute episode, we discuss Christine Miserandino's Spoon Theory as a way to both manage and explain our often-limited resources. The theory is a metaphor describing the amount of physical and/or mental energy that a person has available for daily activities and tasks, and how it can become limited.It offers a kind of shorthand for communicating why we need to make choices (i.e. cancelling plans, saying no to opportunities, etc.) The Spoon Theory can help with establishing boundaries and may even help you show yourself a bit more grace.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

In his 16 seasons in the NFL (13 with the Philadelphia Eagles and three with the Denver Broncos) Brian Dawkins earned the nickname "Weapon X" and a reputation as one of the league's hardest hitters. Yet when depression was his opponent, Dawkins nearly lost the fight. He retired recently to become a mental-health advocate and philanthropist. He joined GVTD co-host Terry for a candid discussion about how continues to tackle depression.www.briandawkins.com/betterman.gotothehub.comhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/psychology-of-sport-and-exercisehttps://health.clevelandclinic.org/mental-health-in-athletes/https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

In last week's episode we met singer/songwriter/guitarist Matt Weedon, whose honest description of his depression and anxiety was made music, and a hit song at that, by his band The Tors. We focused on the song's first verse and Matt's description of keeping his room dark to match his mood, and about how a dear friend supported him by phone so he knew he wasn't alone.Today, we focus on the second verse of the hit song "Anythng Can Happen" and the day Matt knew he was coming out of it when he not only opened his bedroom window to let in light, but even noticed and enjoyed the birds singing when he did. It's an experience people around the world relate to, and they made that clear by streaming this song in record numbers. The Tors website: tors.band/https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

What do you get when a singer/songwriter/guitarist decides to share openly and honestly about his struggles with depression and anxiety?In this case, you get a hit song. Matt Weedon of the Tors Band in the UK joins us for a 2-episode conversation about his mental health struggles and how putting them to music is helping not just him, but listeners across the world as well.The Tors website: http://tors.band/https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

A Philadelphia trauma surgeon whose depression required hospitalization learns what it's like to be a patient. He shares his story in the hopes that others will learn from his frightening experience and believe him when he says recovery is possible, no matter how deeply depressed you are.Article link: medschool.ucsd.edu/som/hear/resour…Perspective.pdfYouTube video:www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qBobGOF0fs&t=5shttps://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

"Physician heal thyself."But what happens when depression convinces you you're not worthy of healing? Doctors and other healthcare professionals face uniquely-stressful situations during their education, training and careers. Sleep deprivation, myths and routinely witnessing human suffering can contribute to or trigger depression.In this episode, Dr. Michael Weinstein, a trauma surgeon, candidly and vulnerably discusses his depression, the "revolution" needed in medical training, and his long road to recovery. This remix is the first of a 2-part interview with the doctor.https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp1715418https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

A triggering trauma. A deep depression. A helpful therapist. A new hobby and mission. That's part of Kathleen's story and the genesis of The Little Heart Project.This episode is a 22-minute Valentine's Day reminder of the power of kindness.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

"About a third of all people experiencing mental illnesses and about half of people living with severe mental illnesses also experience substance abuse. These statistics are mirrored in thesubstance abuse community, where about a third of all alcohol abusers and more than half of all drug abusers report experiencing a mental illness," according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.That statistic, like all statistics, is about real people. Not numbers. This episode's guest, Donald, is one of those people. And he shares his story of dual diagnosis- living with substance use disorder in addition to depression and anxiety.NAMI re: dual diagnosis: www.nami.org/NAMI/media/NAMI-Me…l-Diagnosis-FS.pdfhttps://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/