Giving Voice to Depression

The factors that impact our mental health are varied, intertwined and sometimes difficult to distinguish. Other times they are clear as day. When living conditions are unhealthy or unsafe or when mental-healthcare is inadequate, unaffordable or inaccessible, the goal of recovery can seem unobtainable. In the third of a four-part series on the Intersectionality of Race, Trauma and Mental Health, we look at the role of treatment trauma. Our guest, Dr. Warren Braden says the best way to deal with a system that is not working (or is not designed to work for certain people) is to avoid it and to develop other avenues of self-care and recovery.Resources provided by Dr. Braden:https://borislhensonfoundation.org/This foundation was created by Taraji Henson the eradicate the stigma around mental health issues that affect the Black community.https://www.guilford.com/books/Black-Families-in-Therapy/Nancy-Boyd-Franklin/9781593853464/authorThis book by Dr. Franklin is an excellent resource for clients and therapists.The link for information about the crisis centers in Milwaukee:https://www.mhawisconsin.org/DirectorySearch/Details.aspx?pageid=160&mid=275&ListingId=1486https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline is the link to the national hotline for depressionAnd finally, anyone who is interested in communicating with Dr. Braden can email him at luminousclinicalservicesllc@gmail.com.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/

This is my story. The story of why I started the Giving Voice to Depression podcast. I first told it four years ago when we started this resource because it didn't seem fair to ask others to share their stories unless my sister and I did, too.I am re-posting it now because, being sick for the past several weeks I've had a lot of time to think, and question my life and my work and myself. Not in a depressed way, thankfully . But in that fevered and can't sleep way. And frankly, I think I needed to be reminded of how far I've come (mentally) so that I can honestly and passionately continue to tell anyone listening that things really truly can get better. It might not be as soon or as easily as we'd like. But everything can change. And there are things we can do when we first see the warning signs to give ourselves a better fighting chance. I didn't know that four years ago. Thanks to all the people who've shared their stories with us, I know it now. And I believe it and see it work for myself and others. Thank you for having taken this journey with us. Thank you for listening and for sharing and for caring-- for yourselves and each other. We truly are stronger together.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/

We have yet to meet someone who says they are glad they have depression. But over and over we hear that some, as a way of making peace with their condition, credit it with teaching them valuable lessons. Our guest Tom, is one of them. He lists 8 reasons he's grateful for his depression... BUT...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 may know the quote: “Courage does not always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying “I will try again tomorrow.” Jennifer tries again tomorrow. Jennifer knows the darkest of dark. She's been in that hopeless place and needed hospitalization many times. She has also tried nearly every depression med on the market. And more recently, TMS and ECT. Her extremely long and often frustrating journey has convinced her of the power of and need for HOPE. If the word itself sounds fluffy or impossible right now, that's because depression wants us to give up. Jennifer doesn't.https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/electroconvulsive-therapy/about/pac-20393894https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation/about/pac-20384625https://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/

Her depression first reared its ugly head in middle school. She is now in her 40s, and despite trying a myriad of medications and having a loving support network, the darkness has been unrelenting. In a living example of the both/and (vs. either/or) reality, Jennifer is both a multiple suicide attempt survivor and one of the most-resilient and hopeful guests we've had the honor to speak with.This episode revisits an interview from 2019, and includes an update she sent the day we recorded. Next week's episode will be Jennifer's update on her mental-health journey and the new treatments that have her feeling a light has finally flipped on in her dark brain.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/

This 22-minute episode is a summary of the last season of Giving Voice to Depression podcast. If you have any hesitation to listen to a podcast about depression, this is a great way to sample it and get an idea about the kinds of guests we have each week.After you listen, please go to our website at givingvoicetodepression.com and use the red mic widget in the upper left corner to leave us a message.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/

It can be so frustrating for "mental health" to be treated as separate from "physical health," when our brains are clearly a key part of our bodies.But, as people with mental-health challenges, we aren't always mindful of how caring for our bodies is also caring for our minds. This episode is an interview with a doctor who has learned from patients, and through his own experience with panic attacks, just how intricately entwined brain and body health are. Please take 19 minutes to listen to Dr. Adel Korkor, founder of the AB Korker Foundation for mental health, our new partner.4-minute exercise video: https://youtu.be/PwJCJToQmpsGVTD podcast episodes on mindful self compassion:https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/mindfulness-and-self-compassion-for-these-stressful-timesandhttps://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/bonus-track-a-brief-mindful-self-compassion-practicehttps://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/

We're not taught how to have these conversations.: A friend or family member is struggling. Maybe they're just "not themselves." Maybe they're suicidal. How do you offer support them? What do you say? What can you do that's actually helpful?https://letsqueerthingsup.com/2018/08/24/11-important-ways-my-loved-ones-supported-me-during-a-mental-health-crisis/Part 1 of How to Support Someone: https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/you-want-to-help-someone-whos-struggling-heres-how-part-1How to ASK For Help if You Need It-Part One: https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/asking-for-help-is-not-always-intuitive-sam-dylan-finch How to ASK For Help if You Need It-Part Two: https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/how-to-ask-for-the-help-you-need-pt-2-sam-dylan-finchhttps://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/

We're not taught how to have these conversations.: A friend or family member is struggling. Maybe they're just "not themselves." Maybe they're suicidal. How do you offer support them? What do you say? What can you do that's actually helpful?https://letsqueerthingsup.com/2018/08/24/11-important-ways-my-loved-ones-supported-me-during-a-mental-health-crisis/Part 1 of How to Support Someone: https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/you-want-to-help-someone-whos-struggling-heres-how-part-1How to ASK For Help if You Need It-Part One: https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/asking-for-help-is-not-always-intuitive-sam-dylan-finch How to ASK For Help if You Need It-Part Two: https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/how-to-ask-for-the-help-you-need-pt-2-sam-dylan-finchhttps://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/

For the past two weeks we've explored ways to reach out for support if you are the one struggling.Today we shift gears.What if you know someone who seems really depressed--maybe even suicidal, and they're not reaching out. How do you reach IN?In the first of two episodes, our guest Sam Dylan Finch details ways people have shown up for him in helpful and meaningful ways.Not knowing what to do is not an excuse to do nothing.Sam's blog post with all 11 suggestions: https://letsqueerthingsup.com/2018/08/24/11-important-ways-my-loved-ones-supported-me-during-a-mental-health-crisis/Links to two previous episodes with ways to reach out:1) https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/asking-for-help-is-not-always-intuitive-sam-dylan-finch2) https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/how-to-ask-for-the-help-you-need-pt-2-sam-dylan-finchLink to free Mental Health America screenings: https://screening.mhanational.org/screening-tools/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/