Giving Voice to Depression

Depression is a thief. It steals our vitality, our sense of connection and worth. Our dreams. And sometimes our very will to live.This week's guest, Emily Derecktor knows losses. She worked hard to do well in school, get into top universities and earn admittance to medical school.And then depression stole that opportunity. For now, anyways.In this episode Emily shares about her mental health journey, and the range of ways depression can impact us, and derail our dreams.Next week Emily will share about a fabulous resource she's created for others with depression. In one of the most-practical episodes we've produced, we'll talk about hygiene, cooking and cleaning when depression makes even basic living skills too much.www.cerealfordinner.org/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/

Since you're listening to a depression podcast it's likely that you, like us, could benefit from "resolving" to prioritize your mental health in this New Year.This 27-minute podcast episode looks at several options, including movement- which can be running, walking, dancing, bike riding or any other activity. Whichever you choose to incorporate into your life, there will be preparatory steps. There will be physical and mental barriers to overcome. And there will be benefits that will motivate us to continue taking steps to protect and improve our mental and overall health.In this episode Dr. Adel Korkor, who recently gave a TEDx Talk called "Motion Impacts Emotion," shares how running helps him manage his panic attacks and overall mental and physical health.Co-host Dr. Anita Sanz shares strategies she uses with her clients to improve their chances of following through with desired changes. It's 27-minutes that will give you some tips for taking steps toward improved mental health. Adel Korkor's TEDx Talk: (61) Motion Impacts Emotion: My Journey With How Running Saved My Life | Adel B. Korkor, M.D. | TEDxOcala - YouTube AI28958_v3-YTCTV-AG28585_V03-QR-V19_677454046246.mp4 (youtube.com)Article quoted in episode: Depression and anxiety: Exercise eases symptoms - Mayo ClinicIntentions/Resolutions read at end of episode: 8 Alternatives to New Year’s Resolutions If You Live With Mental Illness (themighty.com) Additional Research provided by Dr. Korkor: Cassilhas, R. C., Tufik, S., & de Mello, M. T. (2016). Physical exercise, neuroplasticity,spatial learning and memory. Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 73(5),975–983. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-015-2102-0Deslandes, A., Moraes, H., Ferreira, C., Veiga, H., Silveira, H., Mouta, R., Pompeu, F.A., Coutinho, E. S., & Laks, J. (2009). Exercise and mental health: many reasons tomove. Neuropsychobiology, 59(4), 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1159/000223730Ding, Q., Vaynman, S., Akhavan, M., Ying, Z., & Gomez-Pinilla, F. (2006). Insulin-likegrowth factor I interfaces with brain-derived neurotrophic factor-mediated synapticplasticity to modulate aspects of exercise-induced cognitivefunction. Neuroscience, 140(3), 823–833.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.02.084Gomes da Silva, S., & Arida, R. M. (2015). Physical activity and braindevelopment. Expert review of neurotherapeutics, 15(9), 1041–1051.https://doi.org/10.1586/14737175.2015.1077115Kirk-Sanchez, N. J., & McGough, E. L. (2014). Physical exercise and cognitiveperformance in the elderly: current perspectives. Clinical interventions in aging, 9,51–62. https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S39506https://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 (then) 23-year-old woman stops during a magical holiday moment to tweet to her 14-year-old suicidal self the message that the fight IS worth it, that things can and will change, that you will not always feel the way you do right now, that hope wins and you are NOT alone. It's a New Year's message of hope and recovery that we hope you'll listen to, internalize and share. May 2024 bring you peace and mental health.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 post this 6-minute essay every Christmas Eve, for those who are not feeling merry or bright. Whether it's depression, grief, loneliness or something else, if you are hurting, the "joyfulness" of this holiday season can make things feel even worse.John Pavlovitz wrote and recorded a powerful essay we know some of you will also be comforted by-- or at least feel acknowledged. We'll get through this together. Come to the Giving Voice to Depression Facebook community page if you need some company today. https://johnpavlovitz.com/2017/12/24/to-those-who-struggle-this-christmas/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/

End-of-year holidays can be a celebratory time.Or a stressful time.Or both.Whichever is true for you, it's a good time to add or tune-up some of the tools in your mental-health toolkit.This episode focuses on mindfulness and self-compassion -- two readily accessible tools that can help us regulate and cope with difficult emotions.And when the holidays pass, these valuable gifts to ourselves will still be available in our self-care and depression-management arsenals.Link to more information, exercises and research: https://self-compassion.org/Link to research on mindfulnessAmerican Mindfulness Research Association:goamra.org/resources/reviewsmeta-analysis/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/

How could making a secret, customized Bingo card help you manage holiday stressors?What's the value of a "buffer day?" Those are just two of the many tips and tricks shared by Dr. Anita Sanz, a licensed clinical psychologist to help us manage and protect our mental health during what can be a difficult time of year for many.Even if you enjoy the holidays, there's no ignoring the fact they impact our schedules, routines and energy.  This 18-minute episode could give you a few new tools to be able to keep what is meaningful and health for you and avoid or limit that which is not.  Especially the bingo card. We just love the Bingo card. ;-) A printable, customizable Bingo card is available on our website: https://givingvoicetodepression.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/

Grieving any impactful loss can be especially challenging during the holidays. There are so many expectations that we celebrate and keep up traditions regardless of our feelings and pain. Setting and communicating clear boundaries (even if they will disappoint or upset others) and managing expectations are two ways to protect ourselves and our hearts.Our guest, Krista St-Germain knows a lot about grief, and coaches others through it. This 28-minute episode could help you honor yourself this holiday season. Please share it with anyone else you know who could benefit from the insights.Links to related resources:Krista's website: Coaching with Krista — Life Coaching for Widowed MomsPsychology Today article: Working Through Grief During the Holidays | Psychology TodayGVTD episode on EFT/Tapping:Stream 94 - Bonus - Toolkit Tapping (Brad Yates) by Giving Voice to Depression | Listen online for free on SoundCloudhttps://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/

Living with depression is difficult.That's true for both the person with the mood disorder, and those around them who are also affected. Last week in "Caregivers Have Needs Too," Gwen, a professional, wife and mother, shared about the challenges of partnering, parenting and running a home with a person  who experiences debilitating depression.This week, she shares the ground rules and clear boundaries that she and her husband have designed to keep life moving forward even during the times depression makes him unable to fully participate. One key takeaway is the question: What CAN you do?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/

Having depression is hard.Loving and caring for someone with depression is, too. November is National Caregivers Month, and this 24-minute episode explores the need for boundaries, perspective, communication, and self-care while supporting a family member who is struggling. This 24-minute episode is a response to last week's "I Wish People Understood How Hard and Lonely it Is," in which a caregiver asked for some guidance on how to run a home and raise a child with a partner whose depression makes them unavailable at times. Our guest Gwen offers some lessons she's learned navigating a similar situation for decades. It is peer support at its finest. Resources for Caregivers:Home - Families for Depression Awareness (familyaware.org)Getting Started: Guide for New Mental Health Caregivers | Mental Health America (mhanational.org)Caregiver Mental Health | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAAhttps://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 podcast listener, who is married to and raising a child with a man with depression and other mental health conditions, reached out to get some information and support from others who understand the lonely realities of her situation. Margaret describes the challenges of trying to run a house and family with a partner whose depression makes him unavailable on several levels. She speaks of the isolation, lack of support and understanding, and how very differently friends and family react to mental illness than they did to her cancer battle years ago.This 25-minute episode is an intimate and candid look into a marriage in which depression can sometimes feel like a third partner. 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/