Giving Voice to Depression

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.

As individuals, we don't have much control over world events. But when tragic news fills 24-hour news cycles, we have a responsibility to ourselves to tune in and make choices that limit the impact on our mental health. In this remixed episode, our guest, Dr. Robert Duff (Duff the Psych,) talks about the line between being informed and being negatively impacted. Dr. Anita Sanz shares her perspective as well.

www.huffpost.com/entry/violent-me…nxiety_n_6671732
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4803729/
www.duffthepsych.com/

TW: Imagine one of your darkest nights.
You feel worthless, and as though no one cares or would miss you.
You go to bed praying that "if it doesn't hurt, please let me not wake."

And then dozens of people from across the globe, people you've never met,
post hearts and hugs and comments of love and support specifically for you.
Would you be able to take in those messages?
Would they truly help?

This 27-minute podcast is Rosaleen's story of that experience.
She did drink in the love and says that the messages took away depression's power, convinced hershe does matter, and "pulled her out" of depression's dark pit.

This is a true story. And an example of both how simple helping another human can be,
and how "reaching out" can make a profound and lasting difference.

This extended, 30-minute episode dispels two common mental health misconceptions: 1) That there's really no point in "reaching out" because no on e cares or understands. And 2) That was have to have The Perfect Thing to Say when offering support to someone who's really hurting.

When Rosaleen, a Giving Voice to Depression community member (on Facebook) let us know that she was in a very dark place, we asked the group for support, and they showed up in beautiful and healing ways.

You see, Rosaleen was hearing and believing depression's lies. She was thinking she was worthless and that no one cared if she lived or died. She was in bed, feeling that familiar but hard-to-explain blend of deep hurt and numbness. It was her wish that she'd fall asleep and not wake.

Instead, when she did wake, it was to an outpouring of love , understanding and support from People Who Get It. People who have also been in depression's grip and pit. And through simple but profound comments, they countered depression's messaging and convinced Rosaleen that she does matter and that she is not alone.

Cohosts Dr. Anita Sanz and Terry read through and discuss those comments, in the hopes they'll reach and sooth any deep, hurting parts in you.

At 14, Lacey's mental-health challenges made living a long and full life seem impossible to her.
She wasn't sure she could even make it to 16. because of her crippling depression and anxiety.

Now a social worker in her 20's, Lacey has the perspective of someone familiar with both the bottom of life's pit and the climb out.
She sees mental health as a spectrum and shows grace for all points on it.

Our conversation is a 30,000-foot view of mental health, recovery and hope. It's well worth the 25 minutes it will take to listen.

As a teen, Lacey's depression and suicidal thoughts were so pervasive that she did not know if she would live past the age of 16.

She is now a social worker helping others.

Lacey shares about her family's inability to speak openly about mental-health challenges before she opened that conversational door. She credits her grandmother, who then disclosed the generations-long family history of depression, which allowed Lacey to have hope for a future.

When our children first exhibit symptoms of mental health challenges, we seldom recognize them as that. With lots of encouragement from friends and family (if we even share) we are convinced that the behaviors are "typical teen stuff."

Craig Kramer, says when his children were suffering, he "made every mistake in the book- and them some." He had lots of help with that. He got bad advice from trusted people, was "sold snake oil" and waited until his children were in crisis to pull out all the stops and get them needed care and support.

The entire process led Craig to conclude that there is no working mental health system in the United States. He is working to help change that.

This 25-minute episode, "A Father's Story of Lessons Learned the Hard Way" could help save your family some time and risk.

Link to Craig's Johnson & Johnson video about his family's mental health journey: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/craigkramer1_asking-for-help-saved-craig-kramers-career-activity-7090004879254945792-wtoU?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

30+ years after a suicide attempt that left her in a coma, Jeannine looks back on that day, and on what she would have missed if she had died that hopeless day. When you're "in it," you do not think you will ever get out. We need to know, believe and spread the message that the bottom is not the end.For Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, please listen to and share this 24-minute episode.Jeannine's website: https://www.jeanninerivers.com/

For Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we want to introduce you to suicide-attempt survivor, Jeannine Rivers, We want you to hear her talk about the good and the bad of the life she never would have experienced had she not (barely) survived her attempt. Please take 17 minutes to honor our guest, Jeannine's honesty and vulnerability sharing about her life for to offer hope to others. Jeannine's website: https://www.jeanninerivers.com/

It can be so, so hard when you are in depression's darkness to believe anyone who says "it passes," "it will get better," or even "you are loved and needed." Mark Henick, a suicide-attempt survivor has the lived experience, perspective and empathy to reach out with his message of hope and recovery. He has been there. He knows. Please listen, share, reach out for whatever help and support are available and hold hope for better days. Mark's TEDx Talk: www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1QoyTmeAYw