Giving Voice to Depression

In the podcast episode, we explore the crucial distinction between feeling sad and experiencing clinical depression:  Sadness is a common emotional state often triggered by specific events. Depression is a pervasive mental illness that significantly impacts daily life and can last for extended periods.

The episode features insights from three experts: Dr. Robert Duff, who clarifies that clinical depression involves a consistent patt...

In this podcast episode, our guest, Jessie, shares her journey, revealing how growing up in a family open about mental illness, yet burdened by it, influenced her understanding of her own struggles. Through candid conversations with her parents about their battles, she learned early on that mental illness is not a secret or a fault but a condition to be managed.

Our discussion spotlights the significant, generational impact of hones...

In this practical, inspirational and bittersweet episode, co-host Dr. Anita Sanz, a therapist with over two decades of experience, shares three life-changing questions that she has refined over the years to help people navigate depression and challenging situations. 

These questions, deeply rooted in neuroscience and psychology, are designed to shake up the mental patterns that keep us stuck.

Together, Anita and Terry explore how the...

In this real and hopeful episode, we continue our conversation with Matt Weedon of the Tors, the UK-based indie band behind the hit song Anything Can Happen. Written in the wake of Matt’s struggles with depression and anxiety, the song has struck a deep emotional chord with millions worldwide—its raw lyrics capturing the weight of mental illness and the slow, steady journey toward healing.

In this episode, Matt shares the deeply per...

There's a saying: "When you're happy, you enjoy the music, but when you're sad, you understand the lyrics." That sentiment resonates deeply in this episode as we sit down with singer-songwriter Matt Weedon of The Tors, the UK-based indie band behind the hauntingly beautiful song, Anything Can Happen.

Matt opens up about the song’s unintentional origins—written in the depths of his own struggle with depressio...

In this powerful 30-minute continuation of last week's conversation, Johnny Crowder—vocalist for the metal bands Dark Sermon and Prison, as well as a dedicated mental health advocate—shares how he navigates life with multiple mental health diagnoses. From severe anxiety and OCD to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Johnny reflects on how these conditions intertwined, with depression standing out as the most debilitating force...

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 live with a partner, children or friend with depression, odds are you could use some practical tips for how to care for both them and  yourself. This 28-minute episode offers both. 

Gwen shares openly and articulately about the challenges and strategies she uses  to maintain hope and connection when depression affects her household. Gwen shares how she and her husband navigate tough times by intentionally finding &q...

This Giving Voice to Depression episode explores the challenges and complexities of supporting a loved one with depression, focusing on the experiences of caregivers. The episode responds to a listener, Margaret, who shared her struggles in last week's episode about often feeling disconnected in her marriage due to her husband's treatment-resistant depression.

To provide insight, the hosts interview Gwen, a woman who has b...

Episode 346 - How Do You Do It? (Rerun)

In this deeply personal episode, we hear from Margaret, a GVTD podcast listener who bravely shares the challenges of parenting and maintaining a partnership with a spouse living with treatment-resistant depression. With honesty and vulnerability, she speaks about the loneliness, the frustrations, and the love that keep her searching for ways to make it work.

Margaret’s story is one that many ca...

In this impassioned, 22-minute episode, we continue our conversation with Chris Coulter, a father who tragically lost his teenage daughter, Maddy, to suicide. Chris speaks candidly about his growing frustration with the systems that are supposed to support struggling kids—schools, communities, and even parents who may not recognize the urgency of addressing mental health. 

With a mix of vulnerability, passion, and hard-ear...

In this deeply-moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Chris Coulter shares the heartbreaking story of losing his 14-year-old daughter Maddie to suicide and the profound journey of understanding and healing that followed.
 
Chris opens up about Maddie’s vibrant, kind spirit, her struggles with depression, and the challenges of recognizing and supporting a loved one in pain.

Chris also reflects on his own battle with de...

In this deeply-relatable episode, Davey shares his journey of living with and managing major depressive disorder and social anxiety. Having reached out after finding solace hearing about previous guests'  journeys, Davey hopes his story resonates with listeners who feel isolated by their struggles.

Davey recounts the physical and emotional toll depression took on him, leading to a pivotal moment in 2017 when he sought help afte...

When depression hit hard, Rena turned inward, exploring yoga, meditation, breathwork, art, and other practices to navigate her healing journey. In this inspiring episode, she shares how she reframed depression as one of many human emotions, and committed to building a relationship with it instead of resisting it.

From the weight of depression's dark, repetitive thoughts to the empowering tools that helped her process them, Rena...

In the episode titled "Straight Talk about Mental Health and Addictions," we engage in a candid discussion with Zane Thomas, a rapper and comedian known for his openness about his mental health challenges, including depression and bipolar disorder. 

Zane shares personal experiences, emphasizing the importance of addressing suicidal thoughts and addiction without shame. He encourages listeners to challenge negativ...

In this New Year podcast episode , "Protecting Our Mental Health in Uncertain Times,"  cohosts Dr. Anita Sanz and Terry discuss strategies for protecting mental health as we enter 2025. They acknowledge that while some people feel optimistic about the New Year, others experience stress, pressure, and overwhelming expectations. The episode focuses on simple, practical tips for well-being that don't require spending mo...

 This special annual episode is produced for those of you who are finding "celebrating" really difficult (impossible?) this holiday season-- for any number of reasons, including grief, addictions, loneliness and mental health conditions.

The 6-minute episode features a reading by John Pavlovitz titled: "To Those Who Struggle This Christmas."
 
The sincere, supportive message is dedicated specif...

Strategies for Those Grieving During the Holidays offers suggestions and insights for all coping with loss, not only from the death of loved ones but also from  unfulfilled dreams, health challenges, missed opportunities, etc. 
 
Guest Krista St-Germain, a grief expert, highlights the differences between depression (a broader, general sadness) and grief (which is more specific to the loss itself). She emphasizes that grief ...

"Holiday Hacks: Bingo Cards and Buffer Days," is a 19-minute podcast episode providing a helpful mix of humor, empathy, and actionable tips to support mental health during what for many is a challenging time of year.

Dr. Anita Sanz, a clinical psychologist, shares practical advice for navigating the stress of the holiday season, particularly for those dealing with depression. She explains that the holidays are es...