In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, guest Ari Cohen shares her powerful and deeply personal mental health journey. Diagnosed with depression at the age of 11, Ari describes how her identity was once entirely wrapped up in her diagnosis. Initially, her motivation to get better was externally driven—whether to attend summer camp, to avoid causing pain to her family, or to meet others' expectations.
A turning point came when a therapist asked her, “Who are you getting better for?”, prompting a shift in perspective. Through intensive therapy and community support, Ari began to explore healing for herself, not just for others. She speaks candidly about suicidal ideation, medication side effects, the importance of peer connection, and the value of compassionate caregiving—particularly from her mother and a social worker who simply asked, “What do you think would help?”
Ari now works as a program manager at Families for Depression Awareness and encourages others to recognize their intrinsic worth, engage in self-compassion, and understand that healing “for ourselves” doesn’t have to mean healing “by ourselves.”
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