Overcoming Depression - Audio Version

Feeling swallowed by the fog or worried for someone who is? We open up about depression with a clear, compassionate look at what actually helps: wise boundaries with technology, honest community, timely professional care, and spiritual practices that steady the heart. Valerie Peterson, a licensed therapist and John Martin walk through real stories and practical tools, we explore how isolation after COVID made moods heavier, how social media stirs comparison and anxiety, and why even one trusted friend can change the trajectory of a hard week.

You’ll hear a whole-person framework that refuses false choices. We talk about when to seek a doctor’s guidance, how medication can be a bridge “for a season, for a reason,” and why virtual counseling is a lifeline when leaving home feels impossible. We offer simple, high-impact habits: staying in today rather than spiraling into yesterday’s regret or tomorrow’s fear, keeping a daily gratitude list to retrain attention, and using thought stopping to interrupt mental loops. Along the way, we anchor to Scripture and prayer—not as shortcuts, but as steady companions—as we practice renewing the mind and choosing a hopeful next step.

We close with three pillars that help you keep going: start your day in the Bible to shape your thinking, connect with a Christ-centered church for belonging, and commit to a small group where honesty and accountability are normal. Healing is often a process, not a switch, but you don’t have to walk it alone. If this resonates, share it with a friend who needs courage today, subscribe for more conversations like this, and leave a review so others can find hope and practical help.

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Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Welcome.
I'm John Martin and so excitedto be here today with Valerie
Peterson, my co-host.
We've got an exciting showtoday.

SPEAKER_01 (00:11):
We sure do.
I am thrilled about being here,and I think this topic, John, is
timely and it's needed.
And I love our Overcomer series.
We did overcoming anxiety, andnow today it's overcoming
depression.

SPEAKER_00 (00:28):
Yeah, overcoming depression.
And that's a big thing.
I really think most all peoplehave dealt with depression.
It's just part of life.
I mean, I think some people havemore, you know, serious cases of
it.
And I know you're a licensedtherapist, so you I know you're
dealing with it on a dailybasis.

(00:50):
And I I know God He wants us toget breakthrough and healing
from this.
And this is a real thing.
I mean, it is serious, andpeople, you know, people, we
want to see people healed andset free.

SPEAKER_01 (01:05):
That's it.
I totally agree.
You know, I think John, youknow, here we are Christians.
I think that it's so importantto look at we are emotional,
physical, and spiritual beings.
So we can't neglect thephysical.
We can't neglect the emotional.

(01:26):
And I something that I sometimessee is that you know, people are
focusing sometimes so much onone aspect of us as a being,
where we got to look at allthree parts.
So we are spiritual beings, andthank you, Father, that you
know, I think of Psalm 66 wherehe says, I laid burdens on your

(01:48):
back.
Depression's a burden.
But I brought you through.
It doesn't say he left us in it,but I brought you through fire
and water, but I'm bringing youa pl to a place of rich
fulfillment.
I think sometimes that's thecourse of depression.
He brings us through it.
If we ask him to help us, he'snot gonna leave us in it.

(02:11):
He's gonna bring us through it.
And I don't know about you, butthat's where having people that
will speak into our lives iscritical.
You know, when there's somebodythat says, Hey, I see a change
in you.
Are y'all right?
It's it is so important.

(02:31):
You know, I feel since COVIDthere's been a lot more
isolation.
People not connected as much asthey used to be.
That's my theory.
I may be wrong, but I reallybelieve it's so important to get
connected.
One true friend, one true friendis better than a thousand

(02:52):
acquaintances.
Find someone you can trust andbe honest with where you're at
emotionally.

SPEAKER_00 (02:59):
I think social media and the the smartphones have
been a big part of that.
And I've been to a fewconferences lately that have
been addressing that.
Um there's some great books outtoo on it now, just talking
about how the the phones and thesocial media has been a played a

(03:20):
big part in depression andanxiety, even suicide.
So, what can you say about that?

SPEAKER_01 (03:28):
Put boundaries around it.
Okay, know when to turn it off.
Because I know I read someresearch that though once
someone gets on social media,often when they get off, they
don't feel as well.
And a lot of it is thecomparison.
Well, look at that trip she'son, you know, look at where

(03:50):
they're at, and there can belook at that perfect family.
First of all, no family isperfect.
No all families go throughtrials.
So if you're gonna go on socialmedia, just be aware there can
be a comparison and try not todo that.
Something that has helped me isI try to go on once a day in the

(04:13):
evenings.
I kind of try to stay away fromit all day long because I think
it I can get kind of addicted toit if I I just notice it helps
me to go on one time a day.
Have strategy around socialmedia.
Um, because like you're saying,a lot of people are talking
about it is addictive or it isum I don't feel as well when I

(04:36):
get off of it.
So definitely just um it'sdefinitely played a big impact.

SPEAKER_00 (04:43):
I mean, I I know I was I was at a conference
recently where the speaker said,um, you know, there was a few
thousand people there, and hesaid, you know, turn to your
neighbor, and I'd like to askeach one of you to give your
neighbor your cell phone, andwe're just gonna sit here in
silence.
And he had everybody do that,and I mean the anxiety in the
room just went through the roofbecause everybody had given

(05:07):
their cell phone to a stranger,and and even I was like the
weirdest feeling.
So I do feel like that's that'splaying a role and putting
boundaries around it isimportant.

SPEAKER_01 (05:19):
You know, if you're gonna be going to a small group
or out for dinner with somebody,can you leave your cell phone in
your car or in your purse?
I know some of you that aremoms, like, no, no, no, I can't,
you know, but just um onceagain, putting up boundaries

(05:39):
with your phone and with socialmedia is gonna help emotionally,
definitely.
You know, I want to encourageour listeners to stay in this
day.
It says don't look at tomorrow,but stay in this day.
I think I wish churches talkedmore about that because of what
is going on in our world today.

(06:01):
I think there's a lot of peopledepressed about what's gonna
happen next.
So if you can stay in this day,even taking life short segments,
that can help.
Not focusing too much on thepast, because really that leads
to regret and guilt and notfocusing too much on the future,

(06:22):
what's gonna happen, becausethat leads to oh man, can
depressive symptoms, man, thisdoesn't look good.
You know, does that make sense?
So um try to stay in the day isso important.
If I could say anything else,have a gratitude list.
You do you notice how we focuson things that are not going

(06:47):
well in our lives?
They tend to be the highlight.
You know, this distraction, thissituational stressor here and
there.
What is it like to sit andidentify the things that are
good?

unknown (07:00):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (07:00):
That's often an assignment I give because it can
help.
I know it helps me.
I keep one in my journal.
Just gratitude.
Yeah, a gratitude list of thethings that are good.
Everyone has situationalstressors going on.
It's just part of life.
Um I don't know about you, John,but I really do want to hit home

(07:21):
on don't do this journey of lifealone.
And if you are really strugglingwith depression, it can be a
medical issue.
It can be a hormonal imbalance,it can be even a chemical
imbalance in the brain that aperson has no control over.

(07:44):
As we've talked before,sometimes medicine is needed for
a season, for a reason.
And I just I encourage ourlisteners, talk with your
doctor.
First thing, if you are reallystruggling with severe
depression, talk with yourdoctor.
What do you say on that?
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (08:01):
No, I think so.
I mean, that's what I was when Iwas praying about this show.
First thing came to mind wastalk to someone, you know, and
and a good place is to hear yourtherapist or your your doctor to
get to a professional to talk tosomeone.
Because you got to get it out.
You got to release it.
You can't keep it in.

(08:22):
And then, like you said, youknow, that that the medications
can be helpful.
Um you know, and another thing Ithink too, like you talked about
the isolation, but just even umgetting back to our you know,
pillars of road to redemption,but you know, going to church
and getting into a small groupof like-minded, you know, men or

(08:43):
women that you can open up toand talk and make yourself
vulnerable, you know, that canhelp.
But uh Definitely.
I know some people though thatare going through this, they're
like, look, I don't want to goto a small group.
I'm so yeah, so that's why it'simportant to talk to you know,
someone a professional.
And there are, we're so blessed,there's so many people now that

(09:05):
do what you do, Val.

SPEAKER_01 (09:06):
I mean and wonderful counselors along this pay and
handle of Florida.

SPEAKER_00 (09:11):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (09:12):
You know, also you can always do virtual online.
You know, a lot of therapistsreally have specialized in that
area.
If you don't want to get out,you know, sometimes there's
there's just someone's feelingsso down they don't want to leave
their home.

SPEAKER_00 (09:29):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (09:30):
So that is an option to do virtual counseling.
So keep that in mind.
Once again, you know, in inJames 1, it says, ask for
wisdom.
Ask the Lord, what do I do?

unknown (09:44):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (09:45):
I'm really down, I'm not sleeping, I I'm eating too
much or eating too little, I'mjust depressed.
Just ask him, what's my firststep?
Where can I go from here?
Is what I would recommend.

unknown (10:00):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (10:01):
Because he says he wants to communicate with us.

unknown (10:05):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (10:05):
Amen.
Well, and I know we havetestimonies also of people that
have been severely depressedthat have come out of that.
And, you know, they're doingbetter and they're living in joy
and freedom.
And they may have gone throughthe medication or therapy or
small groups, but I I've seenit, you know, in our church and

(10:27):
friend groups that there isthere is healing from this, but
it is a it can be a process, andit doesn't happen overnight
typically.

SPEAKER_01 (10:36):
Exactly.
Exactly.
It is typically a process, and Ilove that you brought that up.
Is and that's where havingstrategies in the process to
keep moving forward.
Um right now you may feel likeyou're stuck.
And you know, I look at in Psalm40 where it, you know, it says I
was in a pit of mud and mire.

(10:58):
But he grabbed my hand, pulledme up and out, and he put my
foot on a rock and a new song inmy mouth.
You know, sometimes the pullingup and out of a pit in a dark
place can be a little bit of aprocess.
Don't give up hope.
You know, it says in Hebrews 11,hope is an anchor.

(11:21):
It keeps us what?
Firm and secure.
We need that hope.

SPEAKER_00 (11:26):
Hope.
Because our Lord wants us aliveand he wants us to be free.

unknown (11:33):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (11:34):
He does.
And I and I know a lot of thepeople in this, they they don't
want to be alive.
They feel like, you know, I'd bebetter off not being here.
Right.
That's a real thing.

unknown (11:43):
Yes.

SPEAKER_00 (11:44):
And we know that that that's not what our Lord
wants for you.
He wants you to receive joy, hewants you to feel better.
And we're just partnering withyou today to pray and believe
that you're gonna receive that.
And we're gonna pray for you injust a minute.
Um, is there anything else, Val?
I know you you have a wealth ofknowledge in this area.

(12:07):
Any other key points or anythingyou want to share?

SPEAKER_01 (12:09):
Yes, you know, the book by Joyce Meyer,
Battlefiddle of the Mind.
It's an old book, but she talksabout this and how important it
is to Romans 12 to betransformed by the renewing of
our mind.
I was just teaching a group ofwomen yesterday, and we were
just talking about where themind leads, the rest of us

(12:30):
follows.
So we've got to be thinking, asJoyce Meyer says, we've got to
be thinking about what we thinkabout.
So if you can be aware of whatyou're saying to yourself about
the given situation you're inright now, stop that thought in
the mental health field.
We call it thought stopping.
Stop it and replace it.

(12:50):
And scripture verse is sopowerful to replace it with.
You know, even the verseJeremiah 29, 11, I know, he
knows the plans he has for you,says the Lord.
Plans to prosper you, not toharm you, plans to give you a
hope in a future.
That verse alone.
If we said it underneath ourbreath, when we're at work, our

(13:13):
thoughts affect the way we feel,the way we feel affects the way
we see ourselves in the worldaround us.
It all starts up here, John.

SPEAKER_00 (13:19):
Yeah.
Yeah, I think reciting scriptureum verses will will definitely
help.
And there's quite a few versesthat, you know, in this subject,
when I was reading last night.
Yes.

SPEAKER_01 (13:33):
A lot of verses that can be an encouragement.

SPEAKER_00 (13:37):
We can share some of those.
And and that book, TheBattlefield of the Mind, it
maybe say, I want to reread thatbecause that really is one of
the best books.
And gosh, I it helped me a lot.
I I'm just remembering when Iread that, and I need to read it
again because I'm dealing dailywith things that are in my mind.

(13:59):
Yeah.
So we all need this.
We all need it.
We really do.
We all need it.
Everybody is is fighting, youknow, and depression, anxiety,
fear, you know, it's real, butyeah, our Lord does not, he
wants us to be set free.

unknown (14:16):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 (14:16):
He does.
He does.
And um, you know, to remindourselves that he is right with
us, you know.
Isaiah 41, 10, behold, I am theLord your God who takes you by
the hand.
If you can visualize whereveryou go, as in Joshua 1, he will
never leave us or forsake us.
You're not alone today.
He's right with you whereveryou're at.

unknown (14:38):
Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 (14:39):
Well, I I think it would be best for us to pray.
Really, I think that's of allthe things that I could think
of, how we could help peoplewith this, it really was to
pray.
Um, because we know God, Heknows what you're going through.
And we want to lift you up inprayer right now.
So we'll we'll pray for you now.

(15:00):
Uh Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus,we just um lift up uh all the
folks that are listening or maylisten later to this program on
depression.
Lord, we we just we know thatyou want us to be set free of

(15:21):
depression.
And we lift up everyone that'sstruggling with this, Father
God, and we just ask, Lord, youcome and meet them where they
are right now and you startgiving them just release right
now as they as they arelistening, and and and you just
start bringing healing andbreakthrough and and and just

(15:45):
help them get through this andrecover and and and give them a
future of hope, Father God, thatthey will be set free and they
will feel much better.
Yes.
And and and we just say by yourauthority, Jesus, that all
depression must go from ourlisteners.

(16:06):
That it must go and leave andnever return again, and they are
being healed.
And we thank you for it.
Wow, we just we believe manypeople you're gonna be set free
of depression.
And I know I am, I'm feelingbetter already.
I mean, we're all dealing withthese things, they're real, and

(16:28):
we're excited to hear somereports of of you that have been
set free in this area.
So this has been a good show.

SPEAKER_01 (16:37):
It's been a good show.

SPEAKER_00 (16:39):
Yeah.
Well, before we go, we alwayswant to just uh share our key
pillars of road to redemption.
Uh first, we just always wantyou to get in the word of God.
Read the Bible.
This will help big time withdepression, anxiety.
Is to open up, just open yourBible every morning.

(16:59):
Give yourself, set aside sometime, and read the word of God
every morning.
And don't have the Bible, theBible app.
It's on every phone.
And just start getting into theWord of God.
We we promise He'll startspeaking to your heart.
And then next, to get into aChrist-centered church and just
go.
You'll never find the perfectchurch.

(17:20):
Just go and and you will beblessed.
And then uh last is just to getinto a small group in your
church, a group that you can dolife with, make yourself
vulnerable, be accountable to.
And this group will help you alot too with with all these
things like dealing withdepression, anxiety.
Definitely.

(17:40):
The group will be atherapeutical way for you to
receive healing.

unknown (17:45):
Amen.

SPEAKER_01 (17:45):
Amen.

SPEAKER_00 (17:46):
So it's been a great show.

SPEAKER_01 (17:47):
It's been a good show.
And we are praying for you.
We hope you know that.
That we're gonna continue topray for our listeners.

SPEAKER_00 (17:55):
Amen.