The holidays are often portrayed as a time of joy, connection, and celebration—but for many living with depression or grief, this season can feel unbearably heavy.

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, host Terry McGuire and psychologist Dr. Anita Sanz speak with grief expert Krista St-Germain about how to navigate the emotional complexities of the holiday season when you’re struggling with loss, sadness, or mental exhaustion.

Krista explains the difference between grief and depression, why both can coexist, and how social expectations and “holiday perfectionism” can make it harder for us to honor what we’re truly feeling. She shares compassionate, practical strategies for setting boundaries, communicating your needs, and letting go of the guilt that often comes with saying “no.”

You’ll also learn Krista’s “N-O-W Method”—a simple three-step process for sitting with emotions instead of resisting them:

• Name what you’re feeling
• Open to it
• Witness the physical sensations until they pass

The conversation closes with a powerful reminder: If someone’s going to be disappointed this holiday season, make sure it’s not you.

Primary Topics Covered:

• How grief and depression overlap but differ in focus
• Why holidays amplify emotional pain and loneliness
• How social “shoulds” worsen depression during celebrations
• The importance of rewriting family rituals after loss
• How to communicate your needs to others
• Setting healthy boundaries without guilt
• How to stop “pre-feeling” bad emotions before events
• Using the N-O-W method to process feelings mindfully
• What to do when loved ones can’t understand your grief
• How to honor your emotions instead of performing for others

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and welcome
01:45 – Grief vs. depression: how they overlap and differ
04:25 – Understanding grief as a response to all kinds of loss
07:00 – How accomplishments can unexpectedly trigger grief
08:10 – The pressure of “holiday happiness” and unrealistic expectations
09:28 – Giving yourself permission to change traditions
10:21 – Communicating your needs to family and friends
11:13 – Handling pushback and advocating for yourself
12:17 – Respecting different ways of grieving within families
13:06 – Avoiding “should” thinking during the holidays
13:28 – How anticipating bad feelings makes things worse
14:34 – Learning to feel your feelings with the N-O-W method
17:48 – When loved ones expect you to act happy
18:04 – Boundaries: “Someone’s going to be disappointed—don’t let it be you”
19:37 – Why feeling guilty often means you’re doing the right thing
20:12 – Grieving lost dreams and unmet expectations
21:08 – The value of mindfulness and emotional witnessing
22:49 – Giving others permission to be disappointed
23:25 – Reframing conflict and emotional honesty
25:32 – Challenging the expectation to “perform” happiness
26:10 – The lack of grief education in our culture
26:40 – Depression and grief: two misunderstood emotional experiences
27:01 – Using EFT (tapping) to manage difficult feelings
27:18 – Closing reflections and hope for the holidays

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Michelle is a mom living with depression, anxiety, and ADHD — and raising children diagnosed with OCD, ADHD, and DMDD. In this candid and compassionate episode, she describes how she juggles emotional overwhelm, fights toxic productivity, and clings to small moments of self-care. You’ll hear real strategies from her therapy sessions, how she recognizes early signs of a crash, and why talking to yourself with kindness matters. If you’ve ever wondered how to keep parenting through your own darkness, Michelle’s story will speak to you.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Parenting with depression, anxiety, and ADHD
• Raising kids with OCD, ADHD, and DMDD
• Feeling physically and emotionally weighed down by depression
• Therapist advice that actually helps
• Learning to speak to yourself with compassion
• Setting boundaries and making space for your own needs
• Managing toxic productivity and self-worth
• The power of naming what your soul needs
• Creating emotional check-in routines with your partner
• The importance of showing kids real coping strategies

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro
01:12 Parenting with Depression and Mental Illness in the Family
02:12 Michelle’s Mental Health Journey Begins
03:10 Physical and Emotional Experience of Depression
04:14 Caring for Young Kids When You Feel Weighted Down
05:40 Therapist Tips for Self-Care Amidst Chaos
07:03 Learning to Speak Kindly to Yourself
07:59 How Michelle Manages Intrusive Thoughts
08:52 Daily Emotional Dump Strategy with Spouse
09:41 Empathy as a Parenting Tool (and Challenge)
10:22 Balancing Self-Care and Motherhood
12:32 Early Warning Signs of a Depressive Episode
14:03 Preparing During the “Good” Days
15:35 ADHD and Depression: Coexisting Conditions
16:59 Medication Helps — But It’s Not a Cure
17:24 Micro-Actions to Shift Out of a Depressive Fog
18:50 What’s Missing? Soul-Check Questions
21:27 DMDD Explained (Childhood Mood Disorder)
24:10 Toxic Productivity and Survival Mode
25:41 “Pain is Pain” – Validating Emotional Struggles
26:00 Closing: You're Not Alone

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In this deeply moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Cara from Belfast, Northern Ireland, opens up about her journey through years of darkness — from living with untreated depression as a teen to finally finding validation, healing, and light through therapy.

Cara describes depression not as constant sadness but as a suffocating grayness — a loss of color, motivation, and meaning. After multiple suicide attempts and years of feeling numb, she reached a breaking point in 2021 and took one small but life-saving step: emailing a local counselor.

Therapy helped Cara recognize the impact of her childhood trauma and validate her pain for the first time. While progress wasn’t linear, she learned to celebrate small wins — sitting up in bed, taking a shower, or savoring a coffee — and to document her “happy days” as proof that joy returns.

Co-hosts Terry McGuire and Dr. Anita Sanz unpack Cara’s insights about resilience, the importance of reframing thoughts, and the courage it takes to hold on when life feels unbearable.

This episode is for anyone who feels like depression will never end — and a reminder that even the smallest flicker of light can guide you through the darkest night.

Primary Topics Covered:

• The emotional reality of depression: numbness, sadness, and emptiness
• Recognizing depression as a legitimate illness, not a weakness
• The role of therapy in naming and healing trauma
• How validation can transform self-perception
• Reaching out for help during a suicidal crisis
• The non-linear path of depression recovery
• Finding gratitude and meaning after trauma
• The power of peer support and shared understanding
• Journaling and photography as tools for emotional resilience
• Building hope through small daily acts and self-compassion

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Why real stories of depression matter
01:25 – Meet Cara: Finding euphoria after surviving darkness
02:36 – Describing depression as grayness, emptiness, and numbness
04:30 – Understanding depression as an illness, not a character flaw
05:06 – Early signs of depression during teenage years
06:31 – The turning point: Recognizing trauma and seeking therapy
07:18 – The healing mess: unpacking pain in therapy
09:04 – Validating trauma and learning self-compassion
09:37 – The night Cara reached out for help
11:52 – Taking the first small step: emailing a therapist
12:26 – How therapy revealed the ups and downs of recovery
13:32 – Flashes of light: noticing small moments of peace
14:21 – Finding happiness in small things — a hug, coffee, or sunshine
15:14 – Journaling and documenting “happy days” as proof of hope
16:17 – Holding on one day at a time
18:19 – Insights on depression, patience, and perspective
20:31 – How reframing thoughts helps shift hopelessness
22:06 – Final reflections: You deserve to live and to be happy

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After years of living with depression — through countless ups, downs, and failed treatment attempts — Caryn finally found light again. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, she opens up for the first time about what it’s like to live with treatment-resistant depression, the exhaustion of constantly “trying,” and the unexpected relief that came when she finally found the right therapist and medication.

Caryn describes how depression shows up not just mentally, but physically — the aching body, the heavy fatigue, the simple impossibility of getting off the couch or into the shower. She explains how she learned to live minute by minute when the pain became unbearable, and how giving herself permission to rest became an act of survival.

With honesty and strength, Caryn shares what helped her finally stabilize: a supportive therapist, compassionate friends, medication that worked, and the belief that she was worth the effort it took to heal.

Co-hosts Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow reflect on Caryn’s story, exploring how depression can become habitual, why it’s so hard to break free from its patterns, and why persistence — even when you’re exhausted — can save your life.

If you’ve ever felt hopeless after trying therapy or medication that didn’t work, Caryn’s story is proof that there’s still reason to keep going.

Primary Topics Covered:

• What treatment-resistant depression really feels like
• How to find the right therapist after years of trying
• Physical symptoms of depression and why they’re real
• Learning to ask for help without shame or guilt
• The power of supportive friends and “letting yourself cry”
• When to rest and when to push forward during depressive episodes
• Why depression can feel like a habit — and how to retrain your brain
• How seasonal changes can trigger depression
• Why finding hope doesn’t mean pretending you’re okay
• The importance of giving yourself grace and patience

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: The importance of real conversations about depression
01:15 – Meet Caryn: a listener sharing her story for the first time
02:17 – Caryn’s turning point: finally finding the right therapist
03:27 – The physical toll of depression and exhaustion
05:10 – Living minute by minute when suicidal thoughts creep in
06:24 – Why finding a therapist who truly listens changes everything
07:01 – The physical exhaustion of depression: “Even walking hurts”
08:45 – The “damn shower”: small tasks that feel impossible
09:01 – Accepting that you’ll never be the same — and that’s okay
10:35 – The storm quote that helped Caryn redefine recovery
11:05 – Retraining your brain after years of living in depression
11:49 – Preparing for depressive episodes before they hit
12:07 – How supportive friends helped Caryn through crisis moments
13:34 – The freedom of knowing when to reach out for help
14:10 – A breakthrough with new treatment after years of resistance
14:50 – Medication that worked: “It was the best I’ve felt in years”
15:59 – Learning self-compassion and patience through recovery
17:33 – Why rest and self-acceptance are not weakness
17:52 – Celebrating progress and small victories
19:01 – Caryn’s message: “There’s always some form of light”
20:18 – Reflection: habits of depression vs. habits of recovery
22:37 – The seasonal triggers of depression and self-awaren

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This episode of Giving Voice to Depression features licensed therapist Carolina Bracco and a candid conversation about the profound, long-term effects of growing up with emotionally immature or overly critical parents.

Co-hosts Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow explore this often-overlooked area of childhood experience, highlighting how these parental patterns can contribute to depression and shape an adult's life, relationships, and even their own parenting style.

Carolina, a childhood trauma survivor herself, shares her personal journey of being scapegoated and constantly criticized, which led to deep-seated toxic shame and a powerful inner critic. She explains that as children, it's a survival mechanism to turn anger and blame inward rather than directing it toward the primary caregivers, resulting in core beliefs like "I'm not enough" and "I'm worthless"—the exact phrases often heard during a depressive episode.

The discussion defines highly critical parenting as a consistent pattern of never meeting expectations and explores how this, along with the role reversal seen with emotionally immature parents, counts as childhood trauma—an emotional wound and neglect that can be as impactful as physical abuse.

More importantly, the episode focuses on healing. Carolina introduces the concept of reparenting our inner child as a continuous process of self-compassion, connection, and attunement. This involves acknowledging the feelings of the "wounded inner child" and providing the comfort and safety that was lacking.

Carly concludes by offering non-blaming context, emphasizing that parents are often doing the best they can, but that sometimes "best isn't good enough." She shares empowering strategies from Dr. Lindsay Gibson's work, including accepting that you cannot "fix" your parents and affirming your own importance and inherent worth ("I have good stuff inside me").

This episode provides listeners with essential language, context, and practical steps to understand and begin healing from the emotional legacy of their upbringing.

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Depression in older adults is one of the most under-discussed — and most misunderstood — mental health challenges today. In this moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression, 93-year-old Mary shares what it’s like to experience depression in later life — when most of her peers have passed away, her body feels unfamiliar, and her generation still believes that “you just don’t talk about those things.”

Mary’s story challenges stereotypes about aging and mental health. She speaks candidly about loneliness, self-stigma, and the quiet grief of losing friends and independence. Her reflections reveal the emotional costs of silence — and how simply being present for an aging loved one can make all the difference.

Hosts Terry McGuire and Bridget also discuss shocking statistics:

• Over 6 million Americans over 65 experience late-life depression.
• Only about 10% seek treatment.
• The suicide rate among those aged 80–84 is more than twice that of the general population.

This episode sheds light on what older adults truly need — connection, empathy, and understanding — and offers ideas for family members, caregivers, and communities to better support them.

Primary Topics Covered

• How depression manifests differently in older adults
• The stigma around mental health in older generations
• Loneliness, loss, and isolation in senior living
• How grief and physical decline contribute to depression
• Self-stigma and shame: “I should be coping better at my age”
• Why many seniors refuse therapy or medication for depression
• How families can offer support without overstepping boundaries
• Suicide risk and prevention for older adults
• The healing power of presence and consistent connection
• How to have mental health conversations with aging loved ones

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction: Why late-life depression matters
01:12 – Discussing the stigma around mental health in seniors
02:00 – Introducing Mary, a 93-year-old sharing her story
03:05 – Mary describes feeling depression for the first time at her age
04:20 – Growing up in a generation that discouraged emotional expression
05:06 – Why Mary feels disappointed in herself for feeling depressed
06:00 – How stigma prevents older adults from seeking help
07:05 – Loneliness and the loss of lifelong friends
08:15 – Why seniors avoid discussing mental health openly
09:12 – What older adults really need: connection and presence
10:10 – How families can show up in meaningful ways
11:00 – The importance of daily check-ins and emotional presence
11:40 – Health habits that support mood in older age
12:19 – Closing reflections: small acts of care that keep hope alive

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When someone you love is struggling with depression, anxiety, or addiction, knowing how to help can be agonizing — especially when every attempt seems to fail. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, licensed psychotherapist and professional interventionist Evan Jarschauer explains what real mental health interventions look like — far from the dramatic TV versions that oversimplify the process.

Evan has spent over 20 years helping families and individuals break the cycle of resistance, crisis, and collapse that often surrounds untreated mental illness. Drawing on his own experiences with depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use, he offers practical advice for approaching loved ones with empathy, boundaries, and a long-term recovery plan.

This powerful conversation dives into the emotional toll of caregiving, the difference between helping and enabling, and how to take care of yourself while supporting someone who is suffering. As Evan reminds us, “You can’t yell the depression out of someone — but you can love them into healing.”

Primary Topics Covered:

• What real mental health interventions look like (vs. reality TV depictions)
• Why people resist help — and how to break through denial and fear
• Balancing love, accountability, and boundaries in family relationships
• Understanding when support turns into enabling
• The importance of third-party professionals in crisis intervention
• Why caregivers also need their own support system
• How trauma, depression, and addiction often overlap
• The “oxygen mask principle” of self-care for supporters
• How to communicate empathy without pity or control
• Why change begins with compassion — not confrontation

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and overview of Giving Voice to Depression
01:17 – TV portrayals vs. real-life interventions: what’s missing
02:25 – Evan’s story: from personal trauma to professional healing
03:20 – Depression, self-medication, and the cycle of avoidance
04:31 – How families feel “stuck” between love and fear
06:35 – Compassion vs. confrontation: what intervention really means
07:44 – When it’s time to bring in professional help
08:56 – How an intervention plan is created (step by step)
10:21 – Why loved ones often reject help at first — and what to do next
11:16 – The “most powerful therapeutic weapon”: love and dignity
12:22 – Setting healthy boundaries to stop enabling destructive cycles
13:09 – The importance of post-intervention follow-up and care coordination
14:29 – Understanding depression as a real illness, not weakness
15:20 – Why caregivers must seek therapy and support, too
16:14 – Self-care as survival: you can’t pour from an empty vessel
17:13 – Why empathy, not pity, leads to healing
18:57 – The “Petri dish” metaphor: how families can stop feeding the illness
20:23 – Leading with high love and high accountability
22:26 – Closing reflections: how love — not control — opens the door to change

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When depression makes it hard to get out of bed, eat, or even believe things will ever get better, a loving pet can be a lifeline. In this moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Lori shares how her dogs helped her survive and heal after divorce and severe depression.

Lori describes days spent “swimming through mud,” unable to function—until her dogs gave her a reason to get up, go outside, and reconnect with the world. Through their loyalty, routine, and affection, she found purpose and emotional grounding when her mental health was at its lowest.

Hosts Terry McGuire, Bridget, and Carly McCollow discuss how pets—dogs, cats, or other animals—can support depression recovery by encouraging exercise, structure, connection, and even laughter. The episode also explores how caring for another living being can restore a sense of normalcy, purpose, and calm when life feels chaotic.

You’ll also learn simple ways to bring the healing power of animals into your life, whether by adopting, fostering, or even dog walking for a friend.

Primary Topics Covered:

• How animals provide emotional support during depression
• The role of pets in building routine, structure, and accountability
• Why unconditional love from animals can reduce isolation and loneliness
• The connection between physical movement (dog walks) and improved mood
• How therapy animals and rescue pets can support mental health
• Real stories of how pets “save lives” through small, consistent acts of care
• Ways to experience the benefits of animals even if you can’t own one (volunteering, pet sitting, fostering)
• The importance of small daily check-ins and accountability with loved ones

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: How depression isolates us and how connection helps
01:12 – Meet Lori and her story of living with depression and loss
03:20 – Family history of depression and stigma around mental illness
04:38 – Divorce, despair, and “swimming through mud”
05:16 – How her dogs kept her alive and gave her purpose
06:03 – Emotional healing through loyalty and companionship
07:00 – Exercise and connection: walking dogs as therapy
07:55 – How pet routines bring structure and calm to chaotic times
08:44 – Crying, walking, and slowly finding light again
09:43 – Distraction and small steps toward recovery
10:33 – The power of human accountability: texting a friend daily
11:56 – Medications, therapy, and the regret of waiting too long
12:20 – How pets bring calm, peace, and a sense of normalcy
13:50 – Staying connected: daily check-ins that save lives
15:19 – Humor and warmth: the comfort of shared moments
16:05 – How to experience animal connection even without ownership
17:01 – Closing reflections and links to resources

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