Ep. 361 When Pregnancy and Depression Collide (remix)
"You’re supposed to be happy." That’s what Isabelle kept hearing when she was pregnant. Married, financially stable, expecting a deeply wanted baby — her life looked “perfect” from the outside. But inside, she was fighting an overwhelming darkness that few people talk about: antepartum depression, or depression during pregnancy.In this honest and powerful conversation, Isabelle joins Terry and Bridget to share what it felt like to struggle mentally during what’s often painted as the most joyful time in a person’s life. From navigating stigma to managing daily symptoms and finding tools that help her cope years later, Isabelle gives voice to an often-silenced part of the maternal mental health journey.Whether you've experienced depression yourself, love someone who has, or want to better understand the emotional complexities of pregnancy, this episode offers insight, compassion, and a reminder that you are not alone.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/
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NEW Ep. 360- Carrying What We Can’t Name: How Unspoken Pain Becomes a Lifelong Burden
Trina Kennedy joins Giving Voice to Depression to share her experience growing up in a household where emotional needs were often dismissed or misunderstood. She reflects on how unacknowledged pain shaped her early struggles with anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts—and how therapy, connection, and time allowed her to begin unpacking the emotional weight she carried. Through the lens of trauma, Trina explores what it means to complete the “distress loop,” and why being seen, heard, and supported can change the course of a life. Hosts Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow offer reflections on parenting, emotional honesty, and the importance of building support systems that make healing possible. This conversation sheds light on the space between trauma and recovery—and the many steps it can take to move through it.https://trinaleekennedy.ca/https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/
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Ep. 359 Who Are You Getting Better For? A Journey from Surviving to Self-Worth (remix)
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.”https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/
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NEW Ep. 358 Rebranding MENtal Health
In this episode, Giving Voice explores how mental health conversations—especially those aimed at men—need a major rebrand in order to be more effective and approachable. Their guest is Ethan Getchell, a former business student whose career path took a sharp turn after the loss of his brother to suicide. That moment of grief reshaped Ethan’s values and inspired him to pursue a career in mental health counseling, with a focus on reaching men who might otherwise avoid therapy.Ethan shares how cultural ideals like rugged individualism and emotional suppression have created a barrier between many men and the support they need. He discusses how the isolation of the pandemic further revealed the prevalence of covert depression—mental health struggles that often go unnoticed until distraction is stripped away. To help men engage, Ethan emphasizes the importance of rebranding therapy using language and tools that resonate. That includes practical strategies like starting with behavioral changes rather than emotional deep-dives, using habit-tracking apps, and drawing on simple, memorable check-ins like the four elements: earth (food), water (hydration), fire (movement), and air (breathing).The episode highlights the importance of meeting men where they are—whether that’s through humor, shared activities, or just listening without judgment. It also underscores how the way we frame mental health matters. Whether it’s through the creative campaigns of ManTherapy.com or Ethan’s own “Hey Man” newsletter, the message is clear: therapy isn’t about being broken, it’s about being human. Carly and Terry close the conversation with reflections on how everyday moments—like asking if someone has eaten or needs a hug—can become meaningful acts of care and connection.Ethan's Hey Man newsletter: https://ethangetchell.substack.com/Man Therapy: https://mantherapy.org/https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/
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Ep. 357 The Power of Yet: Reclaiming Hope (repost)
After nearly a decade of feeling “stuck halfway out of depression’s pit,” Lori bravely took a step she never thought would help: she tried one more treatment option. In this powerful follow-up conversation, Lori shares the subtle yet transformative shifts that began to open her mind, soften her shame, and let in small but meaningful glimmers of hope.Through heartfelt metaphors—like the difference between carrying life in a heavy backpack versus letting it flow through you like a screen door—Lori beautifully articulates the lived experience of persistent depression. Her journey reveals the impact of connection, the danger of contingent self-worth, and the power of believing you’re not broken—you’re just stuck.Whether you're in a dark place yourself or walking alongside someone who is, Lori’s story offers a gentle reminder: even the smallest shift in direction can lead to an entirely new destination.https://recovery.com/https://givingvoicetodepression.com/Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VoiceDepressionTerry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/
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