Giving Voice to Depression: Real Stories & Expert Support for Depression and Mental Health

What do you do when depression makes even getting out of bed feel impossible?
Davey knows that battle firsthand.
After years of pushing through exhaustion and believing something was physically wrong, he was eventually diagnosed with major depressive disorder. What followed wasn't a quick recovery—it was a daily commitment to learning everything he could about depression and building a toolbox of coping strategies.
In this deeply practical conversation, Davey shares the lessons that have helped him survive some of his darkest days.
You'll hear about:
 Why getting out of bed can be a victory 
 The idea of "tools for a time"—small coping strategies that help in difficult moments 
 Why accomplishing one small task can build momentum 
 Learning your depression's triggers instead of fearing them 
 Why depression convinces us we're broken 
 The importance of accepting depression as a legitimate illness 
 Why well-meaning advice often isn't helpful during severe depression 
 Building a personalized toolbox instead of searching for one perfect solution 
Davey's unforgettable metaphors—from restoring old chainsaws to comparing unwanted advice to chicken soup during the stomach flu—offer powerful ways to understand what living with depression actually feels like.
His message is hopeful without minimizing the struggle:
Depression may be a difficult enemy, but it can be managed one day, one tool, and one small victory at a time.
Primary Topics Covered:
Coping with depression
 Major depressive disorder 
 Anxiety and depression 
 Depression recovery tools 
 Building a mental health toolbox 
 Depression self-care strategies 
 Small wins and behavioral activation 
 Understanding depression triggers 
 Supporting someone with depression 
 Hope while living with depression
Timestamps:
00:01:12 – Davey's update and why this story still matters
00:03:07 – Losing your identity after depression
00:03:44 – Recognizing the symptoms of major depression
00:04:33 – Fighting depression one day at a time
00:05:15 – Why small accomplishments build momentum
00:06:13 – "Tools for a time": building a coping toolbox
00:07:16 – The chainsaw metaphor for understanding depression
00:08:45 – Why lived experience matters
00:09:21 – The "chicken soup" analogy: when advice isn't helpful
00:11:17 – Learning depression's lies
00:12:07 – "Fixing something that's broken with something that's broken"
00:13:14 – Accepting depression as a legitimate illness
00:14:05 – Anxiety triggers and managing depressive episodes
00:15:43 – Finding purpose while living with depression
00:16:19 – Why depression is a winnable battle
00:18:02 – Listening instead of saying, "You just need to..."
Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

Why do so many people wait years before asking for help with depression?
For award-winning television journalist Ted Perry, the answer was simple: stigma.
In this candid conversation, Ted shares why he kept his depression hidden for years, how grief after his father's death intensified his symptoms, and why finally accepting therapy and antidepressant medication changed his life.
He also reflects on the relationships depression affected, the shame that kept him silent, and the hope that ultimately carried him through.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
 Why depression often hides behind humor and success 
 How stigma keeps people from seeking treatment 
 Why asking for therapy felt harder than asking for help with a physical illness 
 What antidepressants actually do—and what they don't 
 Building a personal depression recovery toolbox 
 The importance of exercise, meditation, faith, and meaningful routines 
 Why depression convinces people they're a burden 
 The role hope plays in recovery 
Ted reminds listeners that depression isn't a character flaw. It's an illness that deserves treatment, compassion, and conversation.
His message is simple:
There is another side to depression.
And there is hope.
Primary Topics Covered:
 Depression stigma 
 Men's mental health 
 Therapy for depression 
 Antidepressant medication 
 Grief and depression 
 Hope after depression 
 Exercise and mental health 
 Protective factors in recovery 
 Depression and relationships 
 Asking for help
Timestamps:
00:01:58 – Why Ted decided to speak publicly about depression
00:04:23 – Early signs of depression in college
00:05:13 – Overcoming the stigma of seeing a therapist
00:06:32 – Why asking for help is a sign of strength
00:07:11 – Depression after the death of his father
00:08:32 – Finally admitting, "I'm depressed"
00:08:53 – How antidepressants actually work
00:09:34 – Building a recovery toolbox with therapy, exercise, faith, and meditation
00:10:42 – Why hope is essential in depression recovery
00:12:33 – Hiding depression because of shame
00:12:55 – How depression affected romantic relationships
00:14:14 – Why depression is not a character flaw
Link to Mentioned News Story:
Link to Ted Perry's feature on the "Giving Voice to Depression" podcast on Fox 6 News: https://www.fox6now.com/news/former-tv-news-anchor-helps-those-suffering-depression-with-podcast-i-can-give-voice

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

How do you help someone with depression when they believe they're a burden?
Pam knows that feeling all too well.
After years of suppressing depression, childhood trauma, and overwhelming life stress, she experienced a severe depressive episode that lasted more than three years. During that time, she was hospitalized four times, survived a suicide attempt, and struggled to believe she would ever experience joy again.
Today, Pam shares not only how she recovered, but what family members, friends, and caregivers can do to support someone living with depression—and what often causes even more pain.
In this episode, you'll learn:
 Why depression is far more than sadness 
 The symptoms that signaled Pam needed help 
 Why finding the right therapist sometimes takes more than one attempt 
 What psychiatric hospitalization was actually like—and why it wasn't frightening 
 Why "Snap out of it" is one of the least helpful things someone can say 
 Small acts of kindness that helped Pam feel seen and valued 
 How physical touch and loving presence can bring comfort during depression 
 Why depression convinced her she was a burden—and how loved ones challenged that lie 
Pam also shares a powerful perspective: despite now living with a painful chronic nerve condition, she says she would choose physical pain over depression every time because depression stole her ability to experience joy.
This conversation is filled with practical guidance for anyone supporting a loved one through depression—and hope for anyone wondering if recovery is possible.
Primary Topics Covered:
Severe depression
 Depression symptoms 
 Suicide attempt recovery 
 Psychiatric hospitalization 
 Finding the right therapist 
 Childhood trauma and depression 
 Supporting someone with depression 
 What not to say to someone with depression 
 The healing power of connection and touch 
 Hope after depression
Timestamps
00:01:21 – Pam's experience with severe depression, hospitalization, and a suicide attempt
00:02:16 – Why depression is much more than sadness
00:03:03 – Life events that triggered a years-long depressive episode
00:03:36 – Finding the right therapist after several attempts
00:04:12 – Symptoms of severe depression
00:04:48 – Living with constant suicidal thoughts
00:05:07 – Why depression was worse than chronic physical pain
00:06:42 – Psychiatric hospitalization and overcoming fear of getting help
00:08:30 – What not to say to someone with depression
00:09:59 – Small acts of kindness that truly help
00:10:38 – Why flowers mattered so much
00:11:03 – "You're loving me through this"
00:11:55 – The healing power of hugs and safe physical touch
00:14:52 – Finding the right therapist and why fit matters
00:16:11 – Free consultation calls and making therapy accessible
Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

What if there were a free, portable tool you could use almost anywhere to help reduce stress and emotional overwhelm?
In this episode, Terry and Bridget explore Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) — commonly known as tapping — with EFT expert Brad Yates.
Tapping combines gentle stimulation of acupressure points with focused attention on thoughts and emotions. Supporters of the technique describe it as a way to calm the body's stress response while creating space for emotional healing.
Brad explains:
 What EFT tapping is 
 How tapping may help reduce stress and anxiety 
 Why acknowledging difficult emotions is important 
 How stress can become intertwined with depression 
 Why small improvements matter 
 How tapping can create hope when you feel stuck 
Listeners are guided through a complete tapping session focused on depression, self-compassion, gratitude, and emotional relief.
Whether you're curious about EFT, looking for new depression coping tools, or simply interested in practical mental health techniques, this episode offers a guided introduction you can follow along with in real time.
As Brad reminds listeners:
Even moving from a "9" to an "8.75" is evidence that change is possible.
Primary Topics Covered:
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) 
 Tapping for depression 
 Tapping for anxiety 
 Stress reduction techniques 
 Self-help tools for depression 
 Gratitude practices 
 Emotional regulation 
 Self-compassion 
 Managing overwhelming emotions 
 Hope and resilience
Timestamps:
00:01:28 – Introduction to EFT tapping and why listeners requested coping tools
00:02:14 – What EFT is and how it combines emotional and physical stress relief
00:04:06 – Research on stress reduction and cortisol
00:04:30 – Why EFT is free, portable, and accessible
00:05:13 – Small improvements create hope
00:05:59 – Step-by-step explanation of tapping points
00:06:44 – Why EFT starts by acknowledging difficult feelings
00:09:13 – Stress, depression, and unresolved emotional experiences
00:10:20 – Guided EFT session for depression begins
00:13:43 – Opening to the possibility of feeling better
00:14:05 – Gratitude as part of emotional healing
00:15:13 – Choosing happiness in the present moment
00:16:04 – Worthiness, self-love, and releasing old beliefs
00:17:14 – Evaluating emotional shifts after tapping
00:17:48 – Why EFT can be useful when depression makes everything feel difficult
Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

How do you explain depression to a child?
For Todd Rennebohm, that question became deeply personal.
After years of living with depression, anxiety, ADHD, alcoholism, suicidal thoughts, and multiple hospitalizations, Todd found himself facing one of the darkest nights of his life. What began as a desperate attempt to leave something behind for his children eventually became Sometimes Daddy Cries, a children's book designed to help families talk openly about mental health.
In this Father's Day special episode, Todd shares the powerful story behind the book and the lessons he learned as a father navigating depression and recovery.
Together, Todd, Terry, and Dr. Anita Sanz discuss:
 What depression really feels like beyond "sadness" 
 Why children need honest, age-appropriate conversations about mental health 
 How depression can affect parenting and family dynamics 
 The connection between depression, addiction, ADHD, and anxiety 
 Why hospitalization can be an important part of recovery 
 The unique stigma faced by men with depression 
 How parents can help children understand mental illness without fear 
 Why hope, treatment, and support matter 
This conversation is a reminder that depression is an illness, not a character flaw. And just like a physical illness, it deserves understanding, treatment, and compassion.
For fathers who struggle. For families who love them. And for children trying to understand what they're seeing, this episode offers honesty, hope, and language that helps.
Primary Topics Covered:
Depression in fathers
Men's mental health
Parenting with depression
Explaining depression to children
Children's mental health education
Addiction and recovery
Suicidal thoughts and hospitalization
ADHD and depression
Mental health stigma in men
Hope after depression
Timestamps:
00:01:50 – Meet Todd and the story behind Sometimes Daddy Cries
00:02:38 – Writing the book during a suicidal crisis
00:04:03 – Asking for help and choosing treatment
00:04:39 – Reading from the book: "Sometimes Daddy cries"
00:05:11 – What depression really feels like beyond sadness
00:07:10 – Why Todd compares depression to a tummy ache
00:08:24 – Explaining mental illness to children
00:09:39 – Hospitalization and recovery
00:11:22 – Learning from mistakes as a parent
00:12:05 – Why the book helps fathers feel less alone
00:12:31 – The message Todd hopes children take away
00:13:01 – The message Todd hopes men take away
00:14:37 – Why children shouldn't blame themselves for a parent's depression
00:15:38 – Why treatment, support, and love create hope
00:16:08 – The hidden epidemic of depression in men
00:17:02 – The danger of not talking about mental illness in families
Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/