Giving Voice to Depression

People with heart problems do not wait for a heart attack to address them. People with diabetes do not rely solely on an epipen to control their illness. And people with mental health challenges cannot wait until suicidal thoughts necessitate emergency actions. Self-care and depression-management involve tuning in with your changing thoughts/moods, establishing and using a safety plan and personalized tools that work for you. No illness is easier to treat when it's an emergency. https://qz.com/1381952/suicide-hotlines-really-do-save-lives-i-know-because-one-saved-mine/

This short, refreshingly-candid episode kicks stigma in the teeth, addresses the way depression takes normal life events and twists them into cause for despair, and how owning our full range of emotions frees us to better deal with the illness.

Short but important: In less than 16 minutes, you can sample interviews with a trauma surgeon, school psychologist, NFL Hall of Famer, a suicide-prevention expert and the Crisis Text Line. It's the perfect way to sample the Giving Voice to Depression podcast, and to then go back and listen to full episodes that interest you. Please listen and share.

Many people, for many reasons, prefer to text vs. call. The Crisis Text Line provides 24/7 support, referrals and connection to people in crisis. You do NOT have to be suicidal to call, though the trained staff can certainly handle those calls as well. Life can be very hard. It can help a lot (even be life-saving) to communicate with someone who is caring, non-judgmental and always available. You are not alone! https://www.crisistextline.org/ https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/national-suicide-prevention-lifeline-dr-john-draper

A Philadelphia trauma surgeon whose depression required hospitalization learns what it's like to be a patient. He shares his story in the hopes that others will learn from his frightening experience and believe him when he says recovery is possible, no matter how deeply depressed you are. Article link: https://medschool.ucsd.edu/som/hear/resources/Documents/Out_of_the_Straitjacket_NEJM_Perspective.pdf YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qBobGOF0fs&t=5s

"Physician heal thyself." But what happens when depression convinces you you're not worthy of healing? Physicians face unique circumstances during their education, training and careers known to lead to depression; sleep deprivation, the stresses of life-and-death decisions, routinely facing human suffering and more. In this episode, Dr. Michael Weinstein, a trauma surgeon, candidly discusses his depression, the "revolution" needed in medical training, and the long road of recovery. In part two, we'll hear more of his personal story.

In his 16 seasons in the NFL (13 with the Philadelphia Eagles and three with the Denver Broncos) Brian Dawkins earned the nickname "Weapon X" and a reputation as one of the league's hardest hitters. Yet when depression was his opponent, Dawkins nearly lost the fight. He retired recently to become a mental-health advocate and philanthropist. He joined GVTD co-host Terry for a candid discussion about how continues to tackle depression. https://www.briandawkins.com/ betterman.gotothehub.com

Research makes clear that young people often tell each other vs. an adult when they are struggling or even suicidal. In this episode we talk with a suicide-prevention specialist and Dr. Jennifer Krzewina, a school district mental-health coordinator who understand that kids need to be given the language and the permission to discuss mental health to keep themselves and their friends healthy and safe. Menasha Joint School District website: www.mjsd.k12.wi.us/

Teens need to know they are safe, even welcome, to share their innermost thoughts about suicide and suicidal thoughts. Yet, often unintentionally, parents and other adults shut down that communication. In Part Two of our 3-part conversation with suicide- prevention expert Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, we look at five more reasons teen avoid talking to parents about this potentially-fatal topic. Please share. #StrongerTogether Link to full list: http://www.speakingofsuicide.com/2013/05/29/parents-and-teens/

Teens are more likely to share suicidal thoughts with another teen than with a parent. Why? What are parents doing that shuts down that potentially-lifesaving communication? In part one of a series of conversations with Dr. Stacey Freedenthal, author of Helping the Suidical Person, we look at the first 5 of 10 reasons teens give for shutting-out their parents. https://www.speakingofsuicide.com/2013/05/29/parents-and-teens/ https://www.speakingofsuicide.com/about-stacey-freedenthal/stacey-freedenthal-phd-lcsw/

Ten podcast episodes condensed and highlighted in 16 minutes. If you've ever wondered what this podcast is like, how hearing shared stories can make us feel less alone, and what we can learn from each other, this is a great opportunity.

Nearly half of the people diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with anxiety disorder. This week's guest Jordan, talks about his anxiety and his struggle to be properly diagnosed. He also shares about his post-surgical depression, which is more common than many realize. It's an episode filled with great perspective, advice, and even some laughs.

Today we launch a new *bonus* feature, looking into some self-care techniques that might be good additions to your self-care tool kits. Guest Brad Yates describes Tapping, or EFT as "a remarkable healing modality based on the same principles that have been used for thousands of years in acupuncture—but without the needles." Again, we're not health-care professionals. We're sharing some things podcast listener's have told us, or that we've encountered on our own, as possible aids for our depression-management tool kits. https://tapwithbrad.mykajabi.com/ https://www.youtube.com/user/eftwizard

Tara, who says she's never hidden her depression, but has never been able to clearly explain the "otherness" of living with the illness, sits down with Giving Voice to Depression to share about shower-crying, infomercials and the need for connection and non-judgement while "in it." Please listen and share.

In last week's episode, "When Art Imitates Depressed Life," artist Jeff Beier talked about a series of paintings he created to make an invisible illness visible in a graphic and powerful way. (https://soundcloud.com/givingvoicetodepression/91-when-art-imitates-depressed-life) In his second episode he shares the story behind the paintings, and some of the less-healthy/creative ways he dealt with his mental-health challenges in the past, and the better methods he now knows and uses. http://jeffbeier.com