In this episode of the Giving Voice to Depression podcast, hosts Terry and Carly speak with guest David Shamszad about his journey with a dual diagnosis—living with both Bipolar Disorder and a substance use disorder.

David shares his personal story of how he used alcohol to self-medicate and cope with the extreme highs of mania and the devastating lows of depression before he was formally diagnosed. He describes how his manic episodes, though they felt fun and energized at the time, led to serious consequences, and his depressive episodes left him feeling paralyzed and hopeless.

The turning point for David came after a frightening, "scared-straight" incident while intoxicated. He realized that his drinking was not just a coping mechanism, but was putting his own life and others' in danger. This moment of clarity prompted him to get sober, a decision he describes as removing "handcuffs" that had prevented him from truly addressing his mental health.

The conversation highlights the stigma surrounding mental health, especially for men, and the importance of finding a safe space to be vulnerable. David emphasizes that recovery is not an overnight process but an accumulation of "steady drops of the right message"—from therapy, books, and supportive conversations. Carly and Terry further discuss this idea, comparing it to watering a dry plant, where small, consistent efforts are more effective than a sudden, overwhelming pour.

Ultimately, the episode serves as a powerful testament to the possibility of recovery, even from deeply ingrained dual diagnoses, and encourages listeners to seek support, embrace vulnerability, and understand that healing is a gradual, ongoing journey.

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

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. Barbara Moser, a trained teacher in mindful self-compassion, shares three simple yet powerful practices you can use anytime to cope with stress, anxiety, and depression. These tools are free, backed by credible research, and require no appointment, transportation, or side effects.

From mindful breathing to the STOP method and a self-compassion break, these practices are designed to help you calm your nervous system, manage transitions, and respond to difficult moments with greater resilience. Whether you’re struggling with daily overwhelm or seeking preventive strategies, this episode offers practical techniques that can become part of your mental health toolkit.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Introduction to no-cost, research-backed mental health tools
• Guided three-minute mindful breathing exercise
• STOP practice for managing daily transitions and stress
• Self-compassion break: mindfulness, common humanity, and self-kindness
• How mindfulness and self-compassion work together for healing

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and mission of Giving Voice to Depression
01:20 – Framing the episode: free, accessible mental health tools
02:06 – Dr. Barbara Moser introduces mindfulness practices
02:42 – Three-minute mindful breathing and calming exercise
09:21 – How breathwork engages the parasympathetic nervous system
10:14 – STOP practice: pause, breathe, observe, and proceed
14:22 – Using STOP for daily transitions and relationships
14:32 – Guided self-compassion break with three core elements
18:40 – Recognizing common humanity in moments of struggle
20:03 – Practicing self-kindness and supportive self-talk
22:32 – Closing reflections and invitation to community support

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

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Kevin Lepine shares his deeply personal journey of growing up misunderstood, bullied, and isolated — experiences that fueled his depression long before he had words to describe it. He opens up about the pain of being unseen, living with undiagnosed ADD, and the crushing loneliness that often comes with both bullying and depression.

Kevin also discusses the turning points that helped him: friends who refused to let him disappear, learning the language to describe his struggles, and finding mental health support that gave him tools to heal. He offers raw but practical advice about managing depression, breaking free from isolation, and building a supportive community.

This conversation sheds light on the destructive overlap of bullying and depression while reminding us that connection, compassion, and even small shifts — like going for a walk — can make a life-saving difference.

If you’ve ever struggled to explain depression to someone else, or if you’re supporting a loved one who feels stuck in darkness, Kevin’s story provides both validation and hope.

Primary Topics Covered:

• How bullying and undiagnosed ADD fueled Kevin’s depression
• The impact of isolation on mental health and empathy
• Finding hope through community, friendship, and support
• Practical tools for interrupting depression’s cycles
• Why disclosure and openness can reduce stigma and isolation
• The power of small shifts, like walks and connection, in healing

Timestamps:

00:01:15 – Introduction to Kevin’s story: bullying, isolation, and depression
 00:02:58 – Childhood signals of depression and the role of bullying
 00:04:55 – The dangers of ignoring bullying and its isolating effects
 00:06:25 – Building true friendships that interrupted depression’s cycle
 00:08:02 – How Kevin’s depression manifested and became paralyzing
 00:09:38 – Strategies to “trick” depression: filling the calendar, asking for support
 00:10:35 – Why disclosure lessens depression’s hold and reduces isolation
 00:11:19 – Addiction, self-medication, and the search for relief
 00:13:11 – Tools from 12-Step programs and the role of community
 00:14:36 – Hypnosis, depression, and the “parasite” metaphor
 00:14:49 – Two life-or-death turning points in Kevin’s journey
 00:16:31 – Why “It can be different” is more powerful than “Be happy”
 00:20:17 – The role of small, simple shifts like walking and connection
 00:23:21 – How bullying echoes depression’s lies and reinforces hopelessness
 00:25:36 – Absolutist thinking: both a symptom and contributor to depression
 00:26:24 – Closing reflections: compassion, language, and concrete support

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

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, we revisit the powerful story of author and advocate Rebecca Lombardo, who has openly shared her struggles with bipolar disorder, depression, and suicidality. Now 10 years removed from her last hospitalization and self-harm attempt, Rebecca reflects on her growth, resilience, and the coping strategies that have helped her heal.

She discusses the importance of self-awareness, positive self-talk, and open communication with loved ones, as well as the role her husband and community have played in her journey. Rebecca also highlights the need to recognize progress—no matter how small—and the ongoing work of fighting stigma.

This rerun is a reminder that while depression can distort our perspective, recovery and hope are possible.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why it’s often hard to recognize progress while living with depression or bipolar disorder
• Rebecca’s reflections on 10 years without hospitalization or self-harm
• The role of loved ones in supporting recovery
• Positive self-talk, therapy, and self-awareness as essential coping strategies
• How writing, advocacy, and community helped Rebecca reduce shame and find purpose
• The importance of self-care and redefining what “success” looks like in recovery

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the episode and the power of hope
 01:25 – Guest introduction: Rebecca Lombardo’s return update
 03:18 – Reflecting on a decade since her last hospitalization
 04:25 – The ongoing challenge of living with bipolar disorder
 05:29 – Why negative thoughts feel easier to believe than positive ones
 07:05 – Celebrating 10 years of progress and accomplishments
 08:01 – Feeling like a burden vs. recognizing depression’s lies
 09:23 – Positive self-talk and open communication with loved ones
 10:30 – The impact of her past suicide attempt on her husband
 11:48 – Choosing to live for herself as well as others
 12:29 – The work beyond medication: therapy, self-awareness, and learning
 13:58 – Helping others through advocacy and writing
 15:05 – Hopes for the next decade of life and advocacy
 16:54 – Advice for listeners currently struggling
 18:44 – Rebecca’s blog reflections and practical tools for healing
 19:21 – Dr. Anita Sanz on the importance of therapy beyond medication
 22:01 – Closing remarks and upcoming Suicide Prevention Awareness Month focus

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

In this intimate, unscripted conversation, Giving Voice to Depression hosts Terry McGuire and her daughter Carly McCollow open up about their personal experiences with depression across generations. They reflect on how genetics, trauma, and family silence shape mental health — and why speaking openly can break cycles of shame and stigma.

Listeners will hear stories about childhood anxiety, gratitude rituals, reframing depression as a chronic condition, and the healing that comes when families normalize talking about mental health. This candid dialogue offers validation and encouragement for anyone navigating depression within the context of family history.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Genetics, trauma, and their role in intergenerational depression
• Why families often avoid mental health conversations
• Early signs of anxiety and depression in children
• How parenting with depression changes perspective and priorities
• Challenging stigma through openness and humor
• Trauma as both a family and cultural experience
• The power of naming and normalizing depression in loved ones

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the episode and why it’s different
 01:12 Stigma around depression in families
 03:57 Childhood memories of anxiety and gratitude practices
 08:36 Depression going unnamed and misunderstood in families
 12:56 Parenting while living with depression
 16:18 Mental health days and challenging the wellness binary
 20:28 How trauma and silence carry forward across generations
 24:52 Understanding trauma as individual, family, and cultural
 27:31 Closing reflections on responsibility, acceptance, and love

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

In this rerun episode of Giving Voice to Depression, hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sanz revisit The Spoon Theory, a popular metaphor created by Christine Miserandino to explain life with chronic illness. The conversation explores how the theory applies to depression and mental health, providing listeners with a way to explain their limited energy to others and make mindful daily choices. The hosts discuss real-world applications, including self-compassion, boundaries, communication, and pacing, and share tips for conserving energy and avoiding burnout.

This episode is both validating and practical, offering language and strategies to help those living with depression—and those who support them—better understand the realities of limited energy.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Explanation of The Spoon Theory and its origins
• How Spoon Theory applies to depression and chronic illness
• Using spoons as a tool for energy management and self-care
• Setting boundaries and improving communication with loved ones
• Practicing self-compassion while coping with limited resources
• Small, low-energy strategies for getting through depressive episodes

Timestamps:

• 00:04 – Introduction to the podcast and mission
• 01:30 – Overview of Spoon Theory and its global impact
• 02:24 – Dr. Anita explains how Spoon Theory helps with chronic illness and depression
• 04:15 – How daily tasks consume “spoons” differently depending on health status
• 06:25 – Christine Miserandino’s original blog and explanation
• 07:54 – Real-life application: prioritizing energy and making choices
• 10:28 – Using Spoon Theory as a communication tool in relationships
• 11:43 – Practical low-energy self-care ideas for those with severe depression
• 14:40 – Insights from Adam Weitz on Spoon Theory and depression
• 15:43 – Key benefits: self-compassion, boundaries, assertiveness
• 16:30 – Final reflections on using Spoon Theory to reframe depression
• 17:31 – Closing remarks and resources

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

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Eric shares his deeply personal journey of living under the crushing weight of depression and how he found a path toward healing. Instead of fighting against his pain, Eric discovered the transformative power of Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, which allowed him to engage with his depression in a new, compassionate way. Through personifying his struggle as a “boulder” and learning to soften toward the parts of himself he once rejected, Eric uncovered resilience, rootedness, and a renewed sense of hope.

Listeners will hear how acceptance, rather than resistance, opened the door to healing and how reframing depression as a protective force instead of an enemy helped Eric move forward with faith and curiosity. This conversation is a reminder that healing from depression is not about eradicating symptoms but learning to live with compassion for all parts of ourselves.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Eric’s experience of living with the “boulder” of depression
• The difference between intellectualizing depression and doing emotional “heartwork”
• How Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy works and its role in healing
• Shifting from resistance to acceptance in managing depression
• The role of self-compassion and “softening” in recovery
• Finding rootedness, faith, and curiosity when hope feels out of reach

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction to the episode and mission of the podcast
 01:13 – Eric describes the crushing weight of depression
 02:22 – Signs of emerging from a prolonged depressive period
 04:28 – The importance of allowing grief and honest feelings
 05:37 – Eric’s metaphor of depression as a boulder
 07:40 – The added burden of shame in depression
 09:28 – Moving from intellectualizing depression to emotional “heartwork”
 10:04 – Discovering Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy
 12:47 – Personifying depression as “Atlas” holding the boulder
 14:12 – Reframing depression through compassion and acceptance
 15:38 – Eric finds faith, rootedness, and curiosity
 18:19 – The power of grace and self-compassion in healing
 20:10 – Letting go of expectations and embracing groundedness
 23:45 – Reflections on diagnosis, stigma, and compassion for differences
 25:32 – Understanding feelings as information and depression’s role in deepening care
 27:04 – Closing thoughts on resilience, growth, and ongoing healing

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

In this powerful episode of Giving Voice to Depression, J.J. Singleton shares his journey of living with terminal colorectal cancer and battling depression. After enduring over 170 rounds of chemotherapy, J.J. opens up about the toll cancer has taken not just on his body but on his mental health. He discusses the stigma men face in expressing vulnerability, his initial resistance to therapy, and the life-changing benefits of opening up and seeking professional support. J.J.’s story is one of resilience, honesty, and hope — a reminder that healing is both a physical and emotional process.

He also highlights the importance of peer support, distraction, and advocacy, showing that even in the darkest times, connection and conversation can make a life-saving difference.

Primary Topics Covered:

• J.J. Singleton’s journey with terminal colorectal cancer
• The connection between cancer and depression
• Stigma around men’s mental health and vulnerability
• The role of therapy in coping with suicidal thoughts
• Tools for resilience: peer support, therapy, and distraction
• Advocating for mental health awareness in cancer care

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro to Giving Voice to Depression
 02:26 Introducing guest J.J. Singleton and his cancer journey
 03:34 The impact of cancer on men’s mental health
 04:55 How cancer and treatment triggered depression and PTSD
 06:36 Learning to shift mindset and seek support
 07:22 Realizing the importance of therapy
 08:13 How therapy helped J.J. cope with suicidal thoughts
 09:48 Breaking stigma around talking about mental health
 11:25 The unseen mental toll of cancer treatment
 11:45 Using distraction and peer support as coping tools
 13:01 Why J.J. advocates for mental health awareness in cancer care
 13:55 How awareness could have helped earlier in his journey
 14:22 J.J.’s motivation for sharing his story publicly
 15:01 From darkest places to speaking out about healing
 15:32 Reflections on mind-body connection in illness
 16:22 The cost of silence and repression in mental health struggles
 17:05 Closing thoughts and resources, including manuptocancer.com

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

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. David Jacobi of Rogers Behavioral Health explains how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) works as an evidence-based treatment for depression. Together with hosts Terry and Anita, Dr. Jacobi breaks down the CBT “triangle” of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, and explains why behavioral activation — doing something different, even small — can help break the cycle of depression.

Listeners will learn how CBT can reduce avoidance, reintroduce pleasure and valued activities, and provide tools to support both self-healing and loved ones. This conversation highlights why no step is too small when moving toward recovery and how we can give ourselves the help we need.

Primary Topics Covered:

• What Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is and why it works
• The CBT triangle: thoughts, emotions, and behaviors
• How behavioral activation helps reduce depression symptoms
• The importance of routine, pleasurable, and valued activities
• The role of support systems without enabling avoidance
• Medication as a tool alongside CBT practices
• Why small steps matter in recovery

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro to the episode
 01:25 What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)?
 02:17 The CBT triangle: emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
 03:48 How CBT changes depressive thoughts and behaviors
 05:13 Behavioral activation and why doing something matters
 06:24 Avoidance patterns and how they maintain depression
 07:22 Active coping vs avoidance
 08:28 Routine, pleasurable, and valued activities in recovery
 10:05 How small actions build momentum out of depression
 11:11 Motivation follows action, not the other way around
 12:20 The importance of support and accountability
 12:57 Symptom accommodation: helping vs enabling
 14:13 Encouraging activation while offering empathy
 14:42 Medications as another tool in recovery
 15:34 Combining CBT, medication, and daily actions
 16:14 Why no step is too small in depression recovery
 17:24 Supporting yourself with encouragement and patience
 17:52 Closing thoughts and takeaways

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

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Dr. Anita Sanz joins Terry and Carly to discuss the importance of seeking therapy as a proactive step for mental health, not just during times of crisis. Together, they break down what therapy actually looks like, why the stigma around it persists, and how people can find the right therapist for their needs. From analogies comparing therapy to car repair and physical therapy, to tackling fears around stigma and suicidal thoughts, this episode provides insight and encouragement for anyone considering therapy.

Listeners will gain clarity on when to seek help, what to expect in sessions, and why proactive therapy can lead to better outcomes.

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why therapy should be proactive, not just reactive
• The stigma surrounding therapy and mental health care
• How to know when it’s time to seek therapy
• What to expect in a therapy session
• How to find a therapist that’s the right fit
• The importance of being honest with your therapist
• Addressing suicidal thoughts in therapy
• How therapy works beyond the session

Timestamps:
 00:00 Intro
 01:26 Why we treat physical health differently than mental health
 02:28 What really happens in therapy
 03:11 Knowing when it’s time to seek help
 04:21 Why therapy works better before things get really bad
 05:42 Changing generational attitudes toward therapy
 07:26 Stigma and resistance to therapy
 09:37 The healthiest people go to therapy
 10:34 Using therapy proactively for stressors and grief
 11:09 How to choose the right therapist
 12:55 Free consultations and therapist shopping
 13:53 What to say in your first session
 15:16 Asking how a therapist will work with you
 15:56 Why honesty with your therapist matters
 17:18 How long therapy lasts and knowing when you’re “done”
 19:02 Discussing suicidal thoughts with a therapist
 21:51 Why therapy requires effort outside of sessions
 23:33 Listener question on learned helplessness and negative thought patterns
 25:49 Closing

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