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When depression affects your concentration, confidence, or energy, staying productive can feel like a constant battle with yourself.
But working harder is not always the answer.
In the second half of this practical conversation, Terry and Bridget continue speaking with writer Sarah Fielding, author of the Healthline article, “Nine Ways to Motivate Yourself to Work When You’re Struggling Mentally.”
Sarah shares five additional strategies for navigating work while living with depression, anxiety, or burnout. Her advice is not about forcing yourself to perform at full capacity every day. It is about understanding what helps you function, recognizing your progress, and giving your mind opportunities to recover.
The conversation explores why taking five minutes to reset is not wasted time, how acknowledging completed tasks can rebuild a sense of capability, and why pushing through without rest may ultimately make it harder to focus.
Sarah also discusses creating a work playlist, paying attention to food and caffeine, and choosing clothing that helps you feel more confident and connected to yourself.
Most importantly, this episode challenges the belief that productivity must be constant.
There will be days when these strategies help and days when they do not. That does not mean you are lazy, weak, or incapable. It means you are human—and learning to work with your mental health may be more sustainable than continually fighting against it.
Primary Topics Discussed:
Timestamps:
00:01:25 How depression affects focus, decision-making, and workplace performance
00:02:21 Revisiting Sarah Fielding’s article on working while struggling mentally
00:02:57 A recap of the first four motivation strategies
00:03:47 Tip five: review and acknowledge your progress
00:04:32 Why depression can make us question our capability
00:05:14 How recognizing past success can make difficult tasks feel possible
00:05:25 Tip six: take five minutes to reset
00:06:18 Why a short break is not wasted time
00:06:57 How rest can improve focus and productivity
00:07:00 Tip seven: create a motivating work playlist
00:07:21 Using music to train your brain to enter work mode
00:08:15 Tip eight: consider how food and caffeine affect your energy
00:09:27 Tip nine: wear something that helps you feel confident
00:10:17 How depression can make self-care feel pointless
00:10:52 Acknowledging the days when getting started is not possible
00:11:12 The pressure to appear productive all the time
00:11:55 Why taking five minutes can sometimes save hours
00:12:08 Final reflections and encouragement to share the episode
Link to Sarah's Healthline article: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/depression-motivation-tips
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/
When depression steals your motivation, even the smallest task can feel impossible.
Getting out of bed. Answering an email. Folding laundry. Starting a work project.
From the outside, it may look like procrastination or laziness. From the inside, it can feel like trying to move through wet concrete.
In this practical episode, Terry and Bridget welcome writer Sarah Fielding, whose article on staying motivated while struggling with mental health inspired a conversation full of realistic, compassionate strategies for navigating days when depression makes everything feel harder.
Together they discuss simple tools that can make overwhelming days feel more manageable, including:
Whether you're working from home, returning to the office, managing a household, or simply trying to make it through the day, this episode offers practical ideas you can try the next time depression makes even the simplest tasks feel overwhelming.
Because sometimes the hardest part isn't finishing—it's taking the first step.
Primary Topics Covered:
Timestamps:
00:01:24 Why motivation can disappear during depression
00:02:23 Meet Sarah Fielding and the inspiration behind today's practical tips
00:02:58 Why getting started is often the hardest part
00:03:54 Planning your day to reduce overwhelm
00:04:16 Time-blocking, prioritizing, and choosing your "Big Three"
00:05:05 Why writing everything down reduces mental clutter
00:06:09 Breaking large projects into manageable steps
00:07:08 Working with your natural productivity patterns
00:07:47 How changing your environment can improve motivation
00:08:35 Checking in with yourself instead of pushing through burnout
00:09:50 Advice for employers supporting employees with depression
00:11:25 Why it's normal not to perform at 100% every day
00:12:23 Busy versus productive
00:13:11 Adapting your routine to match your mental state
00:13:54 The "big rocks" prioritization metaphor
00:14:43 Why small accomplishments create momentum
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/
Hundreds of thousands of people know Shannon for making them laugh.
Her videos have gone viral. Her social media is full of humor, energy, and outrageous comedy.
What most people didn't see was that behind the camera, she was learning one of the hardest lessons of her life: she couldn't heal from depression alone.
In Part 2 of Shannon's story, she shares the biggest changes she's made since seeking treatment—and why asking for help became one of the most powerful tools in her recovery.
She talks candidly about learning to accept help from friends and family, finding a community that noticed when she was struggling, becoming more honest with her husband, and discovering that vulnerability strengthened her relationships instead of weakening them.
Shannon also describes her experience with EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy and the unexpected relief she felt after beginning to process a painful memory in a new way.
In this episode, you'll hear about:
Whether you're living with depression yourself or supporting someone who is, Shannon's story is a reminder that healing rarely happens in isolation.
Sometimes the bravest words we can say are:
"I need help."
Primary Topics Covered:
Timestamps:
00:01:26 Continuing Shannon's story and the tools helping her manage depression
00:02:36 Going public about depression on social media
00:03:17 How honesty online became part of her healing
00:04:15 Why depression makes so many people feel alone
00:05:03 Breaking the stigma by talking openly
00:06:35 Learning to ask for—and accept—help
00:07:25 Why asking for help is worth the vulnerability
00:08:43 Finding supportive friendships after opening up
00:09:34 Becoming more honest with her husband about depression
00:10:46 Making therapy a regular part of recovery
00:11:16 What EMDR therapy is
00:11:53 Shannon's first EMDR session
00:13:08 Replacing self-criticism with self-compassion
00:13:53 How EMDR changed her relationship with a traumatic memory
00:15:22 Finding free mental health resources when therapy isn't affordable
00:16:15 Why changing our relationship to painful memories matters
00:17:07 Asking for help is an act of courage
00:17:52 What to do if your first attempt to get help isn't successful
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/
Nearly a decade ago, Davey shared one of the darkest depression stories we've ever featured on Giving Voice to Depression. He was living with relentless depression, frequent suicidal thoughts, and believed he simply couldn't do life anymore.
Today, he comes back with a very different story.
After years of searching for answers, one conversation with a physician led to a diagnosis of Complex PTSD (CPTSD)—a discovery that completely changed how he understood his depression, his childhood, and, ultimately, himself.
In this powerful follow-up, Davey shares how understanding the root of his pain opened the door to self-compassion, healing, and something he once thought was impossible: waking up happy to be alive.
In this episode you'll hear about:
Davey's story won't be everyone's story, but it offers something many people living with depression desperately need to hear:
Things really can change.
As he says during this conversation:
"I'm through the tunnel. I'm in the sunshine."Primary Topics Covered:
Timestamps:
00:01:14 Understanding depression through the lens of Complex PTSD
00:01:34 Why Davey wanted to return after nearly ten years
00:02:55 A doctor's encouragement to share his recovery
00:03:16 Living with severe depression and suicidal thoughts
00:03:30 The life-changing Complex PTSD diagnosis
00:04:31 The book that transformed Davey's understanding of himself
00:05:13 Building resilience and beginning a healing journey
00:06:05 How childhood trauma shaped his depression
00:07:13 Realizing emotional neglect wasn't a normal childhood
00:08:29 Relief after finally understanding the "why"
00:09:40 Learning that self-worth isn't based on productivity
00:10:25 What daily life looks like after healing
00:11:50 What he'd tell the version of himself who wanted to give up
00:13:17 Why everyone deserves love simply for who they are
00:13:37 Letting go of toxic relationships
00:14:40 A message of hope for anyone living with depression today
00:15:42 Why he believes he won't return to his darkest place
00:16:49 The importance of receiving the right diagnosis
00:19:04 Understanding Complex PTSD beyond traditional PTSD
00:20:34 Talking openly about suicidal thoughts and reducing stigma
00:22:30 The meaning behind Davey's semicolon tattoo
00:23:21 Why creating safe spaces saves lives
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/
Instagram creator ShannyPants has built a community of hundreds of thousands of followers by making people laugh.
But while millions of people saw the funny videos, very few knew she was quietly living with depression.
In this episode, Shannon shares what depression really looked like behind the scenes, why she finally sought treatment, how antidepressants and therapy changed her life, and why humor became one of the tools that helped her heal.
In today's podcast episode, you'll hear about:
Shannon reminds us that depression doesn't always look the way people expect—and that laughter and depression can exist at the same time.
Most importantly, she offers hope that healthier days are possible.
Primary Topics Covered
Timestamps
00:01:26 – Why laughter can help during depression
00:02:30 – Meeting Shannon and her mental health journey
00:03:19 – What depression feels like on difficult days
00:03:46 – Using routines to manage depression
00:05:11 – Small daily goals that build momentum
00:06:11 – The difference between an "off day" and depression
00:06:34 – Leaving the house to interrupt depressive episodes
00:07:56 – Learning self-compassion
00:08:26 – COVID's impact on her mental health
00:09:26 – Reaching a breaking point and asking for help
00:10:24 – Changing her views about antidepressant medication
00:11:03 – Accepting depression and seeking treatment
00:12:05 – Starting medication and noticing improvement
00:13:09 – Why humor became part of healing
00:15:20 – Sharing depression publicly on social media
00:16:09 – Breaking isolation through honest conversations
00:17:19 – Why recovery stories create hope
00:19:20 – Looking ahead to EMDR therapy
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/
For years, Davey believed he had depression.
What he didn't know was why.
After nearly a decade of living with severe depression—including years of suicidal thoughts—a conversation with a physician changed everything. Within minutes of hearing Davey's childhood story, the doctor wrote two words on a piece of paper:
Complex PTSD (CPTSD).
That diagnosis became the beginning of a completely different healing journey.
In this follow-up episode—nearly ten years after his first appearance on Giving Voice to Depression—Davey shares how understanding childhood trauma helped him replace shame with self-compassion, perfectionism with acceptance, and hopelessness with genuine joy.
You'll hear about:
Davey's story offers hope for anyone who has ever believed they were "broken."
As he says in this conversation:
"I'm through the tunnel. I'm in the sunshine."Primary Topics Covered:
Timestamps:
00:01:34 – Why Davey returned nearly a decade later
00:02:48 – A doctor's encouragement to share his recovery
00:03:16 – Living with suicidal thoughts before healing
00:03:30 – Discovering Complex PTSD
00:04:31 – The book that changed Davey's understanding of himself
00:05:13 – Becoming more resilient through healing
00:06:05 – How understanding trauma changed everything
00:07:13 – Recognizing childhood abuse and emotional neglect
00:08:29 – The relief of finally understanding the "why"
00:10:25 – What daily life looks like after healing
00:11:50 – What he'd tell his former self
00:13:17 – Learning that you're worthy of love
00:14:40 – A message for anyone struggling today
00:15:50 – Why he believes he won't return to that dark place
00:20:27 – Carly on suicidal thoughts, stigma, and creating safe conversations
00:22:30 – The meaning behind Davey's semicolon tattoo
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 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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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/
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