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Gloomy Days Hit Different When You're Depressed | Episode 472
A gloomy morning can feel like a weighted blanket you never asked for and no amount of “just get up” advice touches it. Justin Alan Hayes gets real about what it’s like to wake up on an overcast, rainy day with depression and seasonal affective disorder, when your body moves slower, your mind needs more time, and the world still expects the same pace. He shares a laugh-out-loud moment of being attacked by an energetic dog while trying to steal a few more seconds of sleep, then zooms out to the deeper point: low energy is not a moral failure.
From there, we talk about how weather and mood can spill into work and daily routines, where tiny oversights can happen when you’re not fully online yet. Justin uses a simple example of forgetting trash cans behind the car to show how “little things” can grow when we don’t slow down, breathe, and stay present. The conversation stays grounded in mental health, trauma recovery, and the human reality of doing your best on the days that don’t feel easy.
We also go deeper into self-judgment and extremes: the old habit of comparing, the fear of going all-or-nothing with working out, and how that mindset can mirror past binge drinking and a lack of moderation. Justin explains why counseling and showing up consistently matters, especially when you’re managing medication and trying to build a healthier life one decision at a time. Voices for Voices is also a 501c3 nonprofit, and you’ll hear how to support the mission at lovevoices.org.
If this hit home, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find honest conversations about depression, seasonal affective disorder, recovery, and self-compassion.
*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org
**Find our book here:
Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW
Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN
***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb
Instagram: @voicesforvoices
TikTok: @voices_for_voices
Facebook: Voices for Voices
*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
Chapter Markers
#justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #GloomyDays #MentalHealthMatters #EmotionalWellbeing #CopingWithSadness #FindingJoyInDarkness #SelfCareTips #MindfulLiving #UpliftingContent #OvercomingNegativity #WeatheringTheStorms #PositivityInAdversity #MoodBoosters #BrighteningGloomyDays #ResilienceBuilding #HopeAndHealing #MythicalCreaturesAroundtheWorld #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode472
Support the show
By Founder of Voices for Voices®, Justin Alan HayesGloomy Days Hit Different When You're Depressed | Episode 472
A gloomy morning can feel like a weighted blanket you never asked for and no amount of “just get up” advice touches it. Justin Alan Hayes gets real about what it’s like to wake up on an overcast, rainy day with depression and seasonal affective disorder, when your body moves slower, your mind needs more time, and the world still expects the same pace. He shares a laugh-out-loud moment of being attacked by an energetic dog while trying to steal a few more seconds of sleep, then zooms out to the deeper point: low energy is not a moral failure.
From there, we talk about how weather and mood can spill into work and daily routines, where tiny oversights can happen when you’re not fully online yet. Justin uses a simple example of forgetting trash cans behind the car to show how “little things” can grow when we don’t slow down, breathe, and stay present. The conversation stays grounded in mental health, trauma recovery, and the human reality of doing your best on the days that don’t feel easy.
We also go deeper into self-judgment and extremes: the old habit of comparing, the fear of going all-or-nothing with working out, and how that mindset can mirror past binge drinking and a lack of moderation. Justin explains why counseling and showing up consistently matters, especially when you’re managing medication and trying to build a healthier life one decision at a time. Voices for Voices is also a 501c3 nonprofit, and you’ll hear how to support the mission at lovevoices.org.
If this hit home, subscribe, share the episode with someone who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find honest conversations about depression, seasonal affective disorder, recovery, and self-compassion.
*Donate Today: LoveVoices.org
**Find our book here:
Amazon: https://voices-for-voices.org/3ZhJ6AW
Publisher: https://voices-for-voices.org/3LKL1uN
***Website: https://voices-for-voices.org/4byLXgb
Instagram: @voicesforvoices
TikTok: @voices_for_voices
Facebook: Voices for Voices
*Voices for Voices is a 501c3 nonprofit charity. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
Chapter Markers
#justiceforjustin #justiceforvoicesforvoicestiktok #VoicesforVoices #GloomyDays #MentalHealthMatters #EmotionalWellbeing #CopingWithSadness #FindingJoyInDarkness #SelfCareTips #MindfulLiving #UpliftingContent #OvercomingNegativity #WeatheringTheStorms #PositivityInAdversity #MoodBoosters #BrighteningGloomyDays #ResilienceBuilding #HopeAndHealing #MythicalCreaturesAroundtheWorld #JustinAlanHayes #JustinHayes #help3billion #TikTok #Instagram #truth #Jesusaire #VoiceForChange #HealingTogether #Episode472
Support the show