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Giving Voice to Depression: Real Stories & Expert Support for Depression and Mental Health
Giving Voice To Depression unites lived experience and expert insight to shine a spotlight on depression and mental health. Each week, we bring you honest personal stories, evidence-based strategies, and compassionate conversations to help you understand, cope with, and recover from depression. Whether you’re navigating your own journey, supporting a loved one, or simply seeking to better understand mental-health challenges, this podcast offers real voices, trusted guidance, and a path toward hope. Subscribe now for new episodes every week and join a community where depression isn’t silenced—it’s voiced, understood and overcome.
Giving Voice to Depression: Real Stories & Expert Support for Depression and Mental Health
How to Manage Grief and Depression Through the Holiday Season
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The holidays can be especially painful for those facing grief and depression. In this episode, hosts Terry and Dr. Anita Sanz speak with grief expert Krista St. Germain about the overlap between grief and depression, how holiday rituals can intensify feelings of loss, and strategies for coping during a season that often emphasizes celebration and togetherness. From setting boundaries to learning how to fully experience and process emotions, Krista shares practical tools and compassionate insights for navigating this difficult time of year.
Links to related resources:
- Krista's website: Coaching with Krista — Life Coaching for Widowed Moms
- Psychology Today article: Working Through Grief During the Holidays | Psychology Today
Primary Topics Covered:
- The differences and overlap between grief and depression
- How holiday rituals and expectations can intensify grief
- Giving yourself permission to change or release traditions
- The importance of communicating needs and setting boundaries
- “Should” thinking and anticipating difficult emotions
- Practical tools like the NOW method (Name, Open, Witness) and EFT tapping
- Navigating family conflicts during the holidays
- Allowing yourself and others space to grieve authentically
Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:09 Who This Episode Is For During the Holiday Season
01:49 The Many Ways Grief Can Be Triggered During Holidays
03:37 Differences and Overlap Between Grief and Depression
05:17 How Depression Includes Grief Over Lost Opportunities
05:59 Expanding the Definition of Grief Beyond Bereavement
07:31 Losses Beyond Death That Can Trigger Grief
08:17 Holiday Expectations and the Pressure to Be Happy
09:38 Rewriting Traditions and Setting Boundaries
10:51 Communicating Holiday Needs to Others
12:18 When Grief and Family Needs Conflict
12:32 “Should Thinking” and Holiday Expectations
13:03 Anticipating Negative Feelings Before Events
14:34 Learning How to Fully Feel Emotions
15:07 The NOW Method for Processing Emotions
17:13 Navigating Resistance from Others During Holidays
18:10 Boundaries and the Discomfort of Saying No
19:05 Grieving Non-Traditional Losses and Unmet Expectations
20:09 Mindfulness and Allowing Emotions Without Judgment
22:14 Giving Others Permission to Feel Disappointed
23:05 Handling Pushback and Accusations of Selfishness
24:51 Boundaries Around How Others Expect You to Grieve
26:05 EFT Tapping as a Tool for Managing Emotions
26:45 Looking Ahead: Protecting Mental Health at Holidays
27:51 Closing Reflections and Outro
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