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
Am I Depressed? Signs, Symptoms, and High-Functioning Depression Explained
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
What does depression actually feel like?
In this special crossover episode with Recoverable, Terry interviews licensed therapist and suicide attempt survivor Aja Chavez about what depression really looks like — beyond the stereotypes.
They discuss:
- Why depression doesn’t always look like sadness
- The difference between laziness and clinical depression
- What high-functioning depression is (and why it can be dangerous)
- Early warning signs to watch for
- Why depression can show up “for no reason”
- The lies depression tells about worth and value
- How medication, therapy, and contrary action save lives
Aja describes depression as:
- A “warm, heavy weighted blanket”
- Moving through mud
- Emotional numbness
- Irritability instead of sadness
- Loss of joy (anhedonia)
- A whisper that isolation is the answer
She shares her lived experience of attempting suicide at 26 despite appearing successful, driven, and high-achieving — a powerful reminder that depression often hides behind productivity and perfection.
This conversation breaks down stigma, clarifies clinical definitions, and offers practical guidance for recognizing depression early — in yourself or someone you love.
Depression is real.
It is a medical condition.
And it is treatable.
Primary Topics Covered:
- What depression feels like
- Signs and symptoms of depression
- Am I depressed or just lazy?
- High-functioning depression
- Why depression can appear “for no reason”
- Depression vs. grief
- Early warning signs and prevention
- Contrary action and wellness plans
- Medication and therapy
- Suicide attempt recovery
- Mental health stigma
Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction and crossover format explanation
02:57 – What does depression feel like?
04:13 – How depression shows up in teens and adults
05:35 – Am I depressed or just lazy?
08:28 – Is depression a medical condition?
09:39 – Different types of depression
11:49 – How do you know if you’re depressed?
14:25 – Early experiences of depression
18:22 – From numbness to suicide attempt
24:03 – Hospitalization and beginning recovery
27:29 – High-functioning depression explained
29:28 – Depression vs. laziness (internet’s top question)
32:16 – Clinical signs of depression
34:39 – Recognizing personal early warning signs
38:23 – What to do when you notice symptoms
41:17 – Why high-functioning depression can be dangerous
43:45 – “Why am I depressed for no reason?”
46:18 – Self-worth and depression’s lies
50:16 – Why talking about depression 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/
