In this deeply moving episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Cara from Belfast, Northern Ireland, opens up about her journey through years of darkness — from living with untreated depression as a teen to finally finding validation, healing, and light through therapy.

Cara describes depression not as constant sadness but as a suffocating grayness — a loss of color, motivation, and meaning. After multiple suicide attempts and years of feeling numb, she reached a breaking point in 2021 and took one small but life-saving step: emailing a local counselor.

Therapy helped Cara recognize the impact of her childhood trauma and validate her pain for the first time. While progress wasn’t linear, she learned to celebrate small wins — sitting up in bed, taking a shower, or savoring a coffee — and to document her “happy days” as proof that joy returns.

Co-hosts Terry McGuire and Dr. Anita Sanz unpack Cara’s insights about resilience, the importance of reframing thoughts, and the courage it takes to hold on when life feels unbearable.

This episode is for anyone who feels like depression will never end — and a reminder that even the smallest flicker of light can guide you through the darkest night.

Primary Topics Covered:

• The emotional reality of depression: numbness, sadness, and emptiness
• Recognizing depression as a legitimate illness, not a weakness
• The role of therapy in naming and healing trauma
• How validation can transform self-perception
• Reaching out for help during a suicidal crisis
• The non-linear path of depression recovery
• Finding gratitude and meaning after trauma
• The power of peer support and shared understanding
• Journaling and photography as tools for emotional resilience
• Building hope through small daily acts and self-compassion

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: Why real stories of depression matter
01:25 – Meet Cara: Finding euphoria after surviving darkness
02:36 – Describing depression as grayness, emptiness, and numbness
04:30 – Understanding depression as an illness, not a character flaw
05:06 – Early signs of depression during teenage years
06:31 – The turning point: Recognizing trauma and seeking therapy
07:18 – The healing mess: unpacking pain in therapy
09:04 – Validating trauma and learning self-compassion
09:37 – The night Cara reached out for help
11:52 – Taking the first small step: emailing a therapist
12:26 – How therapy revealed the ups and downs of recovery
13:32 – Flashes of light: noticing small moments of peace
14:21 – Finding happiness in small things — a hug, coffee, or sunshine
15:14 – Journaling and documenting “happy days” as proof of hope
16:17 – Holding on one day at a time
18:19 – Insights on depression, patience, and perspective
20:31 – How reframing thoughts helps shift hopelessness
22:06 – Final reflections: You deserve to live and to be happy

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Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/

After years of living with depression — through countless ups, downs, and failed treatment attempts — Caryn finally found light again. In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, she opens up for the first time about what it’s like to live with treatment-resistant depression, the exhaustion of constantly “trying,” and the unexpected relief that came when she finally found the right therapist and medication.

Caryn describes how depression shows up not just mentally, but physically — the aching body, the heavy fatigue, the simple impossibility of getting off the couch or into the shower. She explains how she learned to live minute by minute when the pain became unbearable, and how giving herself permission to rest became an act of survival.

With honesty and strength, Caryn shares what helped her finally stabilize: a supportive therapist, compassionate friends, medication that worked, and the belief that she was worth the effort it took to heal.

Co-hosts Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow reflect on Caryn’s story, exploring how depression can become habitual, why it’s so hard to break free from its patterns, and why persistence — even when you’re exhausted — can save your life.

If you’ve ever felt hopeless after trying therapy or medication that didn’t work, Caryn’s story is proof that there’s still reason to keep going.

Primary Topics Covered:

• What treatment-resistant depression really feels like
• How to find the right therapist after years of trying
• Physical symptoms of depression and why they’re real
• Learning to ask for help without shame or guilt
• The power of supportive friends and “letting yourself cry”
• When to rest and when to push forward during depressive episodes
• Why depression can feel like a habit — and how to retrain your brain
• How seasonal changes can trigger depression
• Why finding hope doesn’t mean pretending you’re okay
• The importance of giving yourself grace and patience

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction: The importance of real conversations about depression
01:15 – Meet Caryn: a listener sharing her story for the first time
02:17 – Caryn’s turning point: finally finding the right therapist
03:27 – The physical toll of depression and exhaustion
05:10 – Living minute by minute when suicidal thoughts creep in
06:24 – Why finding a therapist who truly listens changes everything
07:01 – The physical exhaustion of depression: “Even walking hurts”
08:45 – The “damn shower”: small tasks that feel impossible
09:01 – Accepting that you’ll never be the same — and that’s okay
10:35 – The storm quote that helped Caryn redefine recovery
11:05 – Retraining your brain after years of living in depression
11:49 – Preparing for depressive episodes before they hit
12:07 – How supportive friends helped Caryn through crisis moments
13:34 – The freedom of knowing when to reach out for help
14:10 – A breakthrough with new treatment after years of resistance
14:50 – Medication that worked: “It was the best I’ve felt in years”
15:59 – Learning self-compassion and patience through recovery
17:33 – Why rest and self-acceptance are not weakness
17:52 – Celebrating progress and small victories
19:01 – Caryn’s message: “There’s always some form of light”
20:18 – Reflection: habits of depression vs. habits of recovery
22:37 – The seasonal triggers of depression and self-awaren

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/

This episode of Giving Voice to Depression features licensed therapist Carolina Bracco and a candid conversation about the profound, long-term effects of growing up with emotionally immature or overly critical parents.

Co-hosts Terry McGuire and Carly McCollow explore this often-overlooked area of childhood experience, highlighting how these parental patterns can contribute to depression and shape an adult's life, relationships, and even their own parenting style.

Carolina, a childhood trauma survivor herself, shares her personal journey of being scapegoated and constantly criticized, which led to deep-seated toxic shame and a powerful inner critic. She explains that as children, it's a survival mechanism to turn anger and blame inward rather than directing it toward the primary caregivers, resulting in core beliefs like "I'm not enough" and "I'm worthless"—the exact phrases often heard during a depressive episode.

The discussion defines highly critical parenting as a consistent pattern of never meeting expectations and explores how this, along with the role reversal seen with emotionally immature parents, counts as childhood trauma—an emotional wound and neglect that can be as impactful as physical abuse.

More importantly, the episode focuses on healing. Carolina introduces the concept of reparenting our inner child as a continuous process of self-compassion, connection, and attunement. This involves acknowledging the feelings of the "wounded inner child" and providing the comfort and safety that was lacking.

Carly concludes by offering non-blaming context, emphasizing that parents are often doing the best they can, but that sometimes "best isn't good enough." She shares empowering strategies from Dr. Lindsay Gibson's work, including accepting that you cannot "fix" your parents and affirming your own importance and inherent worth ("I have good stuff inside me").

This episode provides listeners with essential language, context, and practical steps to understand and begin healing from the emotional legacy of their upbringing.

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Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/