Healing from Depression

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch talks about what happens to the brain when a person becomes severely depressed. The brain says that there is no hope for the future, that all is lost. But this is not true. A depressive illness distorts the brain's ability to see reality clearly. The fact is that hope exists and people do get better.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares the gifts that emerged from his latest depressive episode.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch talks about four words that can save your life. They are "This too shall pass." These words are life-saving because they offer hope to anyone who is in a dark, depressive episode. They express the truth that the only constant in the universe is changing and that all mental and emotional states of mind are temporary. Therefore, if you can just hold on long and reach out for help, your ordeal will eventually come to an end.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shows why the focus of recovery should be managing the symptoms of depression and anxiety, and not trying to cure them.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about how depressive breakdowns can be seen as rites of passage that lead to a breakthrough and a new birth.

In this episode, author and depression survivor Douglas Bloch talks about how living life one day at a time can help you to make it through a depressive episode.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch talks about what to do to get back to sleep if you wake up in the middle of the night. Many people with depression have these early morning awakenings and can't get back to sleep, because they are either anxious or they are ruminating about some difficult problem.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares daily affirmations that can be used to give comfort in times of loss and to create the expectation of a new birth.

In this video, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares his five most important daily habits for keeping depression and anxiety at bay.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares the concept of Divine Intervention in which a power greater than ourselves intervenes on our behalf when we are facing challenges that we cannot overcome on our own. To illustrate this principle, Douglas shares a story from his own life where he received unexpected help during a time of great need.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares how childhood trauma consisting of abuse, abandonment, or neglect can lead to depression and anxiety for the adult.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about the drawbacks that occur when a person with depression compares him or herself to another person who seems to have it "more together." The remedy for this is to measure your self-worth and success by your own internal standards.

In this episode author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch delivers a special Thanksgiving day message on gratitude. He shares his belief that one can feel gratitude even in the midst of a depressive episode. He gives examples from his own life, the lives of his clients, and literature. He also shows how feeling grateful actually changes the structure of the brain.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about the stigma surrounding depression and other mental health disorders, and he offers strategies on how to overcome this stigma.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch, shares his and other people's experiences of the principle of growth through pain. This means that the challenges and tests that we go through can help us to become stronger, wiser, and more loving individuals.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares his thoughts on what to do when changing your thinking to improve your mood doesn't work because extreme states of anxiety or depression render positive thinking impossible. Instead, Douglas advocates a "bottom-up" approach in which you change your physiology to create the decrease in emotional pain you are seeking.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares a simple affirmation that he devised which helped him pull through a depressive episode. This affirmation can also be used by the viewer.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about how depressive breakdowns can be seen as rites of passage that lead to a breakthrough and a new birth.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch tells the story of how his niece Laura used exercise to heal from depression.

In this video, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares why he did not attempt to harm himself while he was suicidal in the hopes that other people will use the same deterrents.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares what factors make people suicidal and how to find a way to hope and recovery.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares a very important spiritual principle--what when we are on the spiritual path, all of our experiences, even the negative ones, end up working for our highest and greatest good. I use my personal life to illustrate this principle. The original date for my hip replacement surgery was unexpectedly canceled at the last minute and rescheduled a month later. I was absolutely grief stricken, but this delay led me to encounter many healing opportunities over the next four weeks that would not have occurred otherwise. Something greater than myself was looking out for me.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch explains why structure and routine play such a key role in healing from anxiety and depression.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch tells the story of how he used the power of encouraging and reassuring words, said by himself and others, to survive an episode of hellish anxiety. He then shares two strategies that describe how you can apply the power of encouraging words in your own life.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch discusses how to make a successful transition to the outside world after being discharged from a psychiatric ward. This is the third part of his series.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about how to be admitted to a psychiatric ward during a mental health crisis and what kinds of treatment you can expect to receive

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch answers this question: "When should someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis consider hospitalization as a treatment option?"

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares a scary incident in which after a number of nights where his sleep was interrupted, he awoke to a terrible spell of anxiety. Fortunately, the symptoms eventually subsided. The incident shows that people with anxiety disorders have only a thin buffer between serenity and fear.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares is an important principle. It is, "You never know what tomorrow may bring." As a result, no matter how dire your situation looks or how hopeless you feel, it is important to keep moving forward. Because the next day, some good may occur that you never could have foreseen.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch talks about his belief that each of us possesses the resources and the strength to cope with the challenging situations that we face. If we call upon that resourceful part of us, we can uncover hidden abilities that will give us the strength to persevere until we overcome the difficulty.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch continues the serialization of the 52 meditations from the audiobook version of Words That Heal: Affirmations and Meditations for Daily Living. This week's mediation is called "Let Go and Let God."

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares his experience of having to depend on something greater than himself as he was struggling to recover from a hip replacement surgery.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator, Douglas Bloch shares three strategies to overcome feelings of hopelessness. These feelings occur when people feel that there is no way out of their predicament.

In this video, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch introduces the audiobook version of his classic book about affirmations, Words That Heal: Affirmations and Meditations for Daily Living, which has been translated into six languages. He begins with the first meditation of the book called, "When One Door Closes Another Door Opens."

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch talks about the struggles he has faced after his hip replacement surgery and how finding a sense of purpose has made these challenges more bearable.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch interviews Noah, a former group member, who shares the story of his mental health recovery. Noah's Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/bignoknow

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch talks about the difficulties people experience when they try to wean off their antidepressants. When they follow the traditional psychiatric advice of stopping their medications in 2-4 weeks, they can experience severe withdrawal symptoms. New research shows that people should come off their medications much more slowly, taking months and sometimes years to complete the taper.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares a simple strategy that can help you avoid becoming anxious. The strategy is to be occupied with a task. Because when one is occupied and has a structure during the day, there is no room for anxiety to be present.

In this podcast, author and depression survivor and counselor Douglas Bloch talks about what to do and not to do when someone you love is suicidal.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about how to help a friend or family member who suffers from depression.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch explores the question, "Why do so many people who are depressed suffer from low self-esteem?" After answering this question, Douglas shares some simple tools and techniques that a person with depression can use to raise his or her self-esteem.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares five distorted perceptions that your brain can give you when you are depressed.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about what to say to be supportive when talking to someone suffering from depression.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares his experience of how exercise helps him to manage his anxiety. He also provides scientific evidence that shows how and why exercise reduces anxiety and calms both the mind and body.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks the three reasons why we who suffer from depression need to forgive ourselves for our mistakes.

In this video, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares a three-step technique for overcoming the worrisome thoughts that often accompany anxiety.

This episode is a survivor's testimony of how author Douglas Bloch overcame a serious episode of anxiety and depression. With his faith in recovery and the help of a group of caring people who supported him in his healing, Douglas Bloch emerged from darkness and decided to share his experience of recovery with others.

Author, and depression counselor Douglas Bloch, talks about how you can break the cycle of endlessly obsessing over a problem.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch shares his experience and research about how CBD is being used to treat anxiety, pain, and other conditions. Pure CBD oil is derived from the hemp plant and has no psychoactive properties.

Finding the Blessings in Life's Challenges

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch talks about how to cope when a person experiences the loss of a significant other--spouse, domestic partner, or someone with whom you have an intimate relationship.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares the important role that sleep plays in treating depression and preventing its occurrence.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about how to avoid future episodes of anxiety and depression through practicing relapse prevention. Douglas identifies the three stages of relapse and how to intervene at each stage to nip the symptoms in the bud.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about how he used a mindfulness medication technique to manage the unbearable pain of clinical depression and anxiety.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor talks about how to minimize the side effects of antidepressants and how to reduce the stigma of taking medication.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch explains how negative beliefs developed in childhood can lead to symptoms of depression in later life. He then shows how you can replace these beliefs with accurate and empowering beliefs about yourself, others and the world.

In this this podcast, author and counselor Douglas Bloch discusses the pros and cons of using antidepressants to treat depression. He tells what you can expect from medication how long you should remain on the drugs.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the 16th and final episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is called Epilogue: Living in Recovery. In the video, Douglas recalls that after his miraculous recovery, his challenged changed from getting out of hell to STAYING out. To accomplish this, he took the survival tools he used to stay alive during his depressive episode and used them as coping strategies to maintain his recovery. In addition, he decided to take the lessons he learned in his fight against depression and share them with others who were undergoing similar challenges.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the 15th episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Chapter 9: Footprints in the Sand. In this video, Douglas recounts the well-known parable that describes how we are living under Divine protection, especially during our most difficult times.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the 14th episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Chapter 8: After the Pain, the Joy. In this podcast Douglas talks about various ways in which the suffering he experienced during his depressive episode resulted in a number of positive blessings that would not have occurred without his ordeal. Another way of saying this is that the door cloud of depression had a silver lining.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the 13th episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is part two of Chapter 7: God Is My Antidepressant: Part 1. In the video, Douglas talks about his experience of the healing power of love as expressed through a group of people who held a vision of his recovery.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the twelfth episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is part one of Chapter 7: God Is My Antidepressant: Part 1. In the video, Douglas talks about his experience of being healed by prayer in a spiritual community outside of Portland Oregon.

In this video, author, and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about how to find alternatives to suicide when one is experiencing overwhelming pain.

In this episode, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Chapter 5: Overcoming the Stigma of Depression. In this video, Douglas talks about the stigma of mental illness where people who are depressed are seen as weak or flood. He also shared how he was able to transcend the stigma in his own life.

In this video, author and depression survivor Douglas Bloch reveals the one fear behind all of our fears, and what we can do to overcome it. Once we do the thing we fear, the fear no longer exists.

In this video, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the ninth episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Chapter 5: Bearing the Unbearable Pain. In this video, Douglas tells the story of how he used mindfulness meditation to surrender to his unbearable suicidal pain to make it bearable, so he could contiunct to survive one day at a time.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares four tips on how you can respond to unwanted thoughts and obsessions.

In this video, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the eighth episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Depression Memoir Episode 9: Meetings with Angels.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about akathisia--an intense inner restlessness brought on as a side effect of medication. Symptoms include anxiety, agitation, and a compulsion to move or to walk about. He also shows you how you can take your medication in a way that greatly reduces the risk of akathisia.

In this video, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the eighth episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Chapter 4: How I Coped With Suicidal Thoughts and Feelings. In this video, Douglas describes his struggle with thoughts of suicide, which arose from his experience of unbearable pain that seemed to have no end.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about Dysthymia a condition of low-grade depression that can keep you living in the gray zone. Fortunately, dysthymia can be treated using a combination of cognitive and behavioral strategies that we talk about on this channel. In many instances, medication is not needed.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the seventh episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Chapter 3: Treading Fire-Part 3. In the podcast, Douglas describes what he calls "A Day in the Life of Living In Hell." He tracks the events of a typical day of his suicidal episode, as he tries to bear unbearable pain, one hour at a time.

This podcast describes how as a survivor of major depression, I found the coping resources to cope with my suicidal thoughts and feelings.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch present the sixth episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression adapted from the print book of the same name. This episode is Chapter 3: Treading Fire-Part 2. In the video, Douglas further describes his life at Day Treatment where he struggled day by day to keep himself alive in the face of a life-threatening depressive illness.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the fourth episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the book of the same name. This episode consists of Chapter 3: Treading Fire-Part 1. In this podcast, Douglas recounts his brief stay at an inpatient psychiatric facility, followed by an outpatient program called Day Treatment where he finally found the structure and support he was looking for.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the third episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the book of the same name. This episode is Part 2 of Chapter 1: There Is No Room at the Inn, in which Douglas describes his search for an inpatient psychiatric facility.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the third episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the book of the same name.

In this podcast, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares his experience of what he sees as the #1 cause of depression. To put it succinctly, people fall into depression when they experience a "broken heart" caused by loss of love. The loss can occur with a spouse, significant other, child, parent, or pet. However, there is healing for this, through finding new sources of connection and community.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the second episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the book of the same name.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch presents the first episode of his new audiobook, When Going Through Hell...Don't Stop! A Survivor's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety and Clinical Depression, adapted from the book of the same name.

In this podcast, we continue our series that I call “Back from the Brink” in which I interview depression survivors, asking them what contributed to their recovery and how they are maintaining that recovery in the present.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about two circuits in the brain that create anxiety--the neocortex or the thinking brain that can cause us to worry; and the amygdala that creates the fear or fight-or-flight response. He then shares techniques that you can use to calm yourself when either of these anxiety responses occur.

In this episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares his top five strategies for overcoming anxiety, using examples from his own life.

In this podcast, author and counselor Douglas Bloch discusses five behaviors to avoid if you are going through a depressive episode.

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch continues his back to the brink series by interview a group member, Andy, who has made a remarkable recovery for a very serious major-depressive episode.

In this podcast episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch shares his favorite strategies for attaining healing in the midst of a depressive episode. This podcast contains Part 1. and Part 2. "The Top Five Things To Do If You Are Depressed."

In this podcast, author and counselor Douglas Bloch shows why setting the intention to heal is the first step in mental health recovery. This may seem like a simple act, but it has profound ramifications for your future health and well being. It doesn't matter how long you have suffered from anxiety or depression. Perhaps, like myself, you have been struggling since childhood; or maybe your first episode began six months or six weeks ago. Regardless of the time involved, the first step is the same—making the decision to heal.

In this podcast, author and depression survivor Douglas Bloch interviews Heather and has her tell her story of her journey to recovery.

In this episode, author and and depression counselor Douglas Bloch talks about why it is necessary to go beyond medications and use holistic approaches when treating depression. For more information, go to http://healingfromdepression.com

In this podcast, author and mental health educator Douglas Bloch continues his Back From the Brink series in which he interviews a group member named Mei, who has overcome a dependency on marijuana and is making great strides in his mental health recovery.

In this podcast episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch dives into current events, discussing the Former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, who recently spoke about her own low-grade depression on The Michelle Obama Podcast.

In this podcast episode, author and depression counselor Douglas Bloch explains the three pillars of mental health recovery. By taking these three steps you will boost your psychological immune system and be more likely to be on the road to recovery.

In this episode, Douglas defines what depression is and how it differs from a passing blue mood. He discusses the causes of depression, how to know when you are depressed, and most importantly, how to heal from depression. The audio in this episode was sourced from a series of interviews between Douglas and Noah Thomas that were recorded a few years ago. These interviews can also be found on Douglas's Healing from Depression YouTube channel.

In this episode, host Douglas Bloch introduces us to the Healing from Depression podcast, outlining its structure and its goal of communicating practical tools and coping strategies for healing from depression and anxiety. Douglas also introduces himself and highlights his personal struggle with depression as well as his path of recovery.