The Active Optimist

Back with another solo episode on the connection between body dysmorphia (BBD) and depression. BDD consists of being destressing preoccumation with perceived physical flaws. So in this episode, I will seek to anwser the questions: What do the emotions of guilt and shame have to do with both disorders? How can BDD relate to someone with depression? And can one cause the other?Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Today's podcast is in reflextion of some of the personal work I have been doing ie. examining my inner child. Here I hope to give you an introduction on the concepts of reparenting and inner child, plus examine how it can help our mental health. From what I've learned, depression and anxiety can be directly connected to the need to reparent, especially when we find ourselved suffering from depression as young adults or teens.Mentioned in this episode:How I learned about reparenting on the To Be Magnetic podcast. Link here!The Holistic Psychologist's artical on reparenting is here!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

We all want to escape reality sometimes. On this week's episode I am sharing the benefits of escapism whether its from a good book, cottage-core TikTok's, or bingeing a Netflix dating show. By engaging in some healthy escapism, you can leave any pressing concerns or worries behind. It can be a powerful tool in reducing anxiety, getting through depressive episodes. and everyday trials.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

In continuation to last week's episode, on this week's episode we're talking about the important connection between body image, trauma processing, and mental health. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

On this week's episode we're talking about the important connection between body image and mental health. It is my opinion that we can NEVER separate our body image with our mental health. We are both in and are our bodies. I discuss 3 very popular approaches to throw out the window! And lastly I share what has helped me get to where I am now – *hint* none of them involved the gym or a diet.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

And I'm proud of it. On this week's episode, I'm back and come pleading: can we please stop with guilting people over the morning pages, the journaling, the meditation, the drinking lemon-infused water, and the yoga? Your worth is not dictated on how productive you are nor how aesthetically pleasing your day is. So what is a good morning routine, then?In truth, life is messy so let's not get lost in the ideas that social media puts forth. Put your depression or whatever-less-than-ideal-mental health on top of that.  I also share a how to release yourself from the "shoulds" that make us feel worst and feed on our insecurities and inadequacies. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

The Active Optimist is 1 year old! I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who has supported, shared, and listened to the podcast! After 365 days of talking about depression and mental health, today I am revisiting the first steps towards getting comfortable talking about depression - figuring out “how,” to “who,” and breaking down depression stigma. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Today we're going back to basics – causes of depression. This week we have the lost of status and respect's effect on our mental health. We're talking MACRO forces playing on our micro minds! We also have four stages to greater authenticity. Being removed from our authenic self can literally silence our voice and internal sense of self. Based on patterns I've seen in my life, I lay out how you can get to be a more authentic, resilient, and happier self starting today!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome to Diego to The Active Optimist! We come on to talk about Diego's story with depression and how taking a stand for his emotional authenicity has made the difference. We also discuss the pressures of high school and college culture that can effect your mental health. Last but not least, Diego talks about the connection between male gender expectations and his mental health in America and in his Venezuelan immigrant experience. Follow Diego's blog on Instagram @consciencia.blog and check out his blog for full essays on men's mental health here. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Shop our merch!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Halfway to 100! Irina's back and going back to the basics: talking about your favorite topic - depression. Where does insecurity and depression have to do with together? What is self worth anyway? Why are we all so insecure in the first place? In reflection to her experience with suicidal depression and what enlightenment happened post-recovery, Irina is breaking down the connection between insecurity, self worth, and depression. Last but not least, she also shares 3 ciritcal questions we all should be asking ourselves in order to evaluate our self worth. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

This week we are joined by Devon Loftus and Jenna Radomski, MScN, co-authors of "The Moon Cycle Cookbook." Together the three dive into many different aspects of having a menstral cycle that we never talk about including (but not limited to): shame, feeling depressed, and why we can have low energy. Your period is more than cramps, PMS-ing, and eating chocolate! The trio also dives into feeling worthy of striving towards health even when you mess up. Yes, depression begets depression, but you are meant to feel happy & connected and it's your birthright to strive to be so. Shop our merch here!Follow Devon on IG - @devonloftuswrites!  Learn more about Jenna's work here or on IG/TikTok @jennabeebasics. Find the bakery on IG - @mooncyclebakery. Check out their cookbook "The Moon Cycle Cookbook" and website mooncyclebakery.com!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and find me on TikTok @theactiveoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

The more the merrier! On this week's podcast we not only have one topic, we have three!I am entering her ex-influencer era aka building a better relationship with social media that serves me and aligns with my boundries. As we all know, social media can take a toll on our mental health so I breakdown what has led me to this point and the actual step I've taken upon reflection. I also guide you through the signs of burnout and what we can do to address it. Burnout is not only a work-related feeling, but it extends to school, relationships, social media, or even creativity. With this, I also discuss dealing with rejection surrounding our dreams and goals. Things change, plans change, the entire world changes, but that does not mean that your goal must change as well.And just remember, no is NEVER the final answer!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Today, I am with you all to learn all about abusive relationships and mental health. I am joined by Ada Sang Mata, a Licensed Social Worker and Psychotherapist, to talk about what an abusive relationship actually looks like so you can RUN FOR THE HILLS, some myths and truths about abusive relationships, and practical ways to move forward. We also talk about the normalization/romanticization of toxic love or struggle love in popular culture. This is a must-listen for all of us to be aware and knowledgeable to not only help ourselves, but also the people around us.Mentioned in this episodeUnited States – Hotlines:1-800-572-72331-800-787-3224 (TTY)Video call for people with hearing disabilities:855-812-1001deafhelp@thehotline.orgNY – Hotlines:1-800-621-46731-800-942-69061-866-604-5350 (TTY)Video call for people with hearing disabilities: 711 Text messaging: 844-997-2121 NJ – Hotlines: 1-877-218-9133Sexual violence: 1-800-601-7200Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Irina is back with a SOLO EPISODE! This week we are talking about standing your ground in being treated with respect and high self worth. With depression or without, our self worth can be at an all time low. We can find ourselves paralized by anticipating rejection if we stepped up, but fear not! You can start today building back your self respect and making desicions from a high worth space.  Today, I'm talking about my own experience getting to a place where I couldn't live another day without my self respect, how I said no, stood my ground, and how I started passing other self worth tests.Support the podcast by shopping our hats!! Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome, Jerson to the podcast! In today's episode, Jerson shares his insight into accepting that you can adapt to what you need and remain true to yourself. He talks about how he used his university wellness hotline to get him through his most precarious moments and connect to a therapist. Jerson shares the importance of idenifying vulnerable moments and putting his coping skills to work before his mental health takes a hit. He also shares a bit about how coming out effected his mental health in both positive/negative ways. Through this he's learned that key to being stopping people's homophobia has less to do with changing their mind, but accepting himself and his sexual idenity. Shop our hats!! Mentioned in this episodeNYC Well 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355)National Suicide Prevention Hotline available 24/7 (800-273-8255) Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Social Media. Flex Culture. It goes without saying that social media has effected this generations mental health like no other and it's getting worse. We start to believe in the lie: I am no good and there is only one right way to be. This week I will be talking about building the mental strength to start building self confidence and being ok with feeling bad in a world that seems always lit.Shop our hats!! Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome, Jonathan! On this week's process episode, Jonathan tells us about his mental health history over the past 16 years, starting at age 14. He gives a honest recount of navigating medication, trying to refine what balance means in his life, and his diagnosis with Bipolar Disorder. Jonathan also talks about how parental dynamics have effected his mental health and learning to reevaluate absolutist thinking.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

They said it was a mental breakdown, a deranged homeless man, and not a racially motived hate crime. In this week's episode, I am reflecting on muliple anti-Asian attacks over the past year that have been overshadowed by investigations of the attacker's mental illness history. While no one will ever really know what happened, the immediate response to it illustrates a larger reality: when the offender is mentally ill, we as a society have an exceedingly difficult time ascribing political or racial motivations to their actions. I share how this furthers mental health stigma and doesn't acknoledge the very real reality of racism against Asians which has risen/been accepted over the past 2 years.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome to another process episode! Today we have Abigail, a true active optimist, who share's her dive into depression after falling 18 feet and shattering her arm. As a professionally trained nurse, Abigial share's how she struggled under western (mainstream) medicine's separation between the mind and the body. She tells us how a more holistic approach was the key to her healing and acknowledging sexual trauma was the connection she had to make that finally put her on the road to recovery.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Happy New Year! To start off 2022, I am recaping all the guests of 2021 and sharing some of my favorite clips from every episode.A big thank you to my interviewees, who were extremely generous with their time and their willingness to explore difficult subjects, having these conversations, and let us hear it.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome to the last episode of 2021! As the year ends it is inevitable that we start to reflect. In this week's episode I talk about how to turn our often dispairing and depressing thoughts about the past year into something useful and balanced. End of year review questions the anti-depression way questions:Is there anything to celebrate from the past year?What bad experiences or charge are we carrying right now?How is your mental health, physical health, spiritual health? What changes do you want to see happen over the next 365 days?Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

In this week's episode I am going over the real role of genes and brain changes in developing depression and being depressed. Most of us are only told the half truth of depression being a simple, yet spontaneous chemical imbalance in the brain. But there is so so much more than that. I will talk about what current research says about  how genetic predisposition, neuroplasticity, and immune system functions can cause depression.Mentioned in this episode:Active Optimist episode on nutrition and toxic environmental causes for depression. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

This week's episode comes from my experience doubting myself, where I'm going, and playing into the lie that I should be further along by now. Self doubt is one of the many ways negative self talk keeps up from staying on an upward spiral away from depression. I talk about distinguishing between internal and external judgement and their respective solutions.Things that have helped me with self doubt (shared in this episode):Talking to someone.Writing down my past accomplishments. Check out Serena on Instagram @serenakerrigan and her post here. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome Atiyyah to the podcast! In this week's process episode, Atiyyah share's her mental health journey and the greater journey of self love. She shares the freedom and wholeness that comes with choosing yourself and shedding the expectant dreams that we can carry. She also share's her radical act of self love – dating herself – where you treat yourself to the most enjoyable time ever for yourself as an act of love. Last but not least, we talk about stepping into the most authentic you, releasing yourself from the second act.Check out Atiyyah on Instagram at @teeforthought_Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American listeners! Now, are we entering the happiest of holidays season or a month long torture chamber? In this week's episode, I will share my thoughts on when you are less than enthusiastic for going home or the many social gatherings that characterize the month of December. With depression  in mind, it is important to take proactive measures to prep ourselves if we anticipate a hard holiday season. That being said, if you do feel a tiny or overwhelming sense of dread for the next coming weeks the one thing I must leave with you is that you are not alone and you shouldn't feel guilty for thinking these things. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

I'm so happy to introduce Anna in this week's process episode! Marking her one year, we talk about what this last year has brought + taught her after she started anew on her own after getting out of a toxic, traumatic relationship. She's real and raw about what got her on the path to recovering from her body image struggles, the power of positivity, and the reality of living with anxiety. Last but not least,  we talk about self love and putting yourself first as one of the most powerful moves you can make  not only for your mental health, but for the whole YOU.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Calling all women! This week's episode is all about your brain and hormonal birth control. With most women taking some sort of hormonal birth control presently or in the future, it is vital that we are informed about how it can effect our mental health & depression. Today, I'm sharing a overview on some of the unintended effects and consequences birth control can have on our brains that could lead us feeling depressed, dulled, and confused.Check out Sarah Hill's book “This is Your Brain on Birth Control" here which I highly recommend.Also mentioned in this episode:In the Flo by Alissa VittiThank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

This Process episode is graced by Martin! He gives a thoughtful recount of his mental health through the Army, college, and what he's done over the few years.  We talk about the powerful perception that you co-create your reality and in control of your reactions. Martin also shares how faith and spirituality took centerstage in his approach to his mental health. Last but not least, Martin shows how empowering it is to get invested back into your life, take charge, and be energized in finding solutions to the struggles we are presented with.Mentioned in this episode:The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho If you are in NJ, join the Active Optimist Circle here!Sign up form is here!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

In this week's episode I am specifically talking to anyone who is supporting someone through depression or any other mental health crisis. I'm sharing my tips on how to hold space for someone, the importance of hearing them out, and why we must stop calling the cops when someone mentions mental health struggles or suicide. As with every episode, I am here to start the conversation, and I hope you can use it to jumpstart a conversation between friends, peers, your organizations, and community.If you are in NJ, join the Active Optimist Circle here! https://www.subsequentlydepression.com/active-optimist-circle Sign up form is here!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Work is running my life! Today's episode is about work and mental health, staying afloat when it seems like outside forces are trying so hard to bring us down. Whether it's work, school, family, or anything else, we all have seasons of overwhelm and I'm sharing what I have learned about consciously keeping up my mental wellness when everything is going to the wayside. Join our new Facebook group here! https://www.facebook.com/groups/185676800311717If you are in NJ, join the Active Optimist Circle here! https://www.subsequentlydepression.com/active-optimist-circle Sign up form is here!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Today's episode is all about losing friends and finding peace! Based on my own experience over this past year, I will be talking about the pain that losing a friend can bring, loneliness, but also the power of saying "Thank You, Next"For my special listeners, here's the link! Scroll to the bottom of the page to give your info, I'll be in contact with you 10/19/21. https://www.irinaerickson.comThank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Today's episode covers it all with Erin Salko. We talk about how therapy and medication helped her get out of a depression "stall" and prioritizing her mental health within her friendships & education.  Erin also shares how art and comedy helps her cope with her depression as both she uses to process the complexities of her emotions. Last but not least, Erin shares her recent revelation on living in the now, letting go, and improving living in the present 1% a day.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Subsequently, Depression has gone through renovations and is now The Active Optimist!Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist and feel free to send me any stories, questions, or comments my way!

Today on the show, I am questioning the idea of depression as a illness and if there is a truer + more empowering way of framing our depression. Are we really sick? Or is depression a sign of disfunction? Or are we lost, disconnected, and hurting? Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

On today's podcast, we have Nathan Smith joining us to talk about his almost decade long life with depression and his thoughts on fighting depression sigma, which he primarily does through his blog My Brain's Not Broken. Also, in this episode, we talk about the importance of acceptance and how each depression story is different. Last but not least, Nathan shares his tips on how you can start to talk about depression with someone in your life today.Follow Nathan on Instagram @_mybrainsnotbroken and Twitter @mybrainsnotbroken.Also check out his blog My Brain's Not Broken. https://mybrainsnotbroken.comThank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Optimism is not dead. In this week's episode I will be discussing the difference between passive/blind optimism and active optimism. I believe that active optimism is a powerful idea in living an depressant resilient life because it does not ignore pain and the reality of life, but it can be a force in creating the future when paired with community and action.  This week's episode is inspired by the idea of "Optimism as Cultural Rebellion," coined by artist Matthew Stone.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Questions & Experiences Form https://irinaerickson.com/experiences-and-questions-form.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

For this week, I'm broaching the very hard, but very necessary, topic of suicide. In honor of Suicide Awareness Month and the fact that suicidal ideation was a part of my depression story, in this episode I will be talking about suicide stigma and some ways I seek to understand suicide human to human. To all those listening, I'm glad you are here and I hope you can feel me reaching out my palm so we can hold hands together and walk through this every hard time. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Questions & Experiences Form https://irinaerickson.com/experiences-and-questions-form.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome to another Process episode, this week with Spurthi! She gives a beautifully honest recount of depression as a college freshman and ways she's learned to heal. This one is jammed packed with gems including the reality of living with anxiety,  how purpose is an antidote for depression, and her diagnosis with PMDD. We also talk about the dynamics of Indian culture which naturally impacted Spurthi's experience with medication. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Questions & Experiences Form https://irinaerickson.com/experiences-and-questions-form.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

This week's episode is all about validation and self betrayal. As one of the most common coping mechanisms, self betrayal leaves us living disconnected from our authentic self. In an attempt to receive love + approval we deny and highlight parts of ourselves. With depression, this can come up as not knowing what WE want. In this episode I share how habits and affirmations have helped me create connection with myself, take back my power, and know I am valid in what I am feeling, experiencing, and thinking. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Today I'm so excited to welcome Savannah Regensburger to the podcast! She is a mindfulness coach and the co-host of the And...A Diet Soda podcast, where she talks about intuitive eating and mental health. Together we talk about how intuitive eating was the cornerstone of her mental health journey. She shares tips how to get real about your nutrition to support your body + brain even in the face of food insecurity, food desert and disordered eating. Follow Savannah @savannahregensbuger and check out her podcast And...A Diet Soda!In this Episode:The Mind Gut ConnectionFiber FuelIntuitive EatingThe Inflamed BrainWhere to Find Us!@irinaerickson@subsequentlydepressionThe content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

This episode came out of the understanding of how uncomfortable our world is with emotions. Triggered by an emotional rupture in my life, I share my thoughts on how we can foster our own numbness and how we should start dealing with emotions. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Welcome, Carter! In this weeks episode, I am joined by Carter who shares his experience with functional depression and his natural tendency towards solitude. He shares the reality of getting too comfortable with being alone and the challenges & energy expended to maintain social connections. We also talk about how our current world order makes a balanced life hard and how mental wellness must be our priority.Check out Carter's blog Mindful Musings here:  https://my-mindful-musings.medium.com Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Questions & Experiences Form https://irinaerickson.com/experiences-and-questions-form.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Today we welcome Jherlin Nunez! In this episode we talk about Jherlin's cultural history & background and growing up in the Bronx, an environment where the idea of mental wellness is absent. Also, the importance of taking the first step that opens the door of healing and living authentically. Jherlin shares his journey of  understanding trauma in the body and navigating therapy.Check out Jherlin's photography on Instagram @jerlinpn and book your portrait session in NYC. https://www.instagram.com/jherlinpn/Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!Questions & Experiences Form https://irinaerickson.com/experiences-and-questions-form.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

It's about time to have an honest conversation about loneliness. This week's episode is part 2 of 2 on the reality of feeling alone and the universal feeling of being lonely. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

It's about time to have an honest conversation about loneliness. This week's episode is part 1 of 2 on the reality of feeling alone and the universal feeling of being lonely. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

In this weeks episode, I will be talking about one of the pillar connections that we must make in cultivating a depression resilient life – the connection to the future. Having a future and something to live for is essential to any human experience, but with depression it becomes harder to keep our sights on it. Also, I will be introducing how defensive emotions keep us locked in our depressive blindness and how I reorientated myself towards meaning.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

Kamini Menon is back! On this episode we get deep on feeling passionless, lost, and depressed as a teenager. Kamini shares how she redirected her life towards the feeling of joy and what it means for us when creating an anti-depressant life. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

In this week's episode, we're adding a new meaning to a toxic environment. Just like any other animal on earth, us humans are effected by our environment mentally and are unable to thrive if it does not meet our needs. In the modern day, our environment has increasingly become literally toxic and an unknown number of us are paying the price with mental poisoning. I will be breaking this down, discussing what happens to our brain, and give some concrete ways to look out for ourselves.Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression.The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

You must kill who you are supposed to be, to become who you want to be.In this weeks episode, I will be sharing my thoughts on how editing or shutting down a part of our whole selves can factor into our depression because it leaves us blocked and disconnected from our true self.  I'm breaking down how I've battled the lie "I have to be smaller" and break into being unabashedly you. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @the.activeoptimist or @irinaerickson. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

In this episode, I am joined by my good friend Felicity to talk about her journey through depression. She shares her experience as a high schooler with immense family pressure, not feeling she was valid in being sad and stressed, and deciding to get on an upward spiral out of depression in college. Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @the.activeoptimist. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.

In this weeks episode, we're getting a little technical. I will be talking all about food's relation to depression, moods, and mental fitness. How does the food we eat effect our mental functions?  One of the many overlooked causes of depression, the food you eat and subsequently the health of your gut must be looked at when building a depression resilient life! I'm simplifying the nutritional science so we all can be intentional in supporting a healthy brain & mental fitness. At the end of the day, we should be eating, not for our waistline, but for the health of our brain!Thank you for supporting the podcast! Follow me on Instagram @irinaerickson or @subsequentlydepression. Feel free to reach out with any comments or questions, I love them!The content shared here is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified & licensed healthcare provider.