In this episode of The Anxiety Society, hosts Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale and guest clinician Ryan Judd, take a deep dive into depression. They discuss the challenges of recognizing and managing depression and share practical strategies to help listeners take control of their emotions. With insights on behavioral activation, the importance of community, and how depression intertwines with anxiety, this episode offers clear steps to get back on track when life feels overwhelming.

Key Points:

[0:00] - Welcome and Episode Overview

Elizabeth and Cali introduce today’s guest, Ryan Judd, a clinician at the OCD Institute, Texas, and outline their focus on depression.

[1:20] - Recognizing Depression in Everyday Life

Ryan shares his clinical insights on how depression manifests in various ways, from changes in sleep to loss of interest in activities.

[3:26] - The Power of Behavioral Activation

Ryan and Elizabeth discuss how altering behavior can shift feelings and why action, not rest, is the antidote to depression.

[6:08] - Clinical vs. Everyday Depression

The hosts clarify the difference between feeling depressed occasionally and clinical depression, emphasizing the importance of recognizing prolonged symptoms.

[18:00] - Avoidance and Social Pressure

Elizabeth reflects on her own experience with avoidance and social anxiety, highlighting how small changes in routine can make a big difference.

[31:00] - Finding and Building Community

The conversation touches on how isolation exacerbates depression and why building community is critical for healing.

Quotable Moments:

[3:47] "We don’t have a lot of control over our feelings, but we can control our actions—and that changes everything." - Ryan Judd

[19:17] "Sometimes, when you feel least able to do something, that’s when it’s most important to go do it." - Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale

[43:40] "Not many good things happen in your head—get out of your head and into your life." - Ryan Judd

Links Mentioned:

• Anxiety Society Podcast Website: http://anxietysocietypodcast.com
• Book "Make Your Bed" :https://a.co/d/2GCLs27

In this episode, we learned that taking small, consistent steps can significantly change how we feel over time. Depression doesn’t have to control your life, and the path to healing starts with small actions and reconnecting with your community. Join us next time, and don’t forget to leave us a voice message on our website with your questions and thoughts!

Mentioned in this episode:

World Class Treatment For A Worldwide Need

The OCD Institute of Texas provides compassionate individualized treatment for anxiety, OCD and related disorders with a diverse team of dedicated specialists.