Great Day Radio
Welcome to Great Day Radio! We are your fun and upbeat podcast we have great music, celebrity interviews, and much more!
We are headquartered at 26 W Dry Creek Circle Littleton, CO 80120.
Great Day Radio
Choosing Impact When Life Feels Heavy
When life tilts toward the darker edge of the calendar and motivation feels out of reach, clarity can be a lifeline. We open up about the real shape of clinical depression—how it differs from a bad day—and why naming it accurately unlocks better care, safer choices, and a path back to purpose. Mikey shares candid stories from combat deployments, a recent divorce, and the pull toward isolation, and we unpack how trauma experiences echo through the body and mind long after the moment passes.
Together, we lay out a practical toolkit for getting unstuck. We break down routines that steady sleep and energy, explain behavioral activation in plain language, and share small, doable actions that nudge momentum without relying on motivation. We explore mindfulness, breathwork, and the critical difference between solitude and loneliness, especially as seasonal changes amplify low mood. You’ll hear why trauma‑informed care matters, how to balance therapy and medication decisions, and what to consider when substance use slips in as a quick fix that backfires later. We also reframe productivity as purposeful action—simple wins that restore agency and reconnect you to what matters most.
If you’re recognizing warning signs for yourself or someone you love, we talk through first steps: reach out to a trusted person, connect with a mental health professional, and build a safety plan with clear signals, coping strategies, and crisis contacts. Even on hard days, your presence and choices cr
Start for FREE
Best e-commerce platform ever!
You can literally build a fully functioning store in less than 5 minutes.
Battery Daddy Storage & Organizer Case
Battery Daddy Storage & Organizer Case with Tester, Stores & Protects Up to 180 Batteries
From Conflict to Connection
Unlock the power of understanding and empathy with "From Conflict to Connection," the transformative
Realistic Voice AI platform Ever
AI voice models and products powering millions of developers, creators, and enterprises.
The Best Financial Hack Ever!
Discover The Fundamental Principles Of Living Trusts, Including The Differences Between Revocable An
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.
Great Day Radio Sources:
You and listening to the People Station on GreatdayRadio.com.
SPEAKER_01:I'm DJ D Marie, and with me today is mental health advocate DJ Mikey D. It has been a while since we last collaborated on a podcast. How are you doing, Mikey?
SPEAKER_00:Thanks for having me, D. Really excited to talk about something so important, especially with October being Depression Awareness Month. Speaking of depression, as you know, I suffer with depression myself, so while I do not display it openly, it has been a challenge as of lately. There is so much to talk about. I've started my journey to return to school to achieve my master degree in social work. It's very exciting. Certainly I have had some challenges personally as far as health and the separation from my kiddos has devastated me, but I am managing day by day.
SPEAKER_01:Wow. So much going on with you, Mikey. First, are you yourself getting help to cope with your own depression? Also, congratulations on starting school again. Very excited for you. Ironically, as I was thinking about this topic, I could not help but to think of you. We have shared and discussed so much about your life over time. I recall our discussion about our own personal traumas as children. We also discussed a great deal about your time fighting multiple combat tours while serving in the army. While it brings me to this point, that I think there's still a lot of confusion out there about what depression actually is. People will say, I'm feeling depressed when they're just having a bad day. But clinical depression is something different, right?
SPEAKER_00:Exactly. And that's such an important distinction. Everyone experiences low moods. That's part of being human. But clinical depression is more persistent, it lasts longer, and it significantly interferes with your daily functioning. We're talking about changes in sleep, appetite, energy levels, concentration. As for me, I have to admit I have been reluctant to seek help. I think pride has much to do with it. I think mental health outcome is different for men than women. As a combat veteran, I find often that VA doctors just want to shove meds down my throat and call it good. Many of them had not experienced what most veteran have experienced. Of course, that is a discussion in itself.
SPEAKER_01:And it's not just feeling sad. I've heard people describe it as this overwhelming emptiness or hopelessness that just doesn't lift. Listening to you, Mikey, you are such a happy-go-lucky guy. You always have a positive mindset every time. So it is hard to imagine you struggle with depression and the severity. I have to ask, is it to a degree you feel harmful to yourself, or do you have invading thoughts?
SPEAKER_00:First, thank you, DJ D for your love and concern. Have I thought about ending my life due to depression? Yes, many times I have. Sure, I have invading thoughts. Would I ever follow through? Absolutely not. I have so much to live for. Besides, I have to put myself in the shoes of my kiddos and how they would be traumatized, and that's why awareness months like this are so crucial to discuss. October was chosen specifically because we're heading into those darker, shorter days when many people experience seasonal worsening. It's about preparing communities and reducing stigma.
SPEAKER_01:Which brings us to an important point. If someone is experiencing suicidal thoughts or is in immediate danger, they need to call emergency services right away. No hesitation.
SPEAKER_00:Absolutely critical. And for anyone listening who might be struggling, I want to emphasize that seeking professional help such as a social worker is the first and most important step. While I am not a fan of medications, for some it may help regulate your thoughts and emotions. A mental health professional can help create a treatment plan that might include therapy, medication, or both.
SPEAKER_01:What about some of the coping strategies people can use while they're getting that professional support? Because I know when you're depressed, even small tasks can feel overwhelming.
SPEAKER_00:That's so true. One of the most helpful things is establishing routines, even basic ones for sleep, meals, and physical activity. Something as simple as a short daily walk can make a real difference in energy levels.
SPEAKER_01:I love that. And what about the social isolation piece? Because depression often makes people want to withdraw. Mikey, you mentioned that you go into isolation mode frequently. How do you get yourself out of it? Also, what triggers it?
SPEAKER_00:That isolation can really worsen depression. Great questions. For me, sometimes I wake up and just feel like shutting the world out. I think for me it is a coping mechanism for my childhood traumas. It is also how I dealt with stress and losses while deployed during my time in the army. Of course, having recently gone through a sudden divorce and the separation from my kids and my dogs has triggered me and continues to trigger me. So that is why staying connected with trusted friends or family, even when you don't feel like it, is so important. Support groups can be incredibly helpful too. There's something powerful about realizing you're not alone in what you're experiencing.
SPEAKER_01:Wow. Thank you for sharing that part of you. Just know if you ever feel isolated and need to talk, I am here for you, Mikey. And what about this concept of behavioral activation? I've heard mental health professionals talk about that. Being that you are studying this subject in school, I am positive you will have great insights.
SPEAKER_00:Yes. It's about planning small, rewarding activities to counter that lack of motivation. When you're depressed, you wait to feel motivated before you act, but with behavioral activation, you act first, and the motivation often follows.
SPEAKER_01:That's such a shift in thinking. Instead of waiting to feel better to do things, you do things to start feeling better.
SPEAKER_00:Exactly. And mindfulness practices, deep breathing, these aren't just buzzwords. They actually help with mood regulation. Also, addressing substance use is crucial because alcohol and drugs can significantly worsen depression symptoms.
SPEAKER_01:I want to touch on something you mentioned earlier about trauma. How does that connect to depression?
SPEAKER_00:Trauma is an emotional response to experiences that feel incomprehensible, and it has a direct impact on both our minds and bodies. Having discussed this element of self-care, I can't help but recall how my commanders in the Army would often stress physical exercise during deployments to manage depression. With that, unaddressed trauma can absolutely contribute to or worsen depression. That's why trauma-informed care is so important in mental health treatment.
SPEAKER_01:And what about the whole concept of being alone versus being lonely? Because I think that's really relevant here.
SPEAKER_00:They're definitely not the same thing. Some solitude can be healthy and restorative, but loneliness, that feeling of isolation and disconnection, can contribute to depression. Finding that balance is key.
SPEAKER_01:I'm also thinking about productivity and happiness. There's this misconception that you have to choose between being productive and being happy, but that's not really true, is it?
SPEAKER_00:Not at all. When we talk about productivity in the context of mental health, we're not talking about grinding yourself into the ground. We're talking about finding, fulfilling activities that give you a sense of purpose and accomplishment. That kind of productivity can actually increase overall happiness.
SPEAKER_01:What about that feeling when life just feels off? I think many of us experience that from time to time.
SPEAKER_00:That unsettled feeling is often a signal that something needs attention. If we ignore it, what was a little off can become way off. Periodically evaluating our satisfaction with life is actually a healthy practice. Life is meant to be an evolution, a series of changes that create new opportunities.
SPEAKER_01:Well said, Mikey. Which brings us to change. It's inevitable, but so many of us resist it.
SPEAKER_00:We can't prevent change, but we can learn to manage it. Some change we choose intentionally, other change we have to react to out of necessity. Embracing change as a natural part of life helps us be ready when it comes.
SPEAKER_01:Before we wrap up, I want to talk about impact. When people are depressed, they often feel like they don't matter or can't make a difference. What are your thoughts, Mikey?
SPEAKER_00:That's such an important point. The truth is, we're making an impact every single day, in both big and small ways. You don't need a team or some organized mechanism to make a difference. Your actions, your words, your presence, they all have an effect. Even when you're struggling, you have the power to make an intentional impact on the world around you.
SPEAKER_01:Mikey, for someone who's listening and might be recognizing some of these depression symptoms in themselves or a loved one, what would be your first piece of advice?
SPEAKER_00:Reach out, whether it's to a mental health professional, a trusted friend, or a family member. You don't have to navigate this alone. And if you're having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please seek help immediately. Creating a safety plan, identifying warning signs, coping strategies, and emergency resources can be life-saving.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you so much, Mikey. This has been incredibly informative and important. For our listeners, we'll have resources in the show notes, including crisis hotlines and information about finding mental health support in your area. Also, please visit Greatday Radio Bootcamp.com for our ebooks and journals on depression, mental health, and much more. That is www.greatdayradiobootcamp.com.
SPEAKER_00:Thanks for having me, D. Remember everyone, your mental health matters, and there is hope and help available.
SPEAKER_01:That's all for this episode of Great Day Radio's Mindful Moments. Take care of yourself.
