Description

Depression is more than sadness — it’s a condition that can affect every part of life, from how we think to how we connect with others. For Paul Marlow, once a professional athlete and personal trainer, depression reshaped his mind, body, and relationships, leaving him feeling disconnected and uncertain of who he was.

In this episode of Giving Voice to Depression, Paul shares his raw story of living with PTSD, anxiety, grief, and depression. He explains the invisible symptoms — like loss of joy (anhedonia), overwhelming fatigue, and emotional numbness — that made daily life nearly impossible.

But Paul’s journey also highlights resilience. Through lifestyle changes, therapy, and learning to be honest about his struggles, he found ways to reduce depressive episodes and rebuild his identity. This episode is a powerful reminder that depression changes us, but with time and support, healing and growth are possible.

Link to Paul Marlow's website and resources: https://weareneveralone.co/

Primary Topics Covered:

• Common depression symptoms beyond sadness
• How depression impacts the mind, body, and relationships
• The experience of anhedonia (loss of joy)
• Why stigma hides the real face of depression
• How PTSD, anxiety, and grief overlap with depression
• The physical toll of depression on daily functioning
• Honesty and vulnerability in mental health recovery
• Rebuilding identity after depression changes who you are
• Lifestyle tools that supported Paul’s healing journey

Timestamps:
 00:00 Introduction to the episode
 01:46 The stigma of what “depression looks like”
 03:17 Guest introduction: Paul Marlow’s journey
 04:42 Paul’s first public disclosure of depression
 05:24 Living with anxiety, PTSD, and grief alongside depression
 06:39 Daily struggles: waking, crying, and pushing through work
 07:22 Hiding symptoms from the outside world
 08:05 The loss of joy (anhedonia) explained
 09:18 Realizing how long joy had been missing
 09:52 Reflecting on who he was before depression
 10:49 Growth and transformation after mental health struggles
 11:37 How depression still shows up in certain seasons
 13:42 Learning to reduce depressive episodes through lifestyle changes
 14:47 The importance of honesty with oneself in healing
 15:10 Breaking down facades and rebuilding a new identity
 17:14 Choosing which parts of yourself to carry forward in recovery
 18:13 Closing reflections and preview of part two

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
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