Sean Goddard's Insightful Journey Through the Depths of Depression

What Is Depression?

Ever found yourself losing interest in the things that once sparked joy in your life? Sean Goddard of Viking Psychiatry joins us to unravel the intricate web of depression, enlightening us on how this condition extends far beyond the stereotypical portrayals. Through personal anecdotes and relatable scenarios, Sean, a seasoned mental health nurse practitioner, offers a candid look into the varying presentations of depression— from the profound sense of anhedonia to the unpredictable changes in sleep and appetite patterns. Learn about recognizing the subtle yet significant symptoms of depression that could be affecting you or someone you love.

This episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of their mental health. Sean doesn't just list symptoms; he breathes life into them with stories and examples that illustrate the unique ways depression can manifest in our lives. Whether it's the loss of excitement over a slam dunk or a newfound indifference to favorite foods, our discussion with Sean Goddard is an eye-opening exploration of the nuances of depression, providing listeners with the knowledge to identify and acknowledge the signs within themselves and others. Join us for a conversation that goes beyond the basics and delves into the heart of what it really means to grapple with this often misunderstood condition.

To learn more about Viking Psychiatry go to:
https://www.vikingpsychiatry.com/

Viking Psychiatry
260-459-9225

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:04

Welcome to the Viking Psychiatry Podcast, where you get the support you need when you need it. At the helm is Sean Goddard, owner of Viking Psychiatry, veteran and dual certified nurse practitioner specializing in mental health.

Speaker 2: 0:19

Join us as we dive into the complexity of depression with the owner of Viking Psychiatry. Uncover the truth behind this often misunderstood condition, explore its causes, symptoms and latest treatments. Welcome back everyone. This is Garfield Born, co-host, slash producer, back in the studio with Sean Garrod. Sean, how are you doing today?

Speaker 3: 0:43

I'm doing great. It's great to get connected with you again today.

Speaker 2: 0:47

So, Sean, what is depression?

Speaker 3: 0:52

You know, I could almost just turn that question back at you, right, because depression can be different for everybody. Right? When you think about depression, people tend to think about what they see in the movies or on the TV shows. Right, it's that person who's laying on the couch right Hasn't gotten up in a week. There's uh 10, 10 meals worth of garbage laying around you, uh 20 tissue boxes empty all around you. And and some people think that, uh, to have depression, that's how you have to look or how you have to feel. Right, depression, that's how you have to look or how you have to feel. Right, and I would tell you that depression can present differently for a lot of people, in a lot of different ways.

Speaker 2: 1:34

So are there, like some key symptoms that indicate that someone's depressed, depressed?

Speaker 3: 1:41

Absolutely. You have a favorite hobby.

Speaker 2: 1:46

I like basketball.

Speaker 3: 1:48

Basketball Watching it, playing it.

Speaker 2: 1:50

Well, it used to be playing it, but now it's more watching.

Speaker 3: 1:55

That's OK. I get that the recliners were made for something right.

Speaker 1: 1:58

Yeah.

Speaker 3: 2:00

You know, one of the things that I tell people is if, if there's something that you're passionate about right, like basketball, right, and you have a, it gives you a lot of joy and a lot of energy, and then all of a sudden you find that you're not getting excited about basketball anymore, that you miss the games that you used to never miss before, right, you don't get excited when your favorite man what would I would give to watch Michael Jordan play again Right, but your, your favorite player, slam an amazing dunk and it just doesn't excite you like it used to. That's one of the things we look at. That's called anhedonia, right, or a lack of joy in life. The things that used to get you excited, that used to get you happy, they don't. They don't give you happiness much anymore.

Speaker 3: 2:43

And that's one of the key things that we really look for. In depression, you can also have hopelessness, low self-esteem, not feeling good about yourself and where you're at in life, guilt because of how low you've been feeling or how you feel like you might be a burden to the people around you or the people that you love. We often really see sleep being affected and people go oh well, that must mean that they sleep 14 hours because they're depressed, right, and that's not necessarily the case. People can have difficulty going to sleep or going to sleep and then staying asleep right, so they're waking up multiple times a night. Or sometimes we see the exact opposite. Right, we see people who can go to bed. They fall asleep right away, but then they wake up at three o'clock in the morning and they can't go back to sleep, and it just shows you how there can be such a variance for individuals when it comes to depression.

Speaker 3: 3:38

Appetite's another great example. Some people, when they're depressed, all they want to do is eat right, and that Dunkin' Donut box that I picked up for my staff this morning, instead of just eating one now I'm eating six right, but on the other hand you know we talked about red beans and rice. Last time we were together, right, and I can shout out on some red beans and rice. But if I'm feeling depressed all of a sudden, that red beans and rice, there's no joy in it and I don't want to eat anymore and, oh my gosh, I can't imagine not wanting to eat red beans and rice. But it happens for folks and so with that we can have weight gain or weight loss. It really makes you see how your depression for example, if you were depressed might look completely, completely different from mine.

Speaker 2: 4:27

So, sean, what's the fix?

Speaker 3: 4:31

you know, I wish it was just a matter of, you know, flipping a coin, or you know, back in the day, I remember one of the comments that I would often hear from my clients and I still hear it today, especially in my younger clients is an adult in their life who they respect telling them well, just get happier, get up, do something right and just feel happier. Right, but it's not that easy. Depression can be extremely complicated, right, we know that there's the gut, for example, is involved. Right, our gut, health, our sleep, our energy, our motivation, and so there's not always a one size fits all answer, right, and that's why it's so important that, when it comes to feeling, if you're struggling with depression and feeling down, right, that you find a provider who's able to look at you as an individual, because, as we just talked about, it's not textbook, right, and so sometimes it's medication, sometimes it's exercise, sometimes it's hobbies, sometimes it's advanced treatments, like what we offer here at Viking Psychiatry, like Spravato or TMS, but really, what it comes down?

Speaker 2: 5:53

to is finding somebody who is compassionate and invested in helping you get back to your true self. Is there like a particular symptom that, when this happens, I really need to seek help? Is there a line or a stage or a symptom that they should really start looking at help when something happens, what does?

Speaker 3: 6:09

that look like.

Speaker 3: 6:10

Yeah, I really appreciate you asking that. I think the biggest thing that we have to say is you know, one of the things that can go along with depression is suicidality, right, the thoughts of not wanting to live anymore, right, and those can be anywhere from what we call passive right Meaning hey, I wouldn't care if, as I was walking across the street, this bus hit me right, or all of a sudden, you know, I'm having thoughts about ways that I could do that and that maybe I want to do that. So those are true emergencies, right, those aren't. Let's call around and see where we can get in and maybe get on the wait list, and it's going to be three months, that's a 9-1-1, go to the ER type situation.

Speaker 3: 6:49

But outside of that emergency, you know what I would tell you is again. So, outside of that emergency, you know what I would tell you is, again, it comes up to the individual that if you feel that it's really impacting your quality of life and it's affecting your job, your relationships, your enjoyment, those types of things, you want to act sooner than later. Right, it's kind of like if you get in a sunburn, right, you're out at the beach and having a great time and you're starting to get a sunburn. You don't stay in the sun for another six hours before you get out and you apply more sunscreen, because then it's a lot harder to address what happens from all those additional hours in the sun, that much more deep, intense burn, and so with depression, it comes back to that as well. Let's get you out of the sun, let's get some sunblock on some aloe vera right and get you in the shade before it gets too bad.

Speaker 2: 7:39

Love it, Sean. You have a wonderful rest of the day. We'll see you on the next episode.

Speaker 3: 7:43

I can't wait to talk to you again.

Speaker 1: 7:49

Thanks for listening to the Viking Psychiatry Podcast, where you get the support you need when you need it For a complimentary consultation. Visit vikingpsychiatry Podcast, where you get the support you need when you need it. For a complimentary consultation, visit vikingpsychiatrycom or call 260-459-9225. That's 260-459-9225.