Suffering from depression often means suffering from a sense of meaninglessness. It's incredibly painful- I know from experience. In this episode, I talk about how to create meaning in your life when you're depressed. Grab a pen and paper, and take notes as this episode is absolutely full of advice and journaling prompts for you.  Regaining meaning in your life is possible. "Don't die with your music still in you (Dr Wayne Dyer)"    - For the blog version of this episode, head here.  To arrange a free Zoom chat with me to see if my approach to overcoming depression is right ..read more

Loneliness and depression can go hand in hand. Both bring up so much shame and can trigger big downward spirals. Loneliness is something I see a lot with my clients, and it's certainly something I've profoundly suffered from myself in the past. So in this episode, I’m taking a deep dive into loneliness. I will be talking about: The types of loneliness The effects of loneliness on our physical and mental health Why so many of us feel lonely And what to do to stop feeling lonely - Links mentioned in this episode: Vivek Murthy's book "Together" To book a free half hour Zoom call with me To fin ..read more

Are you struggling with depression and are also just so unbelievably tired all the time?  Here are 10 top root causes that help explain your fatigue from a holistic and functional medicine perspective.   For more information on how I help people overcome depression holistically, visit: https://claudiasmithwellbeing.com/   Links I have mentioned in this episode: The blog version of this episode   To book a free half hour Zoom call with me   My previous episode on blood sugar imbalances   My post about the link between your gut health and depression   My 12 to ..read more

When journalist and former depression-sufferer Johann Hari traveled around the world to speak to experts on the root causes of depression, one of his findings was the lack of a hopeful future. And I couldn’t agree more.  And if you are currently suffering from depression, then a lack of hope is likely something you’ve felt yourself. Often in an overwhelming and very painful way. In this episode I’m going to dive into the topic of hope:  What does hope have to do with our health and happiness? Chicken or egg: Lack of a hopeful future and depression How to gain hope even when it’s rea ..read more

This episode is a very practical one: I am sharing my 4 top strategies to help you deal with challenging and dark thoughts. Practical, holistic tips for anyone who feels that their mind is against them. These are the tools I use in my work with clients and they are also very techniques that have helped me in my own journey of overcoming depression.   Links mentioned in the episode: My 6 month holistic mental health programme to overcome depression My free half hour Zoom call  Jon Kabat-Zinn's book "Full Catastrophe Living" Kristin Neff's book "Self-Compassion The Proven Power of Bein ..read more

Depression rates are rising and young people are more likely to suffer from depression than their parents or grandparents at their age (1). And in this episode I want to show you how it may be an evolutionary mismatch of depression that’s to blame.  What do I mean by that?  I mean that we human beings are not living life the way we are designed to. Our modern-day living is vastly different to our historical lifestyle. And it is this mismatch that is driving the mental health crisis.  I explore the many ways in which our modern lifestyles differ from our historical lifestyles. An ..read more

In this episode I talk about silent meditation retreats: What they are and what to expect. Plus, how my own experiences at these kinds of retreats have helped me to overcome depression.  I touch on the benefits of silence, solitude and community. I talk about what meditation can add to our lives and how learning the art of compassion can be truly transformative. The lessons I have learned have been nothing but life-changing, so why not go out for a 20 minute walk and listen to this episode! - Links I've mentioned in this episode: For info on my 6 month programme, head here.  Or book ..read more

If you are suffering from poor mental health and low mood, know that there’s a lot more you can do to get better besides medication and talking therapy. I use an approach called nutrition and lifestyle medicine for depression alongside positive psychology coaching. In this episode I’m going to explain what it is and how I use it to help my clients overcome depression. "Modern populations are increasingly overfed, malnourished, sedentary, sunlight-deficient, sleep-deprived, and socially isolated. These changes in lifestyle each contribute to poor physical health and affect the incidence and tre ..read more

If you struggle with low mood before your period then this episode is for you. Or perhaps you notice a lot of anxiety before your period and you just can’t calm down those racing thoughts and switch your mind off. And maybe you get really irritable and angry in the lead up to your period... Mood changes before your period are common and yet for some women are felt very deeply and make life really hard.  In this episode I delve into all things period: What actually happens during your cycle, what is PMS, what is PMDD, why do some women get it - and of course most importantly: What to do ab ..read more

This shorter episode is for anyone who's feeling really low and really down right in this very moment. It's a love letter from me to you - from one person with experience of mental health struggles to another. Woven in are lots of words of encouragement and support, too. Plus, my very favourite poem by the wonderful Mary Oliver. If you know someone else who might like to receive this 10min audio love note, do send it their way.    For more info on my work in holistic mental healthcare plus lots of downloadable resources, head to my website:   https://claudiasmithwellbeing.com Tr ..read more