What Are the Signs of Depression? How to Get Help Before It’s a Crisis

Depression rarely shows up overnight—it creeps in with subtle signs that can easily be overlooked. Recognizing those signs early is one of the most powerful ways to prevent a full-blown crisis.

In this episode, Corinne shares her personal experience of learning to spot her own “scale” of depression, the steps she takes to stop a downward spiral, and why reaching out before you’re in crisis can save lives. She also explains how tools like therapy, support systems, and simple daily habits can make a big difference.

This conversation is both a warning and a source of hope: if you know the signs of depression, you can act before it takes control.

Link to 988 Lifeline: https://988lifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now/

Link to Corinne's article: https://qz.com/1381952/suicide-hotlines-really-do-save-lives-i-know-because-one-saved-mine/

Primary Topics Covered:

• Why sharing recovery stories matters, not just crisis stories
• How depression often escalates gradually, not suddenly
• Using a “scale” system to recognize early signs of depression
• Warning signs that your mental health may be worsening
• The importance of trusted support systems
• How shame, silence, and isolation worsen depression
• Proactive coping tools: therapy, sleep, exercise, meditation
• Why you don’t have to wait until crisis to get help

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and episode overview  
02:04 – Corinne’s recovery story: hope after crisis  
03:13 – Why we need recovery stories, not just survival stories  
04:30 – How depression builds slowly, like a scale  
05:32 – Creating a “scale” to recognize your own warning signs  
06:31 – Steps Corinne takes when she feels herself sliding  
07:18 – The role of trusted friends and family in early support  
07:58 – Why reaching out feels hard but saves lives  
08:41 – How to distinguish sadness from clinical depression  
09:49 – What crisis lines can and can’t do for recovery  
10:25 – How a hotline interrupts dangerous moments  
11:02 – Breaking silence: honesty as a survival skill  
12:15 – Why honesty is a gift, not a weakness  
12:47 – The power of small interventions in recovery  
13:18 – “Few problems thrive in silence, isolation, and shame.”  
13:42 – Closing reflections and encouragement to act early  

Explore mental health and addiction treatment options at recovery.com
Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/GivingVoiceToDepression/
Terry's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/givingvoicetodepression/