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When Depression and Anxiety Make Recovery from Complex Trauma Feel Impossible

Tim Fletcher

56,329 views

We offer resources, courses and programs for Complex Trauma Recovery. Explore it all on our website at https://www.timfletcher.ca/

In this talk, Tim explores why depression and anxiety can make recovery feel impossible, especially for those healing from complex trauma. He explains how emotional exhaustion, distorted thinking, and fear can lead to self-sabotage—and shares practical tools for staying grounded, managing symptoms, and continuing the healing process even when it feels overwhelming.

Gain tools to heal and recover from Complex Trauma long-term. Explore the LIFT program: https://bit.ly/LIFTProgram

🎧Watch or listen to the Time with Tim Podcast: @timewithtimpodcast

Find us on Instagram, Tiktok, Facebook and more here: https://linktr.ee/Tim_Fletcher

--
Tim Fletcher is not a doctor or licensed therapist; he is a counsellor in Canada and has worked with people with Complex Trauma and Addiction for decades. Tim’s videos are for informational purposes only to provide understanding, learning, and awareness about complex trauma. No information published here can replace professional evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment.

#depression #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #complextrauma #mentalhealthrecovery #healingjourney #cptsd #childhoodtrauma

20 Comments

@thetraveljack 10 months ago

Hoping everyone out there finds the healing they deserve ❤️

@4xzx4 10 months ago

This should be taught in every school and at every workplace.

@ChosenNarc 10 months ago

Healing feels hard because the wounds weren’t created overnight, they were layered.

@BethJonesHEALingMentor 10 months ago

The way you describe how depression doesn't "just go away" and you have to force yourself every single day [05:58] resonated deeply. It's exhausting, but knowing that struggle is normal for CPTSD recovery is so validating.

@virtualemdr 10 months ago

Depression and anxiety can make trauma recovery feel overwhelming, but he also shows that it’s not a failure, it’s exhaustion and old survival patterns. His grounding tools are a good reminder that even small steps matter, especially on the hard days. You’re doing more than you realize. Thank you for sharing this!

@TinaSotis 10 months ago

6:41 day after day after day. It's exhausting. But I can't give up on myself. I won't.

@netizenkane2230 10 months ago

Thank God for Youtube psychiatry. It's finally helping me.

@boomer-y3g9t 10 months ago

I'm in tears. So thankful for this video, it helps me understand my depression

@liquidsquidkid9517 1 month ago

It seems like good mental health means being graceful and at peace when fate has chosen a path of loss and grief for you

@laurielin1467 9 months ago

87 days sober, again. I relapsed after almost 10 years. I am not beating myself up because I have so much more to learn and heal inside. I was sober but I still struggled with relationships. Now I’m doing more work and digging deeper. I must say I am also doing Spravato therapy two times a week and I’m telling you the clarity it’s bringing me is nothing short of miraculous! Don’t give up!❤

@TustinJimberlake 10 months ago

i hope you can address healing fatigue more often. it's when I know what is wrong, have a recovery plan, but the energy that I had as my former traumatic unaware self is no longer there...

I am grateful for all the positivity you bring to the internet. thank you so much

@basemikramseif 10 months ago (edited)

Greetings from Egypt , i don't know how i found your channel but you have helped me immensely.. i am still underground but i feel like you helped me to poke my head above the ground and try to heal 40 years of damage ... therapy here is very expensive and inaccessible and all they write is drugs ... may god bless you good sir ... if i may say one comment that may be silly some of your videos especially the ones on stage the level of the mic is very high making you feel like you're shouting which sometimes trigger anxiety for me silly i know 😅

@sharikeener7907 10 months ago

I was today years old when I learned that I’ve had depression and anxiety my ENTIRE 56 years of life, my years in addiction was the ONLY TIME I got a break. Niw 10 years sober and I’ve been white knuckling it the entire time procrastination rules me

@StopNarc 8 months ago

Recovery can feel impossible when depression drains energy and anxiety keeps the nervous system on high alert.

@graemehart9286 10 months ago

This is incredible. More useful than years of therapy. Deeply appreciated. 🙏

@SuLawn 10 months ago

Thank you for this podcast. 🤗😇🙏❤️

@ogzbyrktr1 10 months ago (edited)

They both rooted in unsafety. Depressive person responds to unsafety with not acting and anxious person with over performative response. Apart from all the other solutions, the feeling safe may first start with trust and surrender. Trust to its own inner power and goodwill, surrender to unperfection and to the path.

@mikespike2099 1 month ago

“Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” … my Dad … hence my cPTSD with my GAD 😢

@earthrooster1969 10 months ago

Love his talks! They come from a place of deep understanding and full of care and compassion 💓

@jeffreydouglass4346 9 months ago (edited)

I was sober and sort of crazy (all of the above) for 25 years when I started analyizing everyone in my life, all the while trying to figure out what I had done to offend the masses, besides showing up, helping, and being fiercely loyal. Luckily, I have always been extravagantly responsible when it came to the needs of others, at terrible cost to myself. I started to heal when I looked inward. I forgave myself of everything and shed the self-loathing and neck deep shame. It was a new day. 30 years sober now and still in the process. Thank you for this fantastic talk!!!