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Anthony Varietta, lead guitarist for popular country rock band Huckleberry Road, joins me on this episode of Live Well With Depression. Anthony experienced the depths of depression at the young age of 11 following a profound loss and opens up publicly about the impact of the experience.
Anthony and I dive deep into the details of our almost 10-year friendship and how his approach to showing up for me as someone with depression has made a huge difference in some of my lowest moments.
We explore the #1 gift you can offer a friend who lives with depression, the art of texting a stupid meme at the exact right moment, how to tell if someone in your life may be depressed, and so much more.
Anthony has been in music for over 20 years and is a founding member of country rock band Huckleberry Road. The band's upcoming EP is set to hit airwaves in the fall of 2024. Their metal-infused anthem, "Quiet Anymore," mixed and mastered by Nashville's Billy Decker, is already leaving a mark on the music industry.
Find Anthony on Instagram at @twansolo1 and Huckleberry Road at @huckleberryroadmusic & on Spotify. The band's tour dates are posted at huckleberryroadmusic.com.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
[00:35] Guest Introduction & Welcome
[01:40] Anthony's First Experience with Depression Following a Profound Loss
[02:55] How Counseling Helped Anthony Navigate Depression
[06:00] The First Signs of Depression Anthony Noticed in Amanda
[08:43] Picking Up on Subtle Signs of Depression in a Friend
[09:24] One of the Best Things You Can Do for a Friend with Depression
[11:28] How to Open the Lines of Communication with a Friend
[14:13] What NOT to Do for a Friend with Depression
[14:50] Anthony's Response to Continuous Canceling of Plans (Thanks, Depression)
[17:08] The Best Way to Respond to a Friend Who Cancels Plans
[18:35] The 2 Ways to Respond to a Friend Who Cancels Plans Due to Depression
[19:31] Why You Need to Keep Inviting A Friend With Depression to Do Things
[24:45] The #1 Gift You Can Give a Friend Who Lives With Depression
[27:11] The Hardest Part of Having a Friend Who Lives With Depression
[30:13] Why Simple Acts are Gold for Someone with Depression
[30:58] Amanda Doesn't Know What a Rocketeer Is
[31:40] Things Anthony Does to Maintain his Mental Health
[33:21] How the Band Prioritizes Their Mental Health on the Road
[35:50] Routine Can Help You Live Well with Depression
[36:48] Creating Habits Frees Up Cognitive Space
[38:37] Where to Find Anthony and Huckleberry Road
KEY QUOTES
"Some of the biggest wars that you will fight with yourself are the ones that nobody sees." - Anthony Varietta
"You don't have the run in like Superman. You don't have to run in like it's a burning building. Right? It could be as simple as telling a stupid joke." - Anthony Varietta
"There have been moments when I have been deep in my shit and I have gotten a text from you and it's like, it's that teeny, tiny thing that says, 'Hey, someone's thinking about me, someone notices when they don't hear from me.'" - Amanda Gist
"You have to do things for yourself to keep your mind working, to keep your body working, it's occupying the free time and it's also about quality rest. If you're unrested, it completely affects your mood." - Anthony Varietta
"I will just fucking sit with you in the dark. I can't fix it but I will sit right next to you in the dark." - Amanda Gist
"We need these invitations. Like, even if we can't make it ten times in a row, even if we can't get ourselves out of the house ten times in a row, that eleventh time, continuing to receive those invitations and just knowing that there is someone out there who is thinking about you enough to invite you, who cares that you're in the world, all of those things make the biggest difference." - Amanda Gist
Learn more by connecting with Amanda through Instagram and at AmandaGist.com
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