Episode 26

Smiling, But Numb: The Truth About Functional Depression

Published on: 8th July, 2025

You’re showing up, getting it done, smiling when needed — but inside, you’re numb.

This episode explores the quiet, unseen pain of functional depression: the version that keeps you looking “fine” while feeling anything but.

If you’ve ever said, “I don’t even have time to fall apart,” this one’s for you.

We talk about the pressure to perform, the guilt of not feeling grateful, and why survival isn’t enough — we deserve peace too.

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About the Podcast

Surviving Me
a soul-led podcast where healing gets real, growth gets messy, and every story begins with “I’m healing.”

This isn’t just another self-help show. It’s a safe space to unpack the heartbreak, the triggers, the setbacks, and the glow-ups that come with reclaiming your peace.

Hosted like a diary, each episode is a raw reflection on what it means to navigate pain, rediscover your worth, and love yourself back together—one moment, one lesson, one entry at a time.

About your host

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Dainna Dickerson

Dainna Dickerson is the voice and heart behind Surviving Me, a podcast and healing space dedicated to turning survival into self-discovery. A storyteller at her core, Dainna uses her own experiences of resilience, growth, and transformation to create conversations that are raw, real, and deeply human.

What began as her personal outlet quickly grew into a community, where solo reflections, guest conversations, and Glow Letters connect listeners to the power of survival and the beauty of healing. Through her work, Dainna reminds others that survival is not the end of the story — it’s the beginning of becoming.

As a psychology student, mother, and multi-passionate creative, she weaves together wisdom, compassion, and truth with every episode. Her mission is simple but powerful: to hold space for the messy, to celebrate the breakthroughs, and to guide others toward the freedom of living unapologetically as themselves.

When she’s not recording, you can find her writing, designing healing-centered resources, and building Surviving Me Studio — a growing ecosystem of tools, letters, and stories designed to help others feel seen, supported, and empowered.

🦋 Real stories. Raw healing. Where survival meets self-discovery.