Overcoming Darkness: Jennifer Stirling-Campbell’s Journey Through Depression

Depression can feel like an inescapable shadow, following you from childhood into adulthood. Jennifer Stirling-Campbell knows this struggle intimately, describing herself as “born depressed” and relying on Prozac for over a decade. But on the Not Alone podcast with Melissa Sue Methvin, Jennifer shares a story that moves from darkness to hope—one shaped by surrender, divine intervention, and transformative healing.

A Childhood Shadow

Jennifer’s early years were marked by seriousness and anger that seemed far beyond her age. While other children played, she contemplated the world’s injustices and wondered how to fix them. This heaviness carried into adulthood, where even her devout faith couldn’t reconcile with the persistent darkness she felt.

“I was taught this is the plan of happiness, and I couldn't quite make any sense of it,” Jennifer explains.

Her depression often showed up as negative thought cycles or sudden bursts of anger. She describes a time when she used her ability to see others’ vulnerabilities as weapons rather than tools for empathy or healing.

A Different Perspective on Depression

Jennifer realized that much of her suffering wasn’t truly her own.

“So many of those thoughts and voices weren't even mine,” she says, framing depression as not just a chemical imbalance, but sometimes a spiritual battle.

She suggests that what scripture calls our “weaknesses” may actually be hidden strengths—and that darkness often works to prevent us from discovering them.

The Turning Point

After years on medication, Jennifer reached a moment of total surrender:

“You freaking made me. You know how to fix me. Do it.”

Shortly after, she discovered the connection between omega-3 fatty acids and depression. Skeptical but hopeful, she incorporated fish, nuts, and seeds into her diet. Within three months, she “forgot” to refill her prescription—and realized she no longer needed it. Nutrition became her first step toward freedom from pharmaceutical dependence.

Mind-Body Techniques

Jennifer also explored powerful mental practices:

• Lifeline therapy

• EFT tapping

• The “redo method”, a visualization technique that creates new neural pathways by reimagining past experiences

These approaches allow individuals to process trauma while reshaping the emotional hold of difficult memories, turning old pain into new strength.

The Spiritual Dimension

Jennifer speaks openly about depression as a spiritual force—sometimes invasive rather than purely emotional. She emphasizes that healing often requires community support: people who can help identify and close spiritual “doors” opened by life experiences.

“Light is astronomically more powerful than darkness,” she says.

Her advice centers on inviting more light—through spiritual practices, community, and intentional healing work.

A Message of Hope

For anyone struggling with depression, Jennifer’s story offers multiple pathways to healing: nutrition, mind-body techniques, spiritual awareness, and community. Through her Overcome Depression podcast and workbook, her mission is clear:

You are not your depression, and even when the journey feels impossible, you are never truly alone