Mark Ross (he/him)

Mark joined Momma on July 7, 2025 for a live Q&A via Twitch and YouTube to talk about PTSD, Depression, Suicidal Ideation & Getting Help

About Mark

Mark Ross is the creator of The Speak Your Truth with Mark Ross Podcast. It’s a platform that features guests that suffer from mental health issues or people that work with them to share their stories and their thoughts on how they help fight the stigma. Mark is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and suffers from PTSD himself. Mark’s goal for the podcast is to show those that are suffering in silence to stop hiding and start speaking out on mental illness. 

Mark is also the host of another podcast called Soldier Stories, a platform that features interviews with veterans and organizations that help veterans share their stories as well. 

Additionally, Mark Ross is a fatherhood facilitator and hosts groups for incarcerated men to help strengthen their relationships with their kids.

Socials / Links for Guest Connection

• YouTube - https://youtube.com/@thespeakyourtruthwithmar-wm4bg?si=pnKn3HOQRIGcto1w 

• YouTube - https://youtube.com/@soldierstorieswithmarkross?si=cQpwZRiygLVG2lNW 

• Email - speakyourtruthpc@gmail.com

References / Things Mentioned During the Stream

• Movie / Show Recommendations:

  • The Howling 

  • Sinners 

  • Leprechaun 

  • New York Undercover 

  • The Others 

• Favorite Poem: Psalm 91 

Episode Summary

If you've ever felt alone in your struggle, if you're carrying shame about needing help, or if you know a veteran who's suffering in silence, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways

• PTSD and depression can manifest long after military service.

• Speaking out about mental health is crucial for healing.

• Community support plays a vital role in recovery.

• Therapy can help folks navigate their mental health challenges.

• Understanding triggers is essential for managing PTSD.

• It's okay to not be okay, but action is necessary.

• Mental health awareness is critical in reducing stigma.

• Healing is a lifelong process that requires ongoing effort.

In this powerful episode, MommaFoxFire sits down with Mark Ross, a veteran and advocate who’s walked through the darkest corners of mental health and lived to tell the story. Mark opens up about his experiences with PTSD, depression & suicidal ideation, giving listeners a raw look at what it’s really like to fight your own mind every day. This conversation is real talk about pain, survival, and what it means to ask for help when everything feels impossible.

Mark talks about how his mental health struggles started after his military service, but he’s quick to point out that trauma isn’t limited to combat. PTSD can come from many places, and everyone’s story looks different. What matters is recognizing the signs and getting support before things spiral. He describes the emotional numbness, the anxiety & the deep depression that followed him long after he came home. For years, he felt stuck, angry, detached & ashamed to admit how bad things really were.

The turning point came when he realized that silence was killing him faster than any diagnosis ever could. He started therapy, reluctantly at first, but found that being honest with a counselor gave him space to start healing. He learned that therapy is less about “fixing” you and more about giving you tools to survive, connect & slowly rebuild your life.

Mark and MommaFoxFire talk about the stigma that keeps so many people, especially men and veterans, from reaching out for help. They unpack how phrases like “man up” or “be strong” can trap people in cycles of shame and isolation. Mark admits that his lowest points included thoughts of suicide & that what ultimately saved him was connection... friends who noticed, a therapist who listened & his own decision to stop hiding behind a mask.

He now uses his story to help others see that recovery isn’t linear, and it doesn’t require perfection. There are good days and bad ones, but progress counts in small moments... like getting out of bed, making a call or letting someone in on what you’re feeling.

Throughout the conversation, Mark’s honesty hits hard but also offers hope. He reminds listeners that you don’t have to wait until you’re at rock bottom to reach out. Whether it’s therapy, medication, support groups or just talking with someone you trust, there are ways forward.

The episode closes with both Mark and MommaFoxFire encouraging anyone struggling to take that first step toward help. It might be scary, but it’s worth it. Mark says it best: “You can’t heal what you keep hiding. Talking about it doesn’t make you weak, it keeps you alive.”

This episode is a gut check and a lifeline all at once. If you’ve ever felt like you’re falling apart, you’re not alone, and this conversation proves that healing starts with speaking up.