Grace by Design

Grace by Design
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Self-Improvement
  • Updated Biweekly

Grace by Design is for women seeking emotional healing, stress relief, and freedom from trauma, anxiety, and hidden pain—even while appearing “fine.” Hosted by Annamarie Altomare, a Gulf War veteran and retired police officer, this mental health podcast explores trauma recovery, forgiveness, and how to heal emotional wounds. Each episode helps you identify triggers, understand why painful memories resurface, and learn how to stop the mental replay and overthinking cycle. If you feel stuck, this podcast offers practical tools to regulate stress, rebuild your identity, and restore your relationships. For women ready to release emotional weight and find lasting peace, this is your path to healing, clarity, and transformation.

Episodes

  1. Apr 16

    Depression, Stress and Understanding the Breaking Point

    Depression, Stress & Suicide: Understanding the Breaking Point
Understanding Depression Symptoms, Chronic Stress, and Warning Signs of Suicidal Thoughts   What happens when depression stops feeling like sadness… and starts feeling like survival?   In this episode, we break down the real effects of depression on the mind and body, and how chronic stress can quietly build to a breaking point. If you’ve ever wondered why depression feels so exhausting, or how someone can reach the point of a suicide attempt, this conversation brings clarity, truth, and compassion to a topic that is often misunderstood.   You’ll learn how depression symptoms go beyond emotions, impacting energy levels, sleep, decision-making, and even physical health. We explore how the brain and nervous system respond to prolonged stress, why hopelessness can take hold, and how distorted thinking patterns begin to shape reality.   This episode also walks through the warning signs of suicidal thoughts, including emotional withdrawal, mental fatigue, and the shift from overwhelm to numbness. Most importantly, we talk about what people are really seeking in those moments—not death, but relief from unbearable internal pressure.   Whether you’re personally struggling, supporting someone you love, or simply trying to understand mental health on a deeper level, this episode offers practical insight, grounded hope, and a reminder that you are not alone.   You don’t have to figure out everything at once. 
You can make it through this moment.   KEY TOPICS COVERED Depression symptoms and how they affect the brain and body The connection between chronic stress and mental health Why depression feels physically and emotionally exhausting Cognitive distortions and negative thought patterns Warning signs of suicidal thoughts and emotional shutdown How to interrupt the cycle and find support   RESOURCES & SUPPORT If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, help is available.
In the U.S., you can call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7.

    28 min

  2. Apr 8

    Control, Curse, and the Conversation Within Rethinking Eve’s Story

    Was Eve’s “curse” really a punishment… or a revelation about our struggle for control? In this episode, we revisit Genesis 3 and uncover the deeper meaning behind “your desire will be for your husband.” This isn’t just about relationships, it’s about the human tendency to grasp for control when trust is broken. From the garden to modern life, we explore how control shows up in our thoughts, our bodies, and our relationships and how Jesus models a different way: surrender, trust, and true freedom. If you’ve ever felt the need to hold everything together, this conversation will challenge you to ask a better question: What would it look like to let go… and trust God instead?

    25 min

  3. Mar 30

    When We Fall Short The Power of God’s Mercy Steps In

    We all carry moments we wish we could rewrite—words we shouldn’t have said, choices we can’t undo, patterns we can’t seem to break. No matter how polished life may look on the outside, the truth is this: we all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). In this episode, we dive into the depth of God’s mercy—not as a distant concept, but as a living, breathing invitation. Mercy meets us in our mess, not after we’ve cleaned it up. It reminds us that we were never meant to carry the weight of perfection on our own. Why do we need Jesus? Because effort alone can’t bridge the gap. Mercy does what striving never could—it restores, redeems, and renews. Through a biblical lens, we unpack how God’s mercy isn’t earned, but freely given, and how Jesus stands at the center of that grace story. If you’ve ever felt disqualified, stuck in guilt, or exhausted from trying to “get it right,” this episode will remind you: your shortcomings don’t repel God—they position you for His mercy. Come as you are. Leave reminded that mercy has the final word.

    29 min

  4. Mar 24

    How to Control Anger in Relationships

    What if the greatest damage in your relationships… isn’t what was done to you— but what comes out of you when you’re angry? Not all anger is sin. But unchecked anger? It can burn bridges faster than it builds them. In  this episode I'll dive into what the Bible really says about anger— how to recognize it, slow it down, and respond in a way that protects… not destroys. Because being right isn’t the goal. Peace is. If you’ve ever said something you wish you could take back… If anger has been quietly shaping your relationships… This episode is for you.

    29 min

  5. Mar 15

    How to Stop Bullying (Verbal Abuse)

    What if the deepest wounds in your life weren’t caused by fists… but by words? Words that belittled you. Words that shamed you. Words that slowly convinced you that you were less than who God created you to be. Verbal abuse leaves invisible scars—but it does not get the final say over your life. In this episode, we’re talking about the hidden damage of verbal abuse, the lies it plants in our hearts, and how God’s truth can begin to heal what words have broken. If you’ve ever struggled with criticism, manipulation, or words that made you feel small… this conversation is for you. Because the voice that defined your pain doesn’t have to define your future.

    25 min

  6. Mar 8

    In Love With the Outcome

    Grace by Design

    24 min

  7. Mar 4

    How to Forgive When You Are Still Angry

    Grace by Design

    24 min

  8. Feb 25

    Let Go of Stress

    What if the biggest battle you fight isn’t around you… but inside your mind? Stress shows up uninvited. It whispers worst-case scenarios. It steals peace, sleep, and clarity. But what if it’s not meant to control you? In this episode, we’re talking about what happens when your thoughts keep you from sleep, and how faith, truth, and surrender can unlock the door to better sleep. Because stress may try to take your mind hostage… but it was never meant to own it.

    28 min

  9. Season 1 Trailer

    Grace by Design Official Trailer

    Have you ever been hurt so deeply… that even time couldn’t touch it? You’ve talked about it. With friends. With counselors. You told yourself you were fine. But you’re still carrying it. Because somewhere along the way… bitterness took root. Forgiveness feels impossible. Healing feels out of reach. And peace? Feels like it belongs to someone else.   But what if it doesn’t? What if real healing is actually possible for you? Not surface peace. Not pretending. Real freedom. Peace that surpasses all understanding. The kind of peace that only comes from God. That’s how I found my way back. And I want to help you find your way back too.   So if you’re ready to show up for yourself… If you’re ready to let go of the hurt… If you’re ready to release the bitterness you’ve been carrying— Lean in. It’s time to lay it down. It’s time to lose the chip on your shoulder. It’s time to let healing begin. Welcome to Grace by Design.

    1 min

Trailer

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Grace by Design is for women seeking emotional healing, stress relief, and freedom from trauma, anxiety, and hidden pain—even while appearing “fine.” Hosted by Annamarie Altomare, a Gulf War veteran and retired police officer, this mental health podcast explores trauma recovery, forgiveness, and how to heal emotional wounds. Each episode helps you identify triggers, understand why painful memories resurface, and learn how to stop the mental replay and overthinking cycle. If you feel stuck, this podcast offers practical tools to regulate stress, rebuild your identity, and restore your relationships. For women ready to release emotional weight and find lasting peace, this is your path to healing, clarity, and transformation.

Information

  • Creator
    Grace by Design
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Grace by Design