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“There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” – Alexander The Great Believing in one’s abilities goes a long way, but it’s taken me over thirty years to arrive in a place where I feel positive about my life and somewhat in control of the thoughts and ideas in my head, which once drove me to bizarre behaviour, destructive tendencies, rages, depression, fear and distrust. Let me start closer to the beginning of this story. I am of Chinese descent and was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1979, I was a shy, impressionable teenager. I began to hear voices outside my home, in theRead More →

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Jim specializes in personal coaching for: Anxiety Disorder Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) Social anxiety disorder (SAD) Panic Disorder (PAD) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Phobias Agoraphobia Depression Sleep Disorder Stress Disorder Interpersonal relationship development, boundaries Esteem building Jim experienced the following disorders and symptoms: All of the anxiety disorders and symptoms listed at our website, with the majority to the extreme intensity and duration.Read More →

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“Shortly after beginning CBT, I was able to discontinue medication and stop seeing a therapist.” An excellent student, a talented singer and musician, a competitive athlete. That’s how I appeared on the outside as a young child, but I felt as though I were trapped in a nightmare that would never end. Years later, and after a lot of hard work, my bad dream is finally over. Fear of Being Alone Growing up, I knew I was different. I lived with my mother and brother. My parents were divorced. My father had left and he never came back. It wasn’t the easiest of circumstances, especiallyRead More →

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The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has announced plans to partner with more than 25 employers on a three-year research project aimed at driving uptake of the world’s first National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. TORONTO The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) has announced plans to partner with more than 25 employers on a three-year research project aimed at driving uptake of the world’s first National Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace. Launched a year ago, the voluntary Standard offers a framework of tools for employers to promote mental health and prevent psychological harm. “On anyRead More →

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My daughter Ann is 15. We started our long journey with her anxiety when she was 11. At that time, all we knew was that she missed a lot of school. She had stomach aches, headaches, and colds that just never went away. She had trouble sleeping, and worried a lot about whether she understood her assignments completely, or what would happen if she missed a class. She didn’t enjoy school, and although she made friends easily, she seemed to bounce from one close friend to another very quickly. She complained about the boisterous and unruly nature of the classroom, and about the teachers notRead More →

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It is probably the least likely place to expect a catwalk- the home of Canada’s Governor General in Ottawa. But on October 9th, guests such as Federal NDP leader Thomas Mulcair, Olympian Clara Hughes and singer Susan Aglukark crowded Rideau Hall for the Mad Couture Catwalk show, an art-meets-fashion-meets-mental health awareness fashion show.Read More →

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Erika Rybinsk wrote song “Robin, You’re Free” as tribute to late comedian Erika Rybinski was inspired to write a song after hearing about the death of actor and comedian Robin Williams. The song, “Robin, You’re Free,” was not only written as a tribute to one of her favourite actors, but to mental health awareness as well. “It just goes to show that anybody can suffer from a mental illness and that people in general just need to have a greater understanding of the unique composition of each individual and that every individual has their own struggles, their own battles, regardless of how big or smallRead More →

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When we talk about mental health and surviving traumatic events, we often hear the phrase “triggering,” but what does it actually mean and why is it so important? What is a Trigger? You’ve probably seen the phrase “trigger warning” pop up on a lot of sites across the Internet, particularly in connection to things like self-harm and a range of other mental-health related topics. Indeed, a few weeks ago I included a trigger warning on a post I wrote about my own suicidal thoughts. But what does it actually mean to be “triggered?”Read More →

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A 23-year-old University of Ottawa student who struggled with obsessive compulsive disorder in high school said she couldn’t have overcome the illness without the help of her parents and friends and is encouraging other parents to have that important talk with their kids. Speaking at the Royal Ottawa Mental Health Centre on Tuesday, on the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, Alyse Schacter opened up about her mental health struggles that started Grade 7 in Ottawa. Whether it was brushing her teeth, showering, or walking to class, it would take her hours to get through the smallest of tasks.Read More →