Did you know that panic attacks can cause physical symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and heart palpitations—and even be mistaken for a medical emergency?

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Tom Power shares his journey with anxiety—something he didn’t realize he struggled with until his adult years. Tom recalls a terrifying incident in his mid-twenties at a social gathering where he thought he had a heart attack. “All I could think about was, what is happening to me?” Tom shares, “Why am I feeling this way? Am I having a heart attack? Am I having a stroke? What is going on?”

The post Putting Panic in Remission with Tom Power appeared first on Anxiety Canada.

When it comes to treating anxiety and other mental health disorders, there isn’t a ‘one-size fits all’ treatment approach.

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Dr. Kourosh Edalati shares his experience as medical director and CEO at Elumind Centre for Brain Excellence, a private outpatient healthcare centre specializing in optimizing brain functions through various neurotherapeutic modalities. Dr. Edalati highlights the importance of building rapport with patients and creating individualized treatment plans, stressing that different people may respond to different treatments. Dr. Edalati also explains why an integrated approach to mental and brain health, such as the ‘roads, cars, and driver’ model used at Elumind, can be beneficial when treating patients with mental health challenges including anxiety.

The post An Integrative Approach to Brain Health with Elumind’s Dr. Edalati appeared first on Anxiety Canada.

Did you know men are nearly twice as unlikely to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder compared to women? 

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Dale Horth highlights the barriers preventing men from seeking diagnosis and treatment. Looking back on his experience working in the logging industry, Dale shares how the hyper-masculine culture of certain blue-collar jobs can make it difficult for men to seek help. “Only the weak need help,” or so he was taught. Throughout his journey, Dale experienced substance use challenges, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and panic attacks. During the peak of his challenges, Dale visited the hospital 58 times in a single year. After overcoming his mental health and substance use challenges, as well as unthinkable physical injuries, Dale is now pursuing a career change and being retrained in Occupational Health Safety Administration to better support men’s mental health in the workplace.  

The post From Logging Roads to Roads of Recovery with Dale Horth appeared first on Anxiety Canada.

Did you know that eating disorders and anxiety disorders can overlap?  

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, Chloë Grande reflects on the intersection of anxiety and anorexia. Diagnosed with anorexia at 15, Chloë shares that a recent eating disorder relapse during the COVID-19 pandemic led her to recognize the role social anxiety plays in her mental health journey. Having studied communications, Chloë created a mental health blog in hopes of helping others with similar challenges feel understood and less alone.  

The post Overcoming Anorexia and Anxiety with Chloë Grande appeared first on Anxiety Canada.

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories Mary reflects on her mental health journey, sharing that for 25 years she abused alcohol to “escape”. Mary shares that despite her successful career, she often felt like she was on the outside. It was only after seeing a counsellor that Mary learned about healthier coping strategies. Looking back, Mary recognizes that stigma as well as a lack of resources and information posed significant barriers to support. Today, Mary shares that she is 29 years sober, and although she still experiences anxiety, she continues to learn new coping skills in her life-long recovery.   

The post Overcoming Alcohol Addiction and Anxiety with This Hour has 22 Minutes’ Mary Walsh appeared first on Anxiety Canada.

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories, podcast host, John Bateman puts himself in the hot seat. John reflects on his experience with anxiety, expressing gratitude to his mother who played a significant role in his journey. John shares that for him, anxiety manifested in the form of panic attacks in childhood, often fuelled by existential anxiety. In early adulthood, this evolved into isolation and rumination that resulted in John’s first encounter with depression. Having experimented with various forms of treatment, John found that group therapy played the most significant role in his journey, alongside cognitive behavioural therapy, and medication.  

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In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories Jeff shares that although he leads a normal life, he has a rather unique story. Reflecting on his high school years, Jeff recalls a specific traumatic incident, involving using the restroom, that set off 15 years of severe anxiety. Over the years that followed, Jeff sought out treatment and support, including counselling and medication, but struggled to find something that worked for him. Eventually, Jeff connected with the Vancouver CBT Centre, and refers to their staff as “the best people in the entire world,” claiming they saved his life.  

The post Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Can Help with Jeff Roberts appeared first on Anxiety Canada.

In this episode of #OurAnxietyStories Minister Malcolmson discusses her role as Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, where she focuses on removing barriers and improving accessibility to resources. Malcolmson touches on the Ministry’s involvement with non-government organizations, such as Anxiety Canada and Foundry BC, sharing that technology has played a significant role in how the ministry has been able to support British Columbians.

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