Approaches to Wellness
I was experiencing panic attacks
"I was in France on the last night of a fabulous holiday and out of the blue I couldn't breathe. I could not breathe, and this had never happened to me before. I panicked. I thought I was dying: my arms, the front of my body went all tingly. I was rushed to emergency and my vitals were checked, but everything was fine. They told me that I was probably just dehydrated, since it was a really hot day. This day was the beginning of everything, the start of my panic attacks, but of course, I had no idea at that time that I was experiencing panic attacks.
I was the most important person in my recovery. I objected to not being okay, to not being able to leave my house, to struggling through work and taking sick days. I was determined to find out what could help me. Of course I was still frustrated, and I still cried about it, especially when I had days when I felt like I would never get better, but these feelings are a normal part of recovery. If I knew then, that those days, those feelings were not forever, but were just for a moment in time, and that my life would become better than I had ever imagined it to be, that I would be fulfilled and successful, I know that my recovery would have been so much smoother."
More from Bonnie can be found in Working Through It
These resources cover a variety of therapeutic approaches and have been provided for information only. The information contained in these resources does not constitute and should not be relied on as professional advice.
The following are links to resources that may be of interest to you. If you click on a link you may be entering a third party website not maintained or controlled in any way by Great-West Life.
The Depression Centre offers free, interactive tools that have helped thousands of people challenge and overcome their depression. Tools include tailored assessment, a goal-oriented Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program and moderated support network.
The Panic Centre offers free, interactive tools that have helped thousands of people challenge and overcome their anxiety and panic. Tools include a tailored assessment, a goal-oriented Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program and moderated support network.
The Tema Conter Memorial Trust provides post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) research and information regarding; PTSD definition, myths and facts, risk factors, hope for recovery, anger and trauma, problems with alcohol use, effects on family members, a guide for frontline professionals, physical effects of trauma (military combat, physical and sexual abuse, natural disaster), post traumatic stress in children of first responders.
This website includes information about a larger selection of mental health issues including: ADD/ADHD, Autism, abuse, Alzheimer's, burnout (stress), eating disorders, grief & loss, parenting and suicide prevention.
NEDIC provides information and resources on eating disorders and related issues, food and weight preoccupation, and public awareness. A toll-free Canadian helpline provides information on treatment or support.
e-hub's newest self help interactive program includes modules for social anxiety and generalized anxiety as well as depression. It provides self-help interventions drawn from cognitive, behavioural and interpersonal therapies as well as relaxation and physical activity. Use of the site is free but registration is required.
Patientslikeme provides those experiencing mental health issues with a place to follow the path to wellness through the experiences of others with similar conditions. Use of the site is free but registration is required.
Black Dog Institute is a not-for-profit, educational, research, clinical and community-oriented facility offering specialist expertise in depression and bipolar disorder. You can find self-tests and free online education programs here.
Antidepressant Skills at Work: Dealing with Mood Problems in the Workplace is a self-care manual authored by scientist-practitioners and deals with issues relating to workplace mental health and addiction. [PDF]
A popular interactive program which incorporates cognitive-behaviour therapy for depression. MoodGYM has been extensively researched and its effectiveness has been demonstrated in randomized controlled trials.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the connection of thoughts, feelings and behaviors of an individual. CBT is often time-limited, focuses on current problems that the individual is experiencing and follows a structured procedure that involves active engagement of the individual and the clinician for the individual to learn about how thoughts, feelings and behavior connect. [PDF]
Information about Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), which is a comprehensive cognitive-behavioral treatment for borderline personality disorder (BPD). DBT is especially effective for those with chronic suicidal or other severe, dysfunctional behaviors.
Beyondblue is a national, independent, not-for-profit organization working to address issues associated with depression, anxiety and related substance misuse disorders in Australia.
Sleep educator and therapist Carolyn Schur provides strategies to help night owls address sleep-related issues. [PDF]
Sleep educator and therapist Carolyn Schur discusses impacts of insomnia on mental health. [PDF]
For articles about everything from resilience to family and relationships, this American Psychological Association Help Center provides some helpful insight.
The Anti-Depressant Skills Workbook gives an overview of depression, provides information on ways to manage it according to the best available research, and gives a step-by-step guide to changing patterns that trigger depression.
Coping With Suicidal Thoughts offers information, resources, support and practical steps to help individuals who are currently thinking about committing suicide, and/or have made an attempt to hurt themselves. [PDF]
Hope and Healing: A Practical Guide for Survivors of Suicide focuses on the practical matters that survivors need to deal with after a loved one has died by suicide. [PDF]
The information contained in the Workplace Strategies for Mental Health website is provided for general information only. It is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your physician or appropriate health-care provider with respect to your particular circumstances.
All logos on this webpage used with permission.
This website is brought to you by the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. 