Michelle and Kendra continue the conversation: coping with anxiety in the heat of the moment; how consistency is one of the most transformational tools for good mental health; and Kendra talks about her spirituality and what it means to live free with the mental health challenges she so bravely overcomes.

Intro and outro music: “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Resources

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Socials:

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Connect: We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

Support this podcast: https://freedommentalhealth.ca/donate/

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

“This is Freedom!” podcast is produced by Dr. Michelle Solomon and published by Freedom Mental Health ©2024.

Kendra Ferris shares her self-made formula, SERAS for managing anxiety and depression; we share some hard learned tips about what it takes to prevent burnout in the workplace; and discuss a challenging strategy, one that can provide some freedom from the perils of mental illness—releasing control!

From Kendra <3 I am a writer, a reader, dog parent, partner, daughter, aunt, and a lover of music and words and ideas.

I am cheerful and curious and I live with anxiety and depression that were diagnosed when I was in my late 20s. The past 10+ years have been focused on moving myself past a fear of mental illness and denial that I wasn’t well… and towards habits that support wellness. 

My professional training is in language and education and those are skillsets that I’ve used in all kinds of different industries to help with everything from customer support to strategy to corporate communications and currently to human resources in the public service. 

What I’m sharing today comes from my experience and experiments with taking care of myself.

Intro and outro music: “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Resources

Listen to this podcast on:

Socials:

Get our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/ia3SpT

Connect: We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

Support this podcast: https://freedommentalhealth.ca/donate/

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

 “This is Freedom!” podcast is produced by Dr. Michelle Solomon and published by Freedom Mental Health ©2024.

Description

Holistic nutritionist and owner of Good Health Naturally Oakridge­, Jessica Procter and I discuss how eating habits and nutrition relate to our mental and spiritual health; supplements that help manage anxiety and depression; how being kind to yourself is the single most important thing you can do while learning to incorporate nutrition into your mental health practice; the “annoyingly positive” attitude necessary to run your own business; and finding freedom in it all.

Reach Jessica at the Good Health Naturally Oakridge Store www.goodhealthnaturallyoakridge.com and on Instagram @ghnoakridge

This episode is also available to watch on our YouTube channel here https://youtu.be/UBFp2d2Gs3c

Intro and outro music: “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Related Resources

Listen to this podcast on:

Socials:

Get our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/ia3SpT

Connect: We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

Support this podcast: https://freedommentalhealth.ca/donate/

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

 “This is Freedom!” podcast is produced by Dr. Michelle Solomon and published by Freedom Mental Health ©2024.

In part two, Michelle and her sisters discuss how they find meaning and purpose today, becoming less legalistic and trusting your spirit, taking root in the challenges of life, how breath sees you through the most overwhelming and painful parts of life, and we explore the big question, “Is freedom attainable?”

Intro and outro music: “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Resources

Listen to this podcast on:

Socials:

Get our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/ia3SpT

Connect: We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

Support this podcast: https://freedommentalhealth.ca/donate/

Outro References:

Kann L, McManus T, Harris WA, et al: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2017. MMWR Surveill Summ 2018; 67:1–114

Sheftall AH, Vakil F, Ruch DA, et al: Black youth suicide: investigation of current trends and precipitating circumstances. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021 (Epub ahead of print Sep 9, 2021)

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

 “This is Freedom!” podcast is produced by Dr. Michelle Solomon and published by Freedom Mental Health ©2024..

From fear of the unknown to knowledge and freedom! Sisters talk about experiencing mental illness in the family, learning to support a loved one, and how to reclaim mental health from older to newer generations.

Resources

Mental Health Supports: https://freedommentalhealth.ca/mental-health-supports/

Intro and outro music: “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Listen to this podcast on:

Socials:

Get our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/ia3SpT

Connect: We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

 “This is Freedom!” podcast is produced by Dr. Michelle Solomon and published by Freedom Mental Health ©2024.

Nikki Tempelman served as a worship leader in her church for several years. She graduated from Western University with a Bachelor of Arts. She sings, plays the piano, acoustic guitar, and the trumpet. One day, Nikki was asked to choose between her faith and her sexuality. As a Christian and queer person, this was an impossible task that sparked a journey of self discovery, finding a way to continue to worship God and be true to who she was as a person. We talk about reconciling what the Bible says about homosexuality, choosing mental health over suffering, and what faith community looks like after you have been rejected by the church. We discuss the journey of being our authentic selves and recommend resources to guide you on yours.

Note: This episode was recorded one year ago.

You can watch this episode on our YouTube Channel. https://youtu.be/zqv9biu7IqU

Highlights:

Check out Nikki’s album “Promises” on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/54MvZIcidHA8u9HDNnjRvs?si=BYh4XXfqRu-Fw09-MrDNmA

Intro and outro music: “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Listen to “This is Freedom!” on:

Socials:

Get our newsletter! http://eepurl.com/ia3SpT

We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

Michelle goes back over twenty years to share her fight with anxiety, depression, and later, a diagnosis that changed the trajectory of her life, igniting a passion for a career in mental health care. But, all of this was not possible without the fierce advocacy of this week’s special guest, Michelle’s mother, Shelley-Ann John. Amid uncertainty and using her education as a behavioural therapist at the time, Shelley-Ann enlisted the help of co-workers, high school personnel, family, and her faith in God to give her child the best chance of braving this storm.

Resources from Episode 2:

The Mood Disorders Association of Ontario MDAO https://mooddisorders.ca/

Movie: In Our Mothers’ Gardens

Crisis and Trauma Resource Institute (CTRI) www.ctrinstitute.com 

Intro and outro music: “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Listen to this podcast on:

Socials:

Get our newsletter!

http://eepurl.com/ia3SpT

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

References:

Kann L, McManus T, Harris WA, et al: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States, 2017. MMWR Surveill Summ 2018; 67:1–114

Sheftall AH, Vakil F, Ruch DA, et al: Black youth suicide: investigation of current trends and precipitating circumstances. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2021 (Epub ahead of print Sep 9, 2021)

We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

 “This is Freedom!” podcast is produced by Michelle Solomon and published by Freedom Mental Health ©2024.

Welcome to “This is Freedom!” A podcast where we talk about mental health, spirituality, and finding freedom in our lives. In this episode, I talk about what we are seeking freedom from, how this channel will explore the mental health experiences of the African, Black, Caribbean diaspora and beyond. We will discuss the broader challenges we face in humanity, how we overcome, and find freedom in our lives. I share my faith, what’s coming up on the podcast, and even sing a cover of “Shall not want” by Chandler Moore, Elevation Worship, and Maverick City. Join in!

*This episode is available to watch on YouTube June 10th! https://www.youtube.com/@freedommh_ca/podcasts

Highlights.

Intro and outro music is, “Dismantle” by Peter Sandberg (2016). Licensed via Epidemic Sound.

Listen to this podcast on:

Socials:

Get our newsletter!

http://eepurl.com/ia3SpT

We want to connect with you! Please send your questions, feedback, and business inquiries to [email protected]

Disclaimer: All the information on Freedom Mental Health’s website, YouTube channel, and podcast is for education purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/questions, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor or care team, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussions with them.

“This is Freedom!” podcast is produced by Michelle Solomon and published by Freedom Mental Health ©2024