The Happy Molecule

What is a panic attack? Can I control it? Dr. David Carbonell is an anxiety coach and he explains just what a panic attack is and how you can better live with it.

Using your own genetics to figure out what works and what doesn't when it comes to mental health treatment is brining 20th century medicine into the 21st century. This is the second part of talking with my sponsor, Inagene Diagnostics.

“Try this for a few weeks and we'll see if it works”. This is a normal statement from most doctors when using medication to treat mental health issues. Between side-effects and effectiveness, quite often it can take months to find the right drug and the right dose…maybe not at all. Inagene Diagnostics takes the guess work out of treatment and pairs you up with the drug that is best suited to you. -sponsored-

He is one of Canada's best-known sports journalists. He also lives with depression…and he is well known for that too. That's because MICHEAL LANDSBERG is behind #SickNotWeek.com and helps thousands of people every year realize that it is good to talk about your mental health.

Businesses and schooling have not been the only victims of lockdown. There has been a significant and troubling increase in couples seeking separation and divorce advice. Andrew Sofin is a prominent Montreal couples' therapist and speaks about ways to pause and reboot your relationship.


We know that youth are facing a mental health crisis far worse than adults with few choices for treatment. Now, add racism and marginalization to this and we have an entire group of young people whose lives depend on someone they trust to listen to them. However, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous & People Of Colour) youth have new hope. A new program matches therapies tailored especially to them and their unique needs. My guests are the manager of this program and a clinician.


Digital online therapy is one of the best things to have come out of lockdown and in the treatment of mental health. Nigel Branker is with one of the top digital offerings, Abiliti CBT. If you have had any doubts about trying it out, we explain what it is and how it works. This episode could literally change your life.


It is the ultimate medicine…food! We really are what we eat. Dr. James Greenblatt is a sought-after speaker around the world with his insights into how we should be looking more at our diet to treat mental health issues.


Life on the farm can be tough, especially on your mental health. However, the current mental health crisis is impacting our farmers far more than the rest of the population. With cases of depression and suicide well above the national average, there is work being done reaching out to the ag community to let them know that help is available.


It may seem like Bipolar Disorder is reaching epidemic proportions. That's not exactly true. It's just that until now we have been misdiagnosing it. Our teens seem to be especially susceptible to this life changing mental health illness. One of the world's foremost experts on Bipolar, Dr. Roger McIntyre, discusses the most credible research on it's possible causes and the latest treatments.

Being a professional athlete, Kendra Fisher was not about to be defeated…by mental illness. After losing a shot at the big time, and then later losing a child, she faced her severe anxiety head on. Today she is running for her son, raising money for other children, while at the same time healing herself and others.

Nurses face a dire mental health crisis. As a result, our healthcare system also faces a crisis. They are reporting burnout, depression and PTSD. This episode is about how serious the problem really is, and what needs to be done.

The first instalment of a semi-regular feature called My Story. People tell their personal mental health journeys. This first episode has the stories of two young people and their battles with Bi-Polar disorder.

Alanis Morrissette credits him with saving her life. Bryan Robinson is a psychotherapist and author. His advice for dealing with mental health…Chill!

The saying “Kids should be seen and not heard” may be long outdated but we still observe some of its meaning. The mental health crisis in our youth is something that can no longer be ignored or diminished. First thing we need to do…listen!

PART 2 | “Here are the 5 foods you can eat that will cure your depression” is not something you will hear in this episode. However, researcher Dr. Chris Palmer will enlighten you to what types of food can help your mental health.

Therapy, pills and meditation have long been considered the mainstays of mental health treatment. Add to this list what you eat. Dr. Chris Palmer is a researcher in the relatively new field of nutritional psychiatry.

Stop me if you've heard this before…it's going to be ok, we're going to get through this. Yeah, sure is tough to believe, right? Well, positivity to the rescue! Being positive doesn't mean ignoring what's going on, rather it is a powerful way to improve your mental health.

The pandemic, and the mental health crisis it creates, are creating many firsts. First time dealing with issues like depression and first time seeking help. This episode gets back to the basics. What is depression? When is it bad enough to call for help? Where do I find help? Basic questions. Basic answers.

Need to calm down? Plug one of your nostrils. If you are out somewhere, carry a balloon with you when you feel anxiety. Movement specialist Julie Thom joins me again, this time to talk about tools to control your stress with tools you were born with.

If only there was a thing you could do, right now, that would do wonders for your mental health and it wouldn't cost a dime or mean a whole lot of work on your part. Well there is…and it's free! Walking.

This is part two of episode 2 and our talk about addiction. Help is available and waiting.

The lockdown has seen a significant rise in substance abuse or addiction. I talk with a Psychiatrist as well as a woman in the UK about the causes and what you can do.

UNICEF has issued a mental health alert for children. The lockdown has them feeling isolated, afraid, lonely and anxious. A child psychologist and an author have some good advice on helping your child be mindful.

Working from home, fear of or actually being laid off…workers are getting the job done but it's taking a serious toll on their mental health. Morneau Shepell does a monthly Mental Health Index measuring the mental health of workers in Canada, The United States, The United Kingdom and Australia.

The title should actually be FOOD FOR YOUR THOUGHTS. My guest discusses the very direct connection with what you eat and your mental health.

Turns out our mental health and our physical health are all connected to just one brain. With this in mind, this is a pilot episode of three experts with good advice for your overall well being.

Regaining control of our moods and thoughts is the goal of good mental health. Holistic and Alternative Health Specialist Bryce Wylde has some great and unique tips to win the war against anxiety and stress.

Anxiety and stress can be the cause of pain and discomfort in our bodies such as a knot in our stomach or headaches. Dr. Michael Mantz, from Santa Barbara, California, believes these may not only be causes…they may be the pathway to a easing our suffering.

In this second part of our talk about suicide, what will make a difference. We hear from someone who has been there and back.

Suicide. We tend to shy away from the topic. However, with rates rising at alarming pace with lock-downs and isolation, we can't ignore it any longer. What to know, what to watch for.

No better place to start than the beginning. That is also true when it comes to your Mental Health. That beginning is getting the best sleep you can.

There is no doubt Christmas 2020 will be memorable but with a little help from Albert Einstein we can make it one of the most special holidays in your memory.

It's a four-letter word. It's a very powerful word. It will change your life, if you let it. Mental health speaker Asante Haughton speaks to me about the power of this word.

Loneliness is a crisis within a crisis. It is a leading cause of depression and has been proven to shorten your lifespan. The Jo Cox Foundation in the UK is trying to bring people together and end the stigma of loneliness. Through their efforts the British Parliament now has a Minister of Loneliness. I speak with the founder of the organization.

For the month of December, The Happy Molecule focuses on good mental health during the holidays. This episode also announces a partnership with a Christmas charity. (How the Grinch Stole Christmas courtesy MGM/Warner Bros.}

The Golden Gate Bridge has an infamous reputation as being a magnet for those wanting to end their life by suicide. A retired California Highway Patrol officer has earned the nick-name The Guardian of The Golden Gate after being able to talk hundreds of people out of jumping. He now runs a company that teaches suicide prevention.

You may think about anxiety and depression and how it affects you. What about your kids? Dr. Khush Amaria is a child psychologist in Toronto and has some signs of depression to watch for in children and teens as well as some good advice for helping them.

Dr. Joseph Luciani is a clinical psychologist in New York. Among his best-selling books is UNLEARNING ANXIETY & DEPRESSION. How much of your anxiety is the result of LEARNED habits? Can these habits be UNLEARNED?

The Happy Molecule? What the heck is that? Well, here is my “elevator pitch” for you about the show, my chance to sell you on it and encourage you to subscribe.