Bunny Hugs and Mental Health

Whit Missildine is the host and creator of the wildly popular podcast This Is Actually Happening. We discuss how and why the podcast started, Whit's own struggles with anxiety and derealization disorder, the power of story telling, and a bit about my own struggles. Listen to This Is Actually Happening here https://wondery.com/shows/this-is-actually-happening/ Follow This Is Actually Happening on I...

If you are a man, have a male family member, or know a man, you should listen to this episode. Why has men's mental health become a recent concern, why don't men open up about their feelings, why do men die of suicide nearly four times more than women. These are questions that inspire Elise Michaels, a men's mental health coach and advocate. It's true, everyone's mental health matters. It's also t...

Lindsey and her team at Vital Care Pharmacy are super heroes. The only medication they dispense are medication that treat mental illnesses, mental health and addictions. Not only do they help folks with new prescriptions but they also help folks go off prescriptions, give honest advice, and even take the time to find ways to find funds for folks that are unable to afford their medication. Follow V...

Since starting the podcast, I've heard people tell me multiple times how EMDR therapy changed their life. It's time I understood what exactly EMDR therapy is, what to expect in a session, and why/how it works. Brianna is a social worker and an EMDR therapist specializing in youth. She's also a pretty swell gal! you can book in person or virtual sessions with her at www.freetobeeme.ca . Topics in t...

TRASH IS BACK!! One of my most popular guests has returned to celebrate 100 episodes! Trash has talked in the past about their DID (dissociative personality disorder), histrionic personality disorder and now we discuss schizotypal disorder. By the way, as I write this, I realize I've been pronouncing dissociative wrong!! Be warned that at one point Trash describes some horrific trauma . Follow Tra...

Happy 100 episodes! Hailey Rose is back and we get and update on her latest hospital stay, bipolar disorder mania, how bipolar disorder can affect relationships, ADHD, her new emotional support dog Oliver and more. Be sure to follow Hailey on Instagram and TikTok at mind.over.mood Topics in this episode include bipolar disorder, psychosis, ADHD, depression FOLLOW BUNNY HUGS AND MENTAL HEALTH   on...

Have you ever met someone and you swear you've known that person for years? Thats what it was like for me meeting Dr. Jody Carrington. She is extremely charming, witty and swears like a sailor. I liked her instantly. Our conversation flowed between topics like, contentment on a society level, to parenting, to boundaries. Follow her on Instagram @drjodycarrington to see where she is speaking next a...

Daniel knows violence. Whether it was street violence, drug violence or his time spent as a medic in the military, he knows violence. Returning home from Iraq, lost and suffering PTSD, he fell back into his old ways. Lucky for Daniel he met someone with the patience, empathy and love to help him turn his life around. Even while in the midst of severe alcohol addiction, it seemed Daniel was on the...

This week's guest is Kristen Carder, host of the podcast 'I Have ADHD' and trainer of ADHD coaches. Her podcast is full of great advice, information and strategies for folks with ADHD and for folks just wanting to know more about ADHD. Not only is Kristen wise but she is also sweet, charming, charismatic, and funny! listen to 'I Have ADHD' here https://ihaveadhd.com/ and follow Kristen on Instagra...

Imagine being called a hero one day, with love, respect and accolades being shown, to seemingly over night being spat at and called a murderer as you entered your place of work. Imagine holding a tablet for someone as their loved ones had to say their final good byes virtually. Imagine being so understaffed, over worked you, yet dedicated, you didn't leave work for days at a time. That was the rea...

Kayla DeMong is the Executive Director of Prairie Harm Reduction. PHR improves the quality of life for all members of the community through gold standards in harm reduction. They also offer education and training on harm reduction principles and practices for the public at large, such as Naloxone training. Support Prairie Harm Reduction with donations or purchasing some beautiful merchandise at ww...

Xannie had been diagnosed with BPD and after much work she now considers herself 'functionally recovered'. She also happens to be very charming, funny, clever and sweet. We discuss how BPD has affected her relationships, everyday life and the stigmas around the diagnosis. You can watch Xannie's YouTube show BPD Bunch here https://www.youtube.com/@thebpdbunch Or listen to it here https://podcasts.a...

Growing up, Jon Cerone was a good student and athlete in an average household with Christian values. He went to college and that all changed...Today Jon is a podcaster and author. Check out Jon's podcast Feel Free https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-feel-free-podcast/id1628334087 Buy Jon's book https://www.amazon.com/Parables-Musings-Addict-Journey-Wholeness/dp/B0BMSVFSTF Follow Jon on Insta...

Agata wants the option to die with dignity. Living with anorexia for most of her life, Agata is tired of suffering. She applied to be MAiD ( medical assistance in dying) for her mental illness. Canada passed Bill C-39 in January allowing people to apply for MAiD for mental health reasons, only to withdrawal the bill a month later. Agata has applied for MAiD but is now in limbo waiting for the gove...

Did you know nearly 70% of veterinarians have lost a colleague or peer to suicide? Did you know a recent study suggested that annual incidence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in animal shelter employees is five times higher than the national average? Laura Zmud, a social worker and Family Ties Coordinator with SPCA, Erin Jellow, a veterinary technician, and Kristy Mason, a former animal s...

In 2017 Jeremy was mauled in a bear attack several kilometres away from his truck and civilization. Listen to his INCREDIBLE story of survival of, not just the attack, but with his battle with extreme PTSD. Today Jeremy is raising five million dollars to go to PTSD research. Be sure to read Jeremy's book Mauled: Lessons Learned from a Grizzly Bear Attack available on Amazon https://www.amazon.ca/M...

In 1990 at the age of 12, Collier heard his father murder his mother in the middle of the night. He now helps others with their trauma recovery and talks about his experiences on his podcasts, Moving Past Trauma and Survivor Squad. You can also watch his fascinating story in the 2017 documentary A Murder in Mansfield. Listen to Moving Past Murder https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/moving-past-t...

Emmanuel is the author of the new book Men Get Raped, set to be released this summer. As a boy growing up in Mexico, he experienced sexual abuse from a male authority figure and again, with his new life in Toronto, by a female. While trying to process Emmanuel couldn't help but notice the lack of safe spaces for men to talk about their emotional and mental issues regarding sexual trauma. He experi...

There is no bigger mental health advocate in Canada than Glenn Roil. Glenn is an international award-winning mental health advocate and global mental health consultant with over 30 years of expertise in mental health, basic income and poverty reduction. You can follow Glenn on Twitter @glennroil Instagram @glennroil75 Facebook Glenn Roil FOLLOW BUNNY HUGS AND MENTAL HEALTH   on Facebook ⁠https://w...

Robin is back for the second part of this 2 part series, Sex and mental health! In this episode we discuss sex addiction, sex work, sex in long term relationships and more. Sex is like cheesecake, when it's good, it's real good and when it's bad, it's still pretty good! Please take a listen to Robin's podcast Embodied Eroticism and follow her on social media at these links Podcast Link:  https://e...

Pam's daughter Taryn was a normal teen, maybe even exceptional. Taryn was succeeding in advanced classes in school, a dancer and athlete. Then seemingly over night Taryn became suicidal, hearing voices and seeing things that weren't there. Over the last 7 months, Taryn has spent most of it in the hospital. Pam had to leave her job to become a care giver for Taryn all while trying to find medicatio...

What if you were so addicted to something you couldn't even have a conversation in a restaurant without wanting to run to the bathroom to use, you were losing friends , jobs and school? What if I told you that something you were addicted to was daydreaming? That was Jayne's reality for years and the that disorder is now called maladaptive daydreaming. Jayne is considered by many as patient X becau...

This episode was recorded live on January 25th at The Grand Theatre in Indian Head Saskatchewan in front of 300 high school students. You may remember Big Daddy Tazz from episode 46 as a popular stand up comic, speaker and advocate. That day on stage was part interview, part talk with the students, and part Q&A. Thank you to the board and volunteers with The Grand Theatre, students and staff from...

For years Ashley lived with an abuser. Ultimately she was able to escape with her mother. Physically she was safe but mentally she was suffering. Her mind sought refuge with the help of her grandparents, her culture and traditions. Since then she has become the first indigenous woman to hold the title of Miss Canada, and the first indigenous woman to grace the pages of Sports Illustrated. She even...

Jessica was an aid worker in Somalia when her and a coworker were carjacked and kidnapped. They spent the next three months outside, in the desert, with volatile, armed men. How did she keep her self sane in such a high stress, unpredictable situation? How did she escape and how did she treat and manage her post traumatic stress?  Follow Jessica on Instagram @jessicabuchanan Go to her website http...