Big Think Psychedelics could heal your trauma, says neuroscientist Rachel Yehuda.
Aug 30, 2025
Join neuroscientist Rachel Yehuda, a leading expert on PTSD and trauma, as she explores the groundbreaking role of psychedelics like MDMA in healing. She highlights how these substances can aid in therapy, allowing individuals to confront their trauma while maintaining clarity. Yehuda emphasizes that trauma doesn’t have to imprison us; with the right tools and setting, it can be transformed into personal growth. Tune in to learn about shifting from victimhood to empowerment through the healing power of psychedelics.
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Trauma Isn’t Inevitable Fate
- Trauma often becomes seen as inevitable because we've normalized its effects while trying to validate survivors.
- Rachel Yehuda emphasizes trauma is survivable and we have tools to recalibrate after exposure.
Stress Versus Trauma Are Different
- Stress and trauma differ qualitatively, not just by severity, with trauma often involving life-threat and lasting change.
- Yehuda notes ~70% experience at least one traumatic event and 25% multiple life-threatening events, highlighting prevalence.
Trauma Leaves Biological Traces
- Traumatic events can produce lasting biological changes, including epigenetic shifts that sustain stress responses.
- Yehuda explains treatment itself is an environmental experience that can also produce beneficial epigenetic changes.