Dr. Arash Javanbakht, a psychiatrist, discusses using augmented reality to treat PTSD and trauma. He also explores exposure therapy, yoga for refugees, and educating about anxiety on Instagram. The podcast covers topics on phobias, trauma, refugee experiences, and personal emotional struggles.
Refugees face mental health challenges due to trauma, language barriers, and resettlement issues.
Cognitive therapy helps redefine traumatic experiences to aid healing and recovery.
Innovative therapies like dance therapy and AR tech offer mental health support and community bonding.
Deep dives
Impact of War on Refugees
War forces people into constant exposure to violence and uncertainty, facing gunmen, loss of loved ones, kidnappings, and significant social and economic challenges in refugee camps. The trauma extends to disruptions of identity, language barriers, and discrimination upon resettlement in new countries, amplifying mental health issues like PTSD, anxiety, and depression.
Challenges for Mental Health Treatment
Migrants, especially refugees, face numerous barriers in mental health treatment, including language and cultural differences, trauma-related beliefs affecting their worldview, and adapting to new societal norms and expectations. Treatment approaches like cognitive therapy aim to redefine traumatic experiences and meanings to foster healing and recovery.
Innovative Therapy Approaches for Refugees
Innovative therapies such as dance therapy, art therapy, and augmented reality technologies offer new avenues for mental health support among refugees. These therapies not only address symptoms but also provide community bonding, socialization, and gradual exposure to safe but avoided situations, promoting resilience and integration within host countries.
Navigating Between Cultures and Paranoia
The episode delves into the experience of Naderi Fanoyan, who had to flee Iran following political upheavals and later faced suspicion upon returning. The dialogue explores the high level of paranoia between Iran and the West, emphasizing the cultural connections despite political tensions. The narrative highlights the challenges individuals face due to suspicion and the delicate balance between cultural identity and external perceptions.
Embracing Authenticity Amidst Trauma
Through personal reflections and listener surveys, the podcast delves into the impacts of trauma, abuse, and the quest for authenticity. It unravels the complexities of familial abuse, gaslighting, and the struggle to redefine self-perception. The discussions shed light on the journey towards healing, self-discovery, and the importance of acknowledging and addressing deep-seated emotional wounds.
Dr. Arash Javanbakht @Arash_Javanbakht is a psychiatrist and serves as the director of the Stress, Trauma, and Anxiety Research Clinic (STARC) at Wayne State School of Medicine. He shares his work studying PTSD and other trauma, in particular the wild success that has been achieved via Augmented reality tech treatments. Check out his book Afraid: Understanding the Purpose of Fear and Harnessing the Power of Anxiety
