Depresh Mode with John Moe P.E. Moskowitz on Whether Your Mind is Broken or the World Is
Oct 13, 2025
P.E. Moskowitz, an insightful author and journalist known for tackling mental health and urban issues, delves into the complexities of trauma in this thought-provoking conversation. They share personal experiences from witnessing violence during the Charlottesville protests and the 9/11 attacks, linking these events to their struggles with mental health. Moskowitz challenges conventional views on treatment, emphasizing the need for better coping mechanisms and access to diverse therapeutic options, while also exploring the societal meanings behind drug use.
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Witnessing The Charlottesville Attack
- P.E. Moskowitz was a few feet from the car attack in Charlottesville and saw bodies fly when Heather Heyer was killed.
- That five-minute trauma later triggered a nervous breakdown about a month afterward when their repression collapsed.
Use Medication As A Stabilizing Tool
- Use short-term benzodiazepines like Klonopin to stop acute panic so you can engage in recovery work.
- Pair medication with intensive therapy and support rather than expecting pills to be the total fix.
Being Near The World Trade Center On 9/11
- At 13, P.E. was two blocks from the World Trade Center when the planes hit and later fled through dust and collapse plumes.
- They say the 9/11 experience was boxed away and later resurfaced during the Charlottesville-triggered breakdown.
