Brain Storm Episode 3: Working Through the Trauma of Brain Injury
Sep 16, 2024
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Rebecca Rusch, a 7x World Champion adventure athlete and bestselling author, joins Courtney Loving, a trauma-informed therapist specializing in concussion recovery. They dive into the profound impact of traumatic brain injuries and share personal journeys through traditional and psychedelic-assisted therapies. Rebecca reveals how these therapies transformed her recovery while discussing the importance of emotional processing. The conversation highlights innovative approaches like MDMA and psilocybin in therapy, advocating for a holistic view of healing that connects mind, body, and nutrition.
Concussions can lead to complex mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, significantly impacting daily life for many individuals.
Therapy, especially talk therapy, is crucial for processing trauma and developing new coping mechanisms following a brain injury.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly with MDMA, is being studied for its potential to treat trauma, though FDA approval presents challenges.
Proper integration of therapeutic experiences is essential for maintaining progress and ensuring lasting change after therapy sessions.
Deep dives
Impact of Concussions on Mental Health
A concussion can lead to significant mental health challenges, affecting up to 20% of individuals who experience one. Common symptoms include chronic headaches, brain fog, anxiety, and depression, which can deeply impact daily life. Additionally, head injuries may trigger the resurfacing of past traumas, leaving individuals feeling vulnerable and destabilized. This situation often complicates their ability to cope because existing coping mechanisms might no longer be effective.
The Role of Therapy in Recovery
Therapy, particularly talk therapy, has proven to be an essential component of recovery from concussions and associated emotional distress. It provides individuals with a safe space to process their experiences, understand their trauma, and develop new coping tools. The discussion highlights how therapy can facilitate healing by addressing both the mental and physical aspects of trauma. For one individual, the introduction of therapy marked a significant turning point in their healing journey, emphasizing its value in comprehensive recovery.
Exploration of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy
Psychedelic-assisted therapy, particularly using substances like MDMA, is being researched for its potential benefits in treating trauma and mental health disorders. The podcast highlights the clinical trials evaluating MDMA as a therapeutic aid combined with therapy, which opens new avenues for treatment options. Unlike traditional medications, MDMA therapy focuses on the interaction between the drug and the therapy itself, reinforcing the importance of the therapeutic context. Although research is ongoing, anecdotal evidence suggests this combination can lead to profound emotional breakthroughs.
Navigating the FDA Approval Process
The FDA's review of MDMA-assisted therapy has encountered challenges, including calls for more extensive research before granting approval. The complexities of conducting blinded trials on such substances contribute significantly to the approval process. Despite these challenges, organizations like the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) continue their advocacy for psychedelic research. The podcast also discusses the importance of a cautious yet hopeful approach toward expanding treatment options in mental health care.
Psilocybin's Therapeutic Potential
Psilocybin is also being explored as a potential therapeutic aid, with certain areas in the U.S. paving the way for its legal use in therapy. While current research on psilocybin does not match the focus given to MDMA, states like Oregon have set examples by decriminalizing its use for therapeutic purposes. The unique properties of psilocybin are emphasized, particularly its ability to promote neuroplasticity and encourage new cognitive pathways. Although it remains under research, positive experiences with psilocybin show promise for future therapeutic applications.
The Importance of Integration Post-Therapy
Integration is a critical aspect of both psychedelic therapy and traditional therapeutic practices, as it helps individuals make sense of their experiences. The discussion underscores how therapists can facilitate this process, guiding clients to reflect on the insights gained during therapy sessions. Integration ensures that the benefits of psychedelic experiences or therapeutic breakthroughs are carried into daily life, fostering lasting change. Without proper integration, individuals may lose the progress made, highlighting the need for continuous support.
Caution and the Importance of Ethical Practices
Despite the hopeful possibilities of psychedelic therapy, there is a vital need for caution regarding safety and ethics in this emerging field. Practitioners must possess a thorough understanding of these substances and adhere to ethical guidelines to ensure the well-being of clients. Engaging with ethical practitioners helps individuals navigate the complexities of treatment and avoid potential harm from inexperienced facilitators. This highlights the importance of asking the right questions and conducting thorough research before embarking on any therapeutic journey.
A head injury like concussion can fundamentally change you–especially if you have prolonged post-concussive symptoms, which can upend your life and sense of self for months, and sometimes years. Head injuries are also traumatic and they can leave you vulnerable to reliving other past traumas that may have been long buried. That’s where therapy comes in. Therapy can help you deal with your past and current trauma and importantly, put some new coping tools in your toolbox. As she struggled to cope with her lingering injury and depression, Rebecca pursued talk therapy and then later psychedelic-assisted therapy, both of which she credits with being pivotal turning points in her recovery. This episode takes a deep dive into her therapy experience, including insights from two of the therapists who helped guide her recovery. We also discuss the current state of psychedelic-assisted therapy, the FDA’s recent non-approval decision, and what it means going forward.
Rebecca Rusch is an adventure athlete, 7x World Champion, and 2x Hall of Fame inductee for mountain biking and gravel cycling. She is also a keynote speaker, the bestselling author of Rusch to Glory, and an Emmy Award winner for the documentary Blood Road about her journey to find the spot where her father, a US Air Force pilot, was shot down during the Vietnam War. She is also the founder of the Be Good™ Foundation, which is dedicated to transforming individuals and communities by using the bicycle as a catalyst for healing, empowerment, and evolution. You can learn more about her and her work at rebeccarusch.com.
This episode also features interviews with Rebecca’s talk therapist Courtney Loving, LPC, who has certifications in Trauma, Military, Trauma Resiliency Model and Havening Techniques, and works as a Mental Health Partner at Higher Ground, serving Military Veterans, their families and supporters. You can learn more about her and her work at courtneyloving.com. Also featured is Sarah* who facilitated some of Rebecca’s psychedelic-assisted therapy sessions. Sarah is a chemist and is a Psychedelics Today Vital trained plant medicine facilitator and integration coach.
* We are using Sarah’s first name only with respect to the sensitivity surrounding the subject matter.
