Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories

In the streets and sidewalks of every American city, a slow motion disaster is unfolding, with ever increasing numbers of people suffering from serious mental illness and/or addiction. Why is this happening? What can we do to help our most vulnerable citizens? Here Dr.  H sits down with Dr. Dave Iverson, a Colorado psychiatrist, advocate, and policy expert who has devoted his entire career to caring for the most ill patients with the least resources.  We get to hear what it's like to work in the psychiatric trenches-- the deep sense of urgency and purpose, along with the constant losses and ever growing numbers of people to serve.  BFTA on IG @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show

Psychedelic Somatic Institute founder and trauma expert, Saj Razvi, joins the host to explore topics such as treatment resistance, developmental trauma, the concept of the void, reenacting abusive relationships, somatic reenactment, attachment vs love, and the importance of experiential trauma treatments.

Explore the speaker's insights from conducting over 3000 ketamine sessions, covering patient selection, benefits for PTSD, safety, treatment variations, therapy importance, and patient response diversity.

Dr. Adele LaFrance, a Colorado-based psychologist and co-creator of Emotion Focused Family Therapy, explores the transformative role of love in therapy. She discusses how consciously inviting love into therapeutic practices can create safe and boundary-aware spaces. The conversation delves into her groundbreaking research in 'The Love Project,' examines profound experiences of love, and addresses the integration of psychedelics in healing. With insights from personal narratives, they reveal love's profound potential in fostering emotional connections and enhancing trauma recovery.

Dave and Laurie sit down with Dr. H to share their journey through the denial, fear, grief, and eventual acceptance of their son’s life-altering psychiatric illness.NAMI Family to Family supporthttps://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education/NAMI-Family-to-FamilyBFTA on Instagram. @backfromtheabysspodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/backfromtheabysspodcast/BFTA/ Dr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show

Parents share their experiences of caring for adult children with serious mental illness, including the challenges they face, early signs of illness, navigating delusions, and the impact on their marriage. The unique grief and lack of societal support are also discussed, emphasizing the importance of support and grieving in the recovery process.

Dr. Julia King Olivier, Swiss psychiatrist and co-founder of the Compassionate Care Center in Geneva, discusses her experiences with psychedelic-assisted therapy in Switzerland. Topics include criteria for prescribing psychedelic therapy, rethinking traditional therapy, exploring psychedelic training, growth gifts in therapy sessions, emotional vulnerability and self-care, and the importance of co-therapists in psychedelic psychiatry.

The podcast discusses the negative impact of using THC concentrates and cannabis for self-medication of anxiety and depression, leading to dependence and severe physical and mental symptoms. It explores the correlation between childhood trauma and catastrophic anxiety, the challenges of seeking help, and the benefits of finding a therapist. The speaker shares their experience with panic attacks and the impact of family dynamics on seeking support. It also delves into the difficulties of managing mental health while using THC concentrates and the long-lasting effects on the brain.

Shelly Winemiller, a trauma therapist and survivor of clergy sexual abuse, shares her powerful story of reclaiming her body and spirit. Topics include the struggles of growing up in a small city and experiencing sexual abuse, the journey of therapy from medication to healing, sharing with the church, healing from spiritual trauma and abuse, a surprising outing to combat nightmares, healing through breaking and singing, and the power of love and connection in healing from abuse.

Craig sits down with  Dr. Hillary McBride, a psychologist, researcher, author, and podcast host (Other People's Problems) to explore all things psychedelic.Dr. Hillary McBridehttps://hillarylmcbride.com/Roots to Thrive-- a model of ketamine group therapy used by Hillary at Katalyst https://rootstothrive.com/Hillary's ketamine groups at Katalysthttps://www.katalystmentalhealth.com/Psychedelic Ceremony and the Art of Groups with Dori Lewishttps://www.elementalpsychedelics.com/psychedelictrainingDr. Hhttps://www.craigheacockmd.com/podcast-page/Support the show