Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, or a licensed therapist, or any of those things. I’m just a fellow seeker who’s looking for a better sense of my own mind and body and how to work with that. I don’t know anything about your body, or your constitution, or where you’re at in your own mental health journey. Don’t forget to check in with yourself, your doctor, and your support system, whoever you trust. But refer to you. I started off with talk therapy. Talk therapy was quite difficult, and finding the right therapist for me was key. Then I moved into trying a number of different therapies. I started more in the somatic realm, which helped me to get present in my body. I didn't know what I was feeling most of the time. I felt like my mind and my body were two separate entities in constant conflict or denial. I started using cannabis, which reduced anxiety, panic attacks and helped me with sleep (I can go more into it on my podcast, “Still Learning”). I tried MDMA and psilocybin in small amounts. Trying these medicines with supervision was a game changer for me, and I was able to do them in a comfortable setting that made me feel safe to let go. I started taking ketamine at home, which alleviated night terrors and helped me build a healthier internal dialogue. When it came to psychedelics, I started using them as an alternative to SSRIs. I suffered from severe C-PTSD as well as a number of “disabilities'' and labels like “dyslexia," "ADHD,” “anxiety,” and “depression.” There were points where I became unrecognizable to myself — if you’ve been there, you know what I’m talking about. So I’ve looked to psychedelics to help with mental flexibility, build neural pathways, and give myself freedom from some very well ingrained, less desirable patterns. In addition, I used a lot of things in my recovery that added to healing, such as dancing, boxing, tapping meditations, and techniques to regulate my nervous system. I also enjoy guided meditations, but I was very careful about my selection and who I was willing to let influence me. I feel like my life was so different only five years ago. Now, even on days where I feel down or self conscious or anxious about life, I can still find a little more calm in the storm. I feel like that feeling is worth fighting for. Every personal win makes me feel stronger inside. I think one of the biggest mistakes I made was believing that someone outside of me knew what was better for me than myself. Obviously trusted guidance is key. But I think anyone trying to sell you a magic pill or a magic person can be a slippery slope. I think everyone should have access to affordable medicine, tools, and tangible options for healing. No more shame in the pain. Everyone experiences trauma at some point, and no one needs to suffer in silence. A little hope and having someone believe in you can go a long way.