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Well-Bent

Rebecca Strong

Released: 2024-11-12

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11 Episodes

Audio

Free 0%

11 Episodes

Audio

Released: 2024-11-12

Most Recent Episode

Why MDMA-Assisted Therapy Is the Breakthrough Trauma Treatment We Need With Dr. Sara Gottfried

Time: 29:12

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Psychadelic-assisted therapy remains one of the hottest (and most controversial) topics in the mental health space today — and in this episode, you’re going to hear from a board-certified physician who has not only tried it but is calling it “the biggest breakthrough in mental health treatment in a generation.” That’s Dr. Sara (Gottfried) Szal, Director of Precision Medicine at the Marcus Institute of Integrative Health at Thomas Jefferson University, and multiple New York Times bestselling author. She’s a Harvard-educated medical doctor who treats professional athletes and executives alike, and I loved getting to hear about how MDMA-assisted therapy has been transformative on her journey to healing trauma. But first, here’s some context.

Only about 30% of people eventually recover from PTSD with treatment — so clearly, we’re missing a piece of the puzzle. The question is: Are psychedelics that missing piece? Multiple trials have shown participants who were given MDMA-assisted therapy for their PTSD experienced a significant reduction in the severity of the symptoms compared to people who were just given a placebo pill with therapy. In fact, in one 2023 trial, 71% of patients no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD, and almost 50% were considered in remission 18 weeks after they started MDMA-assisted therapy. Of people who got the placebo with therapy, only 48% didn’t meet the diagnostic criteria anymore and 21% were in remission. Another meta-analysis found that psychedelic-assisted therapy can significantly reduce anxiety and depression, both of which often co-occur in people with PTSD.

Psychedelics aren’t for everyone, and there are risks to consider with taking any substance. The first meta-analysis that examined the safety of psychedelics in a medical context, which looked at 30 studies and was published in May of this year, revealed that in over 1,000 cases where psychedelic substances were administered to people, there were only nine serious adverse events. Most of the side effects were temporary symptoms like elevated heart rate, nausea, lower appetite, and headaches.

I interviewed Dr. (Gottfried) Szal at the biohacking conference in May 2024 — a few months before the FDA decided not to approve MDMA for therapeutic purposes — requesting more research to prove that it’s safe and effective. But in some states, like Colorado and Oregon, referendums have already been passed that legalized psilocybin-assisted therapy.

While Dr. Gottfried Szal shared her transformative experience with psychedelic-assisted therapy, we discussed:

Is MDMA good for trauma?Has MDMA been approved for PTSD?How and why MDMA-assisted therapy works for PTSDWhat are the results of psychedelic-assisted therapy?What is happening in your brain when you add MDMA to a therapy session? Can psychedelic-assisted therapy be done virtually, or does it have to be in person?How to find psychedelic-assisted therapy near youThe importance of finding a therapist you trust when using psychedelicsHow setting and environment play a key role in reaping the benefits of psychedelic-assisted therapy

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Episode ID: 1000676624252

GUID: 672f8e1e743b21a6148b5eb6

Release Date: 12/11/2024, 10:00:12

Description

Why am I bloated all the time? How can I increase my chances of getting pregnant? What kind of protein do I need to build muscle? What's a holistic approach to treating anxiety and ADHD? And why am I still tired even though I slept 8 hours? You've got questions—and longtime health journalist Rebecca Strong is hell-bent on finding the answers. While interviewing medical doctors, registered dietitians, licensed therapists, certified personal trainers, and other credentialed experts on her podcast Well-Bent, she'll share practical, actionable advice on how to optimize your physical, emotional, and mental well-being. This is a show about wellness tips that won't make you broke, confused, or miserable—and we're going way beyond the basics of healthy eating, exercise, and sleep hygiene into the depths of WELL. Because knowledge is power, and feeling good should be a right—not a privilege.

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About the host: Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based health, wellness, and lifestyle journalist who has written for Health.com, Business Insider, Well+Good, Bustle, Men’s Health, Eat This Not That, Healthline, AskMen, Clean Plates, PopSugar, StyleCaster, and more. Throughout her decade-long career, Rebecca’s coverage has spanned a wide range of topics, from nontoxic skin care recommendations and nutritious recipe reviews to mental health advice and fitness trend roundups. Her work has been discussed on Good Morning America and promoted and applauded by Drew Barrymore, Arianna Huffington, Esther Perel, The Media Freedom Foundation, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

For more information about the show and its host, visit www.well-bent.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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