Dr. T and Truth Fairy are reunited for this episode and introduce a new episode structure to listeners. Each episode will examine, in three parts, the research and clinical research angle of a topic, then practical clinical perspectives, and, finally, a potential guest to weigh in on the topic. In this, part one, Dr. T and Truth explore the relationships between trauma, dissociation, and psychedelic therapy. They dig into how dissociation shows up on a spectrum - from everyday experiences like daydreaming to severe structural dissociation rooted in early trauma and survival responses.  

In the trauma model of dissociation, Dr. T and Truth Fairy discuss how the mind and body protect us each against overwhelming pain by sequestering traumatic memories. Truth names several books by people who have survived extremely traumatic situations to illustrate this. They also explore the role of the dorsal vagal complex in shutdown and numbing states, and how attachment wounds contribute to dissociation. Understanding these is key to safe and effective psychedelic therapy. 

Together, drawing on clinical research and personal insight, they highlight the protective and harmful aspects of dissociation, how it overlaps with conditions like PTSD, DID, and depression, and they examine how trauma can be carried in the mind and body. Part of their discussion involves how psychedelic medicines can offer healing by bringing suppressed experiences to the surface, alongside care and trauma-informed awareness and guidance. 

“And so, yeah, the idea is that in the process of dissociation as a response to trauma, it's protecting in the moment. But those memories and those experiences are still - if dissociation is happening in the moment of a traumatic experience, it might be protective - but then it might be sequestering and pushing some material into a different place within the psyche. And if that remains unresolved, you know, then it can wreak havoc and produce a lot of follow-on distress.” - Dr. T

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Resources discussed in this episode:

• “Psychedelic iatrogenic structural dissociation: an exploratory hypothesis on dissociative risks in psychedelic use” by Steven Elfrink and Leigh Bergin, ‘Frontiers in Psychology’, 3 March 2025
• “The Last Girl: My Story of Captivity, and My Fight Against the Islamic State” by Nadia Murad
• “Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor E. Frankl

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