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Description
We demystify mental health and psychedelic medicine. Our episodes give practical insights from experienced patients, helping everyone better understand depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, and psychedelic medicine. From the practical (like a guide to accessing therapeutic ketamine), to the profound (like spiritual awakenings brought on by psychedelics), we share patient-centered knowledge to help people and their families better understand the psychedelic landscape today.
Co-hosts Molly Dunn and Lynn Schneider are old friends who usually live on opposite sides of the world. Molly, a disabled writer from Chicago with treatment resistant depression and other chronic illnesses, has been a ketamine patient for several years. Lynn, our resident genius empath, is a longtime friend, relative, and ally of people who struggle with mental health challenges. Together, we fight stigma, go on tangents, and crack each other up.
We are not trained mental health experts. We provide context to help you do your own research.
Hit us up at ketamineinsights@gmail.com and https://ketamineinsights.com/ and @ketamineinsights on Instagram.
~~If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please get help. In the US, dial 988. You are never all alone.~~
Remember to advocate for yourself, and never ration your joy.
24 Episodes
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From Ayahuasca retreats for CEOs to ketamine coaches for corporate leaders, we explore the world of corporate psychedelic use. In this episode, Lynn and Molly explore the differences between using psychedelics to optimize work performance and using them for healing. We share their worries about using psychedelics to reinforce existing capitalist hierarchies. We discuss how the intertwining of professional and spiritual realms can degrade our sense of self worth. Along the way, we quest...
Molly interviews Adena, the mother of a severely depressed young man. Trigger Warning: Suicide, Severe Depression Depression, like most serious illnesses, is best treated within a community of care including friends, therapists, artists, physicians and loved ones. Together Adena and I discuss what that community of care could look like, and the difficulties she faced finding support for herself and her son Jordan. Adena emphasizes the importance of habit and routine for depressed young ...
Dive into an inspiring conversation with Rob as he describes his transformative experience with ketamine therapy, the cognitive improvements it can offer, and how it restores brain health. We discuss Rob's comprehensive online resource, KetamineTherapyForMentalHealth.com, which provides guidance and support for those seeking ketamine treatment. This episode is packed with personal anecdotes, expert advice, and practical tips for anyone curious about psychedelic medicine and mental he...
Lynn and Molly explore the challenges and importance of asking for help with ketamine treatments. They discuss the role of shame in mental illness, the benefits of community support, and practical steps for seeking assistance. With personal stories and specific tips, this episode sheds light on the emotional and logistical aspects of getting the help we need. Please subscribe, follow, rate, and review us on your preferred podcast platform. Engagement makes the algorithm overlords smile upon K...
Explore various ways to access ketamine care in the US. Hosted by a long-term ketamine patient, this episode covers the gold standard (talk therapy and ketamine treatment combined in one practice), the services offered by ketamine clinics, and the evolving option of at-home ketamine administration. Learn about the costs, benefits, and potential pitfalls of each approach, and gain valuable insights to help you navigate your mental health journey. For more resources, including a written version...
We hear a powerful story about the power of MDMA to help heal PTSD. An FDA advisory committee recently voted against approval of MDMA as a treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), despite extremely promising results from clinical trials. So, in this episode, Molly speaks with Cristina Pearse, founder and CEO of the Protea Foundation, who received MDMA treatment as part of the recent trials. Cristina describes the impact of her childhood trauma as a powerful tsunami. With the hel...
Lynn and Molly discuss Somatic Therapy and Internal Family Systems (IFS), two therapeutic modalities often used alongside ketamine treatments. Molly shares a story of Somatic Experiencing, describing how different body sensations revealed helpful emotional insights. We discuss the interweaving relationships between trauma, the body, talk therapy, and therapeutic ketamine. The conversation then shifts to Internal Family Systems, exploring how listening to our different internal "parts" can br...
Host Molly welcomes midwife and activist Betsy Merbitz to discuss the importance of patient-centered care in childbirth and in psychedelic therapies. Our conversation delves into the distinctions between holistic and medical models, focusing on the role of the individual as the primary healer. Betsy describes her work as a Certified Professional Midwife, the importance of holding space, and the historical context of the medicalization of birth. We explore the role of profit-seeking in the cre...
Lynn is back(!) for a fun conversation about holistic ways to improve mental health. From exercise and energy healing to sobriety and sleep hygiene, we discuss practices that can complement ketamine therapy, A companion episode to S1 Ep3 ("Comparing Depression Treatment Options"), this episode can help you feel empowered to choose which of your many treatment options you want engage in, and how. Treat it like a buffet and take what you like :-) If you enjoy Ketamine Insights, please share i...
Angel takes us with her on several profound psychedelic journeys, including one in which she finally realizes: "My God, I'm beautiful." Ketamine therapy brings new levels of peace in this episode - the second half of our conversation from last week. Angel and I discuss grief and forgiveness in the context of complicated loss. She describes how she knows when she needs another treatment, and the beauty of being able to communicate with her support network. We revel at the power of a good e...
(TW: Suicide) Listener Angel describes working with ketamine after many devastating personal tragedies. For her, ketamine is a lifeline. After a lifetime of traumas, she describes feeling like "one of those people who couldn't be helped." Thankfully, ketamine - together with therapy, writing, and solid family support - has led her to feel lighter. Now, she says, she can coexist with her memories. Like many of us, Angel has had spiritual experiences with ketamine, leaving her feeling d...
Amber, a trained autopsy technician and Ketamine Insights listener, generously shares her story of doing research, finding a therapist, and finding beauty in the mundane. She and Molly discuss how ketamine journeys feel, the experience of "coming back" from trips, and the work of doing SO much introspection in a short period of time. They also share practical tips about music, weighted blankets, mindfulness, support networks, and more. Thanks so much to Amber for sharing her story. If you or ...
Molly and her partner Demond discuss his experience supporting someone with serious mental illness. Who can you look to for guidance? How should you treat someone who's coming down from a psychedelic journey? We talk about the benefits of instructions, the dangers of advice, and what to do when your loved one is spiraling out. Help us by subscribing at https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsights or https://mollydunn.substack.com Email us at ketamineinsights@gmail.com Our Instagram is @keta...
1Molly interviews a listener about his experiences with depression, bipolar, and therapeutic ketamine. We learn how George convinced his hesitant psychiatrist, found a therapist trained in psychedelics, and joined a ketamine support group. We discuss the spiritual element to psychedelic experiences, what a ketamine journey can actually feel like, and the wonderful insights he's gained along the way. This is a gem of a conversation. We hope you enjoy it. If you do, please take a moment to share...
None of the many psychedelic conferences in 2023 have slots for patients to speak. The disability rights movement declares, "Nothing about us without us!" but instead of valuing patients' lived experiences or practicing trauma-informed medicine, the field of psychedelic medicine is excluding us from the rooms (and zooms) where policies are debated and best practices established. In this episode, Molly gives an update on season two (coming soon!) and provides some perspective on the marginal...
Molly is the guest storyteller for Tell Me What Happened's 50th episode. Host Jay Rehak listens as Molly remembers her Grandma making a shocking admission (proudly!) at a big family dinner. Jay and Molly discuss how we often think that we already understand the people closest to us, when there is actually great wisdom and insight to be gained from asking them to... Tell Me What Happened. Thanks to Mr. Rehak (my high school English teacher!) for having me on, and for letting me share this s...
An exploration of "All or Nothing Thinking" and other mental habits that hold us back. Google "cognitive distortions," and you're sure to recognize a few patterns from your own internal monologue. Maybe you catastrophize or you tend to disqualify the positive things in your life. Another common cognitive distortion is "all or nothing thinking," which can wreak havoc on our ability to manage our expectations as we try different treatments. Molly and Lynn discuss their own experiences with tre...
Many people report feeling more creative and open during smaller doses of ketamine, making it an ideal time for a therapy session, journaling, or for bonding with a loved one. In this episode, Lynn and Molly discuss several ways to use ketamine lozenges (aka troches) to improve mental health. Within your prescriber's instructions, we encourage you to explore how lower-dose ketamine can be most helpful for you. Also, if you've been wondering how our hosts feel about Bill and Ted's Excellent ...
Ketamine makes our brains more elastic, so how do we make the most of that flexibility? From ice cream to journaling to roller skating, Lynn & Molly discuss visceral pleasures to help people form new, more joyful neural pathways. Of course, you don't need ketamine to plan a Day of Joy. Send this episode to a friend and make a date! If you're enjoying this podcast, please help us keep the lights on by visiting https://www.patreon.com/ketamineinsights Email us at ketamineinsights@gmail.c...
*No Medical Advice* What is a ketamine infusion like? How do I dress? What do I bring? Should I be scared? Lynn and Molly explore common concerns and give some concrete tips (like how to pick and prune a ketamine playlist). Then Molly reads her poem "A Room in Chicago," which is a very personal description of the therapeutic ketamine experience. We also touch on why patient voices are so important, and the profound value of the disability justice movement. In this episode we ref...
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