Digest

This podcast episode features a rebroadcast of episode 189, titled "What If You Couldn't Stop Shining?", originally aired on May 4th, 2021. The episode delves into the guest's personal experience with drug-induced psychosis, tracing their journey from childhood trauma to recovery. The guest shares their strained relationship with their mother, the impact of their parents' divorce, and the feeling of being abandoned and displaced. They describe their experience with drug-induced psychosis, including hallucinations, delusions, and a distorted perception of reality. The episode also covers their hospitalization in a youth mental health facility, where they initially resisted treatment, believing they were being abducted for alien testing. However, over time, they began to let go of their distorted narrative and transition back into reality. The guest then shares their journey to sobriety at age 21, highlighting the transformative impact it had on their life. They discuss finding a new family in sobriety, the importance of therapy, and the ongoing process of working through their trauma and finding acceptance. The episode concludes with the guest reflecting on the root of their psychosis, attributing it to a deep-seated need to feel belonging and a fear of abandonment stemming from their childhood experiences. They emphasize the importance of therapy and support systems in their healing journey, acknowledging that their psychosis was a coping mechanism for their pain and fear.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Content Warning

The podcast introduces itself as a show featuring real experiences, often including traumatic events. It advises listeners to consult the show notes for content warnings and support services.

00:00:09

Summer Rebroadcast Series

The podcast announces the continuation of its annual summer rebroadcast series, featuring six weeks of previously aired episodes.

00:00:25

Episode 189: What If You Couldn't Stop Shining?

The episode rebroadcasts episode 189, titled "What If You Couldn't Stop Shining?", originally aired on May 4th, 2021. The episode explores the guest's experiences with drug-induced psychosis and their journey to recovery.

00:01:47

A New Podcast: Hysterical

The podcast introduces a new podcast from Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios called "Hysterical," which investigates a mysterious illness that spread through a high school in upstate New York.

00:02:12

The Guest's Early Life and Family Dynamics

The guest shares their childhood experiences, including a strained relationship with their mother, a favored brother, and the impact of their parents' divorce.

00:35:43

Hospitalization and Drug-Induced Psychosis

The guest describes their experience being hospitalized in a youth mental health facility after experiencing drug-induced psychosis. They discuss the challenges of transitioning back into reality and the impact on their relationships.

00:40:35

Sobriety and Finding a New Family

The guest shares their journey to sobriety at age 21 and the transformative impact it had on their life. They discuss finding a new family in sobriety and the importance of therapy.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were some of the key events in the guest's childhood that contributed to their later struggles with mental health?

  The guest experienced a strained relationship with their mother, a favored brother, and the impact of their parents' divorce, which left them feeling abandoned and displaced.

• How did the guest's drug use contribute to their experience with drug-induced psychosis?

  The guest's heavy drug use, particularly their experimentation with psychedelic drugs and 2-5-I, led to a period of intense hallucinations, delusions, and a distorted perception of reality.

• What was the guest's experience like in the youth mental health facility?

  The guest initially resisted treatment, believing they were being abducted for alien testing. However, over time, they began to let go of their distorted narrative and transition back into reality.

• How did the guest's journey to sobriety change their life?

  Sobriety allowed the guest to find a new family in recovery, receive support and therapy, and begin to heal from their trauma. It also helped them to recognize and address the underlying causes of their psychosis.

• What is the guest's perspective on their experience with drug-induced psychosis?

  The guest acknowledges that their psychosis was a coping mechanism for their deep-seated pain and fear of abandonment. They recognize that their brain was trying to protect them, but they are no longer a prisoner to their past experiences.

Show Notes