<p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/paulconti3/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220109-pod-paulconti&utm_content=220109-pod-paulconti-podfeed"> View the Show Notes Page for This Episode</a></p> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220109-pod-paulconti&utm_content=220109-pod-paulconti-podfeed"> Become a Member to Receive Exclusive Content</a></p> <p><strong>Episode Description:</strong></p> <p>Paul Conti, a returning guest on <em>The Drive</em>, is a practicing psychiatrist and recent author of <em>Trauma: The Invisible Epidemic: How Trauma Works and How We Can Heal From It</em>, in which he offers valuable insights on healing from trauma. In this episode, Paul explains how his personal experience with trauma and his many years seeing patients have shaped his understanding of trauma's impact on the brain, its common patterns and manifestations, and how often people don't recognize the implications of trauma in their own life. He discusses major challenges in recognizing trauma, including the lack of biomarkers in psychiatry and psychology, as well as the misguidance of the mental health system in targeting symptoms as opposed to root problems. He talks about shame as the biggest impediment to healing from trauma and offers solutions to how, as a society, we can start to change the stigma of mental health and allow more people to receive help. Finally, he concludes with a discussion about the potential role of psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA in treating trauma.</p> <p><strong>We discuss:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Paul's background and unique path to psychiatry [2:30];</li> <li>A personal tragedy that shaped Paul's understanding of trauma and resulting feelings of shame and guilt [5:30];</li> <li>The current state of psychiatry training and need for improvement [20:15];</li> <li>The over-reliance on outdated metrics and lack of attention to past trauma as impediments to patient care [28:30];</li> <li>Defining trauma: various types, heterogeneity, and effects on the brain [34:30];</li> <li>Importance of finding the roots of trauma and understanding the "why" [47:00];</li> <li>The major challenge of recognizing trauma in patients [55:15];</li> <li>How shame and guilt are barriers to treatment and healing [1:06:00];</li> <li>How treating trauma compares to treating an abscess—a powerful analogy [1:11:30];</li> <li>How evolutionary survival instincts create problems in modern society [1:15:15];</li> <li>First step toward healing: overcoming the fear of talking about past trauma [1:19:00];</li> <li>Shame: the biggest impediment to healing [1:25:15];</li> <li>The antidote to shame and the need for discourse and understanding [1:34:15];</li> <li>The emotional health component of healthspan [1:41:15];</li> <li>How to reframe the conversation about mental health for a better future [1:52:00];</li> <li>The growing impact of trauma on our society and the need for compassion [1:58:45];</li> <li>Society's antiquated way of treating manifestations of trauma rather than root issues [2:04:15];</li> <li>Potential role of psychedelics like psilocybin and MDMA in treating trauma [2:11:15];</li> <li>Parting thoughts and resources for getting help [2:16:30];</li> <li>More.</li> </ul> <p><a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/?utm_source=podcast-feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=220109-pod-paulconti&utm_content=220109-pod-paulconti-podfeed"> Sign Up to Receive Peter's Weekly Newsletter</a></p> <p>Connect With Peter on <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peterattiamd/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peterattiamd/">Facebook</a> & <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kGsMa0LygSX9nkBcBH1Sg">YouTube</a></p>
Actionable Insights
1. Recognize Trauma’s Core Role
Understand that many common mental health issues like depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and addiction are often symptoms stemming from underlying trauma, rather than separate problems. Focusing on the root trauma is crucial for effective healing, as symptom-focused treatment often fails.
2. Combat Shame with Understanding
Actively seek to understand and shed light on your past traumatic experiences, as understanding is the primary antidote to the reflexive shame that trauma creates. This process, though challenging, is profoundly healing and disempowers the negative self-narratives.
3. Prioritize Trauma Psychoeducation
Arm yourself with knowledge about trauma and its effects on the brain and self-perception. This psychoeducation empowers you to understand your experiences, facilitate self-help, and make informed decisions about seeking appropriate support, even when professional help is limited.
4. Seek Therapy for Self-Perception
If you’ve experienced trauma, consider seeking therapy to help re-ground your sense of self and challenge negative self-perceptions that trauma can instill. Even a small amount of therapy can help you regain confidence and a healthier self-view.
5. Manage Healing Expectations
Understand that healing from trauma and changing deeply ingrained negative thought patterns is a long-term process, not an overnight fix. Do not be discouraged if persistent negative thoughts remain initially, as their power attenuates over time with consistent effort.
6. Assess Action-Goal Consistency
Reflect on whether your behavioral choices align with your stated goals for health and well-being. If your actions consistently run counter to your intentions, it may signal an underlying emotional or mental health issue, often rooted in trauma, that needs attention.
7. Limit Distressing News Exposure
If you find yourself overwhelmed and your health deteriorating due to intense attention to distressing news, consider limiting your exposure. Excessive focus on traumatic world events can lead to vicarious trauma and negatively impact your mental well-being.
8. Explore Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies
Consider the potential of emerging psychedelic-assisted therapies (like psilocybin and MDMA) as powerful tools for understanding and rapidly reorienting brain pathways affected by trauma. These modalities offer immense hope for profound change when deployed safely and effectively in a clinical context.
Support and participate in widespread education about trauma and shame, starting from early childhood and extending to professionals (doctors, teachers, police, legal systems). This societal shift can destigmatize mental health issues and foster a more compassionate, understanding environment.
10. Model Openness About Trauma
If you hold a position of influence and it is safe and reasonable to do so, consider being open and honest about your own experiences with trauma. This can help destigmatize mental health challenges for others and encourage them to seek help.