In this insightful podcast, I discussed modern approaches to mental health and psychedelic-assisted therapies with Dr. Ryan Phillips. Dr. Ryan is registered naturopathic doctor in the state of Colorado specializing in mental health. We touched on a wide range of topics that challenge conventional approaches to psychiatric conditions.
To start, we explored the recent legalization of psilocybin mushrooms and other natural psychedelics in Colorado. Dr. Ryan sees this as an important step towards adopting an integrative model of mental healthcare. This approach considers social, spiritual and environmental factors - not just "biochemical" ones.
Too often today, conditions like depression or anxiety get reduced to simplistic notions of “chemical imbalances.” Dr. Ryan cautioned against overprescription of pharmaceuticals for diagnoses like ADHD as well. We need a more nuanced understanding of what drives mental health disorders.
Statistics showing rising rates of mental health issues in children particularly concern Dr. Ryan. He sees this linked to growing social isolation in American culture. Our modern world has created an unnatural divide between mental and physical health, removing important community and spiritual elements.
Through sharing his experiences living abroad in places like rural India, Dr. Ryan gave perspective on how contemporary life may be “dehumanizing” us. We delved into specific conditions stemming from adverse childhood experiences (ACESs) too, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Dr. Ryan acknowledged the benefits of conventional psychiatric medications in some cases. However, as someone who has also been prescribed such drugs, he aims to explore alternative treatment models. This is where natural psychedelics show therapeutic potential.
We covered various psychedelic substances in detail, from psilocybin and MDMA to ketamine. Fascinating research indicates they may safely and effectively help issues like treatment-resistant depression when combined with therapy. Fewer side effects and the prospect of long-term relief are added potential benefits.
Perhaps most interesting was discussing how psychedelics seem to “disrupt our learned narratives,” sometimes known as an “ego dissolution” effect. This psychological resetting holds promise for shifting thought and behavior patterns underlying many disorders.
It was a thought-provoking look at mental health that challenged preconceptions. I left with a renewed openness to re-examining conventional biomedical models and advocating continued research into psychedelic-assisted therapies.
Dr. Ryan can be reached at transcendent.health or drphillipsnd@gmail.com or neurogrove.com
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