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Have you ever thought about using psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy to address trauma and mental health issues?

If so, this episode of From Survivor to Thriver is a must-listen. Our guest, Jill Sitnick, opens up about the childhood trauma that caused her to develop PTSD and depression in adulthood. After reaching a critical point, Jill found hope and healing through psychedelic-assisted therapy.

Join us as Jill shares her journey, discussing the challenges she faced, how she discovered this unique form of therapy, and why it's so effective in treating deep-rooted trauma.

Jill Sitnick is an award-winning strategic thinker and educator who healed her childhood trauma-induced PTSD with psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Jill has over 25 years of educational technology expertise, having worked for Bensalem Township School District, Microsoft, and Amazon.

As the founder of The Journey Sage, she is a credible voice who uses her teaching experience to demystify the process of healing PTSD with psychedelics. Her memoir, Rescuing Jill, How MDMA, with a Dash of Magic Mushrooms, Healed my Childhood Trauma-Induced PTSD, recounts her yearlong healing journey.

Her Rescuing Jill Companion Workbook: Intention Setting Prompts for Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy is available to assist people working with psychedelics for healing. Jill’sgoal is to share her healing experience to help others who are looking for PTSD healing options.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The PTSD Jill experienced due to childhood trauma
• The coping mechanisms we use to help us through difficult times
• How Jill found healing through MDMA treatment
• The science behind psychedelic therapy
• What the preparation for psychedelic-assisted therapy looks like
• What integration after psychedelic-assisted therapy looks like
• How MDMA treatment can calm your body
• Which medium each psychedelic is suitable for
• How resistance is part of healing

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Jill! If you want to learn more from her about psychedelic-assisted therapy, make sure to visit her website to find all her resources and check out her YouTube channel.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Jill’s website: https://thejourneysage.com

Check out her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheJourneySage/videos

Visit our website

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Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“We all cope with things in different ways. We build our own coping mechanisms.” -Marc

“Think of the thing that makes you most nervous like public speaking or a spider, that really gets your body psyched up. Imagine just being able to calm t

What do you think of when you hear about alcohol addiction recovery? Do you think of Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)?

While AA can be effective, other approaches to recovery may work better for different people.

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Jonathan Hunt-Glassman to discuss Alcohol Use Disorder and the unique path to recovery many people need.

Join us as Jonathan shares how he took his own experience with alcohol and created his own organization with the goal of showing people that there are other ways to move through recovery.

Jonathan Hunt-Glassman is a healthcare entrepreneur and CEO of Oar Health, an addiction recovery platform that is revolutionizing the way people approach Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) treatment. With over 15 years of experience in the healthcare industry, including strategic leadership roles at Humana, Optum, and Bain & Company, Jonathan combines his expertise with a personal journey of overcoming alcohol addiction to make a meaningful impact in the field of addiction and recovery.

Jonathan's own battle with alcohol addiction inspired him to create Oar Health, a platform that offers accessible and approachable medication-assisted treatment for AUD through telemedicine. Jonathan understands the challenges faced by millions of Americans struggling with alcohol problems and is dedicated to offering expert, empathetic care without barriers.

With the support of licensed medical professionals, Oar Health helps people change their relationship with alcohol, offering safe and effective solutions, including medications like naltrexone.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The difference between Alcohol Use Disorder and alcohol addiction
• The black and white idea people have of alcohol addiction
• Why there is no one-size-fits-all plan to handle alcohol addiction
• The different types of recovery treatments
• Recovery vs. sobriety
• How to best support those who are struggling with alcohol addiction
• The stigma and societal expectations we have around alcohol
• How Jonathan helps people with their relationships with alcohol
• The power of community
• The reason there is so much resistance to medication for addiction

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Jonathan! If you want to learn more from him about addiction recovery, you can visit the Oar website. You can also follow him on LinkedIn.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit the Oar website

Follow Jonathan on LinkedIn

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“The truth is that there are more numerous and diverse pathways to recovery than one might think, based on what we see on TV.” -Jonathan

“We have this sort of black and white attitude around alcohol ad

For many women, the experience of going through menopause can have a significant impact on their mental health. And due to the stigma around it, many don’t get the help they actually need.

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Ann Bell to discuss the link between menopause, perimenopause, postmenopause, and mental health and how women can educate themselves and become their own best advocates.

Ann Bell is here to remind women that their needs matter, that they deserve an enjoyable, nourishing sex life, and that there is a deep connection between menopause and mental health.

Her journey into this field began in 1998 as a massage therapist, where she discovered the deep need for addressing mental, emotional, and relationship health in people's lives. Clients found solace in confiding in her during their sessions and, in 2012, Ann made the decision to formalize her commitment to their overall wellness.

In 2020, she furthered her expertise by obtaining certifications in relationships, sex, and love coaching.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The different stages of menopause
• The number one symptom of menopause
• Hidden symptoms of menopause that many people don’t know about
• The impact of menopause on your mental health
• The number one thing women need to treat menopause
• Why postmenopausal women struggle to get access to HRT
• The problems in women’s healthcare
• The impact of antidepressants on menopausal women
• The importance of educating yourself about your health so that you can be your own advocate
• The stigmas around women’s health

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Ann! If you want to learn more from her, you can visit her website here. You can also learn more about menopause and how to find a menopause practitioner at menopause.org/.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Ann’s website

Visit the menopause website

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“Being on hormone replacement therapy is nourishing for your body.” -Ann

“When it comes to perimenopause and your menopause, the number one prescription that needs to be written is hormone replacement therapy.” -Ann

“How many women are going to therapists and are presenting with anxiety and depression and the question probably doesn't even come up of ‘are you perimenopausal? Are you menopausal?’ And then they're being prescribed antidepressants, which, as I read, often have the opposite effect on women who are menopausal.” -Erik

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we had the privilege of sitting down with John Padilla to talk about how his life was changed forever by a tragedy. The devastating loss of his brother to suicide during his high school years changed the trajectory of his life.

John shares how he turned his pain into purpose and embarked on a path of healing alongside his brother's friends. Inspired by their collective resilience, he created YouTube films centered around mental health in the mountains.

Join us as John shares his deeply personal story, showing the impact of community in navigating through life's most challenging moments.

In 2019, John Padilla lost his teenage brother, Jack, to suicide. John’s background as a professional skier and photographer prompted him to create Mountain in My Mind, the first video production company focused on mental health awareness in ski towns. This project has resulted in two, award-winning, feature length films that have been viewed by millions across the world. He and his team are currently on location in Montana shooting the third film which is set for release in the Fall of 2024.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• How to check in with loved ones who might be contemplating suicide
• John’s experience with a brother who committed suicide
• How he started a nonprofit to help others struggling with their mental health
• The impact of social media and bullying on the mental health of young adults
• The power of community
• The healing that John and the other kids found through making movies
• The stigma around mental health in ski towns
• The topics covered in John’s movies
• 
  

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with John! If you want to check out his movies for yourself, head over to his YouTube and follow him on Instagram.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Check out the films on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MountainInMyMind

Follow Mountain in My Mind on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountaininmymind/

Follow John on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/john.padilla/

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“No suicide doesn’t have a heartbreaking end to it. It just doesn’t.” -Marc

“​​It's very simple. Ask bluntly, but politely, ‘Do you have a suicide plan?’ That's it. And if the answer is yes, or if I even sense that the answer is not no, I'm going to start making calls.” -John

“Community was probably the one thing that saved us and saved all of Jack’s friends.” -John

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we talked with Jon Katz about his journey to better mental and physical health and how he learned that real healing comes after facing pain by looking within yourself.

Jon tells his story and talks about how important it is to take full responsibility for our own lives and happiness. Now, he helps others overcome their struggles in the same way he did.

In late 2020, Jon Katz went through a horrendous breakup. This breakup, compounded with the weight of an unstable childhood, decades of poor decision-making, poor relationship choices, and poor habits, left him obese, anxious, depressed, and suicidal at the age of 34.

Since then, Jon has turned his life around in every conceivable way and now coaches others on how to step back from the path of negativity, poor health, hopelessness, worthlessness, fear, and suicide.

It is now his life's mission to help folks out of the pit of suicidality, anxiety, depression, repression, and denial and take back their lives. Let’s welcome in Jon!!

In today’s episode, we cover:

• How Jon reached his lowest point in his mental health and then changed the trajectory of his life
• How the people we spend our time with can impact our habits
• Why we have to look inside if we want true happiness
• How Jon realized that running away from his problems wouldn’t solve them
• The problem with getting lost in the narratives of others
• The power of trying and giving things your all
• How desperation can actually make you unstoppable
• How your mental health and physical health are intertwined
• The juxtaposition between art and pain
• How the creative process impacts mental health

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Jon! If you want to learn more from him, head over to his Instagram and you’ll find all of his links there.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Follow Jon on Instagram

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“The regretful man is the man that isn't leading a healthy life, that isn't really trying. If you aren't really trying, then you aren't really going to be okay.” -Jon

“You have to remove things from your life if you want to grow.” -Jon

“Sometimes you create these things, even if it is as therapy or to deal with the pain, and it helps and heals others, but it doesn't necessarily do that for the artist.” -Marc

"When I’m creating something, I'm able to transpose my thoughts. It's like going on a trip. You have a suitcase and you have all this stuff in your suitcase and it's heavy and it's weighing you down. And you finally get to your room and you get a chance to unpack the suitcase and start to put things away. And I feel like that's what that creative process does from a mental health standpoint for me.” -Erik

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Dana Diaz. After living through years of narcissistic and physical abuse, she learned that it was time to make a change and create a better life for herself.

Join us as Dana shares her story and the importance of rediscovering who you are after leaving an abusive relationship and how she learned to put little deposits into her own happy jar.

Dana is a wife, mother, and author of the best-selling book GASPING FOR AIR: THE STRANGLEHOLD OF NARCISSISTIC ABUSE.

Dana has had life-long experience with narcissistic abuse, beginning in childhood. Her education in journalism and psychology at DePaul University in Chicago gave her the ability to accurately verbalize and express how narcissistic abuse creates confusion and conflict within victims, so that she can help other victims know they are not alone and better understand their own circumstances.

Today, Dana is a proud voice for fellow victims who are unable, afraid, or ashamed to share their experiences. She strives to create awareness and understanding to ensure victims are given the support they need to first understand their situation and then begin the healing process.

Her first book, chronicling her own abusive marriage that lasted nearly three decades, started as a journal that she hid under the couch cushion in the basement.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• How Dana began writing her book with a notebook hidden under a cushion
• How Covid turned into a game of survivor for Dana with her abuser
• The physical and mental abuse Dana endured from her caregivers growing up
• The traits of a true narcissist
• When Dana realized she reached a deal breaker in her marriage
• The ability people have to make you sick
• The ongoing process of healing
• The power of asking yourself what you really want
• The stigmatized way people treat others that struggle with their mental health

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Dana! If you want to learn more from her or read her book, make sure to visit her website. You can also follow her on Instagram here!

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Dana’s website

Follow her on Instagram

Visit our website

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Instagram

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

“They say toxins in your environment can make you sick, but people can make you sick too. I would have never thought that in my life, but it has been such an eye-opening thing for me and such a significant part of the healing aspect of my life.” -Dana

“Thriving means different things to different people at different times.” -Erik

“There is a better life for you and you deserve it. We are all worthy of being loved and being able to care for ourselves.” -Marc

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Laura Renner. She shares her experiences after a traumatic brain injury changed her life forever and brought her mental health to an all-time low.

Laura tried many forms of therapy to heal after what she experienced but found in the end that healing is an individualized experience and it is a journey that will take time.

Laura shares more about the different types of healing modalities she tried including EMDR, therapy, hypnotherapy, meditation, and more.

Laura Renner is an author, podcast host, and neonatal intensive care nurse who suffered a near-fatal traumatic brain injury that changed the trajectory of her life. Through her complicated recovery, she hit rock bottom and realized she needed to undergo deep work to heal her complex trauma.

She’s spent the last two years exploring countless trauma healing modalities and sharing her experience to show others they're capable of healing, too. In her book, "No, I'm Not Fine. Thank You.," Laura openly discusses her journey of identifying her traumas, healing deep wounds, and how she reclaimed her power.

She is also the host of her own podcast called Healing #Nofilter where she provides relatable, no-nonsense methods for healing your mind, body, and all things trauma-related. As she writes in her book, “Being on this healing journey is a lot like running. Well, running for people who are not runners, myself included.”

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The feelings of depression and hopelessness Laura experienced after a traumatic brain injury
• The stigma around mental health and why we struggle to talk about it
• The PTSD of a PTSD event
• How meditation helps Laura cope with her traumas
• What EMDR is and how it became part of Laura’s healing journey
• The individualized process of finding therapy methods that work for you
• The trauma that your body can hold onto
• The power of getting to the root of your traumas and understanding why you believe the things you do

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Laura! If you loved hearing from her, we highly recommend you get a copy of her book. You can also get her free healing resource on her website.

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Visit Laura’s website: https://www.laurarenner.me

Follow Laura on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laura_renn/

Follow Laura on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laura_renn

Visit our website: https://fromsurvivortothriver.com/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brushcreekthrivers

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushcreekthrivers/

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“It really just comes down to learning abo

In this episode of From Survivor to Thriver, we sat down with Marcus Farris, a Post Traumatic Growth Director for Mission 22 to talk about the intricate connection between mental health and physical fitness.

In our discussion, we dive into the importance of humor and the right mindset in navigating mental health challenges. Marcus also opens up about his own personal struggles, the resilience and purpose in endurance sports, and his work with veterans.

Marcus Farris is the Post Traumatic Growth Director for Mission 22, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families. He’s also an author, master health coach, endurance athlete, and has his Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

His life was upended when, as a result of infidelity, his marriage collapsed and ended in divorce after only four years. Today, he’s passionate about all manner of endurance sports competitions and has spent a lot of his spare time working with the US Military Endurance Sports team, a non-profit dedicated to helping service members achieve their fitness endeavors.

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, he now lives in the Pacific Northwest where he works with other former military service members on their own paths to healing after experiencing the trials of combat.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• The power of fitness in mental health healing
• Men’s therapy through practical activities
• The power we all have to do hard things
• The connection between endurance athletes and mental health struggles
• Social media and it’s impact on our self worth
• Accepting yourself for who you are right now
• Chasing serotonin and dopamine in healthy ways
• Rewiring your neural pathways for positive thinking

We hope you enjoyed this conversation with Marcus! If you want to learn more about Mission 22 you can visit their website here. Make sure to follow Marcus on Instagram and get a copy of his book!

Thanks again for tuning in. We are so grateful to each and every one of you. Please remember to leave a rating and review of our show. It helps us grow and reach those who need it. Also, make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Links:

Follow Marcus on Instagram

Follow Marcus on LinkedIn

Check out the Mission 22 website

Get a copy of Marcus’s book No Less Faithful

Visit our website: https://fromsurvivortothriver.com/

Follow us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brushcreekthrivers

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brushcreekthrivers/

Get in touch: amgits.reverse@gmail.com

Quotes:

“You have what it takes to get yourself up, to dust yourself off, and do what it takes to do hard things.” -Marcus

“Mental health is a topic that I know can often be difficult to talk about, but we have to be able to inject some humor into it and be able to laugh at ourselves from time to time.” -Erik <