Welcome to Back from the Abyss. I'm Dr. Craig Hecock.

Today, before we start this story, I wanted to read an iTunes review that was just posted recently.

It was so lovely and I just, yeah, I wanted to read an iTunes review that was just posted recently. It was so lovely and

I just, yeah, I got to read it. So this is entitled Love to Lena. This is on the Apple iTunes

reviews. I'm a drug counselor who has recently become a passionate advocate for harm reduction.

Through my years in this field, I always thought

I'd say just the right thing to jolt someone actively using into wanting to change. Lena is a

testament to what I've been leaning into for the past several years, focused on harm reduction,

just to be there for someone, to listen, to empathize, to accept, to not judge, to affirm.

It's not about what I want or think is best. It's really just about unconditional love.

Thanks for this episode.

Oh, thanks for that review. That was so sweet.

And thanks again to Lena.

Lena you rock if you're listening.

Okay, let's get to today's story.

This episode might be seen as a companion to Saj's story of healing trauma with psychedelics in season one.

This is the story of Stella.

She's a psychotherapist and her journey of healing childhood trauma

and chronic depression with the help of both psilocybin and MDMA.

Stella does a lovely job here of differentiating how these two medicines each addressed

the interweaving strands of dissociation and emotional numbing, her plunge into alcoholism,

the bouts of fear and rage, and the inescapable paralysis of waking up with depression

...