In this episode I chat with a friend who works in the mental health industry. This friend has asked that he remain anonymous and instead be called “Charles” due to the nature of our conversation. Here, Charles talks about his own history with mental health, including a childhood trauma that eventually led him to an opiate addiction. We discuss the 12-step program, meditation and psychedelics, and how they helped him recover. We also talk about the uglier side of the mental health industry and how some treatment centers really don’t have the patient’s best interests at heart. He openly discusses tactics used by these treatment centers to broker patients and scam insurance companies, all to make a quick buck. Charles also spends some time sharing his thoughts on diagnosing children. This episode is recommended for anyone who is, has, or is considering finding help for their mental health. I would also recommend this episode for anyone who has a general interest in the mental health industry and cares to learn some specifics about what is going wrong with it. Finally, this episode is a worthwhile listen for those who enjoy stories of people overcoming their personal struggles to then go on and help others.
Mentioned in this episode:
“Dharma Punx” by Noah Levine: www.amazon.com/Dharma-Punx-Noah-…ine/dp/0060008954
Thich Nhat Hanh’s Deer Park Monastery in Escondido: deerparkmonastery.org/
Podcast 006 w/ Jay Wick: theewpodcast.com/podcast-006-jay-…k-and-addiction/