Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories
How do we find a way out of the darkest depths of despair? Psychiatrist Dr. Craig Heacock hosts a deep dive into powerfully moving stories of hope and healing, as well as topical explorations of psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, and psychedelics.
Podcasting since 2019 • 139 episodes
Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories
Latest Episodes
Parenting through the storm-- Adoption, trauma, acceptance, and humility
BFTA storyteller Frank shares the joy, confusion, chaos, utter fear, and deepest gratitude when he and his partner Brad adopted and raised two boys, ages 4 and 2, from the foster care system. Twenty years ago, when Frank adopted the boys, traum...
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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1:01:04
When our minds forget our bodies remember-- A trauma therapist comes back to life
Rachael, a trauma therapist and today's storyteller, describes how her early childhood abuse was buried by the protective mechanism of dissociative amnesia. As Rachael wrote to Dr. H, “The only way I could continue to live, with no way ou...
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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1:13:41
Treatment-resistant bipolar disorder-- Finding stability at last
This story is a mirror to Elizabeth’s story from season 1 episode 1. Today’s storyteller Sarah was so moved by Elizabeth’s story that it helped her to trust Dr. H's recommendation to take a pretty scary medication, the extremely powerful antips...
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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54:40
Hiding in plain sight-- Life, work, and therapy on the autistic spectrum
In today’s story we explore what it’s like to be on the autistic spectrum, and more specifically, how a later life diagnosis can totally change the way you view the world and yourself. Aurelie, our storyteller today, was an autism expert,...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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1:05:04
Trapped in secrecy and shame-- A boy, his coach, and healing trauma with MDMA
How do you rebuild trust amidst the ashes of trauma? This is the story of Sean, an up and coming star tennis player whose coach carefully selected him and then groomed him for years of sexual assault. His trust destroyed, Sean had to find a way...
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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1:36:25