I recently connected with Alex Abraham, an author with a powerful story about using psychedelic plant medicine to work through childhood trauma, and I wanted to share a bit of his story and approach to healing with you today.
As a child, Alex was s*xually assaulted by an authority figure. He blocked it out and lived for years with chronic physical symptoms. No treatment or therapy helped.. until he tried psychedelic therapy.
This opened the door to the feelings and emotions he had been suppressing, and to work through his trauma and begin to heal.
This is the first time that Alex has told his story, and he explores the power of psychedelic plant medicine as a tool for healing trauma and transforming mental health, showing perspective to alternative healing.
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RACHEL: What inspired you to start writing about/exploring this topic?
ALEX: My inspiration to start writing about this topic was my own story. As a young adult, I began having horrible pelvic floor problems. After trying many different modalities for years, I finally stumbled on MDMA assisted psychotherapy in an attempt to fix these physical issues.
It quickly became clear that I had been badly s*xually abused as a child. Initially, I struggled with this revelation, but over time and through psychedelic medicine, breathwork, and other therapies, I have been able to move through my abuse.
Now, I feel compelled to share my story in hopes of helping others.
RACHEL: What key insights or lessons have you learned through your experiences with this subject?
ALEX: A key lesson I have learned through my experience in healing from childhood s*xual abuse, is how much of my day-to-day reality is a choice.
For example, I used to take things very personally. I saw any comment that wasn’t positive as a criticism and a personal attack.
But these days, I have a much better understanding that it is never personal. And that in the context of my abuse, it was not about me, but about my abuser.
I was absolutely victimized as a child. But as an adult, I have chosen not to stay a victim (at least most of the time), and now see my abuse as a way for me to grow and evolve as a person (most of the time).
I think there will always be challenges in life, but how I choose to perceive these challenges is important.
RACHEL: What challenges or misconceptions do you think people face when dealing with this topic, and how can they overcome them?
ALEX: One challenge I have seen is that survivors often do not believe they can heal, or even that they deserve to heal. Being s*xually abused can lead to self-loathing and a lack of belief in one’s self.
I really struggled with self-love and self-belief, until I started doing psychedelic medicine. Psychedelics helped me reevaluate and ultimately reset many of the default patterns I had established both about myself and my life. Now, I have a much better understanding of how to see through negative thought-patterns and limiting self-beliefs.
RACHEL: Are there any common myths or misunderstandings about this topic that you'd like to address?
ALEX: Unfortunately, a major misconception many seem to have about childhood s*xual abuse is that it is an uncommon occurrence. It is hard to get exact numbers, but some studies have shown that as many as 1 in 3 girls, and 1 in 6 boys are being s*xually abused as children.
Another misconception is that the perpetrators of childhood s*xual abuse are often strangers. It is actually often a community member, a family member, or someone the child knows that perpetuates the abuse.
I was unfortunately abused by a teacher at my elementary school.
I believe having a better understanding of how common this behavior is can lead to greater awareness and more preventative measures to help children.
RACHEL: What resources, tools, or next steps would you recommend for readers who want to dive deeper into this topic?
ALEX: Aside from my book, I would recommend the book A Dose of Hope by Dr. Dan Engle on Amazon. This book is a great introduction into psychedelic therapy, and how it can heal all kinds of trauma.
Other resources I would recommend are holotropic breathwork, a journaling practice, and finding some sort of physical activity that can help survivors get back into their bodies.
Many childhood s*xual abuse survivors are both physically and emotionally dissociated. I believe all the practices listed above can help survivors get in better touch with themselves, their emotions, and their body.
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I truly appreciate his perspective, and hope you find some encouragement and inspiration from his story!
To finding your path to healing!
P.S. If you're ready to take the next step in healing from abuse and would like to explore enrolling in the Beyond Surviving program, start by applying for a Discover Your Genuine Self Session.
RESOURCE OF THE MONTH
Forget everything you think you know about psychedelics. They're not punchlines. They're not party favors for aging hippies. Instead, as Alex Abraham discovered, they are an innovative approach that can help heal trauma and chronic pain.
Trauma and Ecstasy takes a long, hard look at pain, from the sudden unexplained pelvic floor discomfort that afflicted Alex at the end of a trip abroad to the deeply rooted anxiety and shame of a childhood robbed of innocence. In this powerful and courageous memoir, Alex takes you on his journey of healing from sexual abuse while searching for answers to his health issues that traditional medicine failed to explain or treat.
Trauma and Ecstasy is quite likely the most engaging, honest, and compelling memoir of surviving childhood sexual trauma you'll ever read. It offers the hope of real help for healing from the emotional and physical aftermath of abuse and chronic pain.
UPCOMING EVENTS
LIVE ZOOM EVENT
Get ready to level up your boundaries game during this live conversation where you'll learn powerful frameworks for setting and honoring your boundaries.
in partnership with CPTSD Foundation
November 11th
FAMILY
As survivors of childhood abuse, family can be a continuous problem. In the same way that our families might have failed us as children, they so often fail us again as adults.
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