The Lifesaving Power of PsychedelicsHearst Owned Juliana Mercer, director of public policy for the nonprofit Healing Breakthrough , has devoted her life to helping veterans. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran herself, she spent 16 years in and out of war zones, followed by many years working with wounded veterans in various capacities. In other words, she has firsthand experience witnessing the damages of war, and the physical and psychological tolls it takes on people.
Working with veterans, but being unable to process the grief she felt herself, lead to an enormous buildup of trauma and pain. But while traditional talk therapy helped her process some things, it didn’t ever address the root causes of that trauma—which is the case for many veterans with PTSD. There have been over 6,000 veteran suicides per year since 2001, and it’s only getting worse.
Mercer feels strongly that MDMA therapy, which has shown remarkable effectiveness in treating—and curing—PTSD, could be a huge help to veterans. For those where MDMA therapy doesn’t completely eliminate their diagnosis, there is still an 86 percent reduction in PTSD symptoms.
“Some people have called it 10 years of therapy in one day,” she says. “I can say that’s true—it was 20 years of therapy for me in one day.”
To learn more, watch Mercer talk about the lifesaving power of psychedelics—including how they saved her own—above. And check out Healing Breakthrough for more.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should not be regarded as a substitute for professional guidance from your healthcare provider.
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