On episode 29 of 'A Chat with Uma,' I share an in-depth update on my mental health journey, picking up from where I left off two years ago. I talk through the challenges and growth I’ve experienced in lacking OCD & PTSD treatment while completing my master’s, navigating a cross-country move, and starting my PhD program. I share honestly about living with ongoing severe OCD, PTSD, and depression while navigating the complexities of life transitions within recovery.
I discuss the difficulty of finding effective treatment after multiple traumatic experiences with providers, and how meeting my current OCD- and PTSD-specialized therapist became a pivotal turning point. I also share about my ongoing experiences with psychedelics to triage severe depressive episodes, and how it supported me through the intense transition into my PhD program before beginning proper therapeutic treatment.
Next week's episode (part 5) will talk through all the details of my treatment journey over the past 1.5 years with my new therapist, and where I am with in my recovery journey with OCD, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and bulimia.
Contextual episodes:
- 01. My Full Story: 0 to 26
- 02-04. My Mental Health Journey: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3
- 05. Yes, I've Done Psychedelics: From Psychonaut to Researcher
- 06-07. The Ketamine Diaries - OCD, PTSD, Depression, & Chronic Pain: Part. 1, Part 2
Topics Discussed (+ Timestamps):
(00:00:00) Hello & Welcome!
(00:03:15) My mental health during the past 2 years since my last podcast update
(00:07:45) The consequences of being in OCD & PTSD treatment limbo for 1 year
(00:14:25) Finding my new OCD & PTSD therapist in Wisconsin
(00:25:30) Moving to Madison & confronting my worsening depressive episode
(00:33:10) Intervening with psychedelics during severe depression downswings
(00:44:30) Beginning with my new OCD & PTSD therapist while navigating the first semester of my Ph.D
(00:53:20) Viewing my PhD as recovery bootcamp
(00:58:10) The hardest lesson—Thoughts are not (always) real
(01:01:25) What’s next: Part 5 coming next week!
Connect with me!
- My website: umarchatterjee.com
- Instagram:
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