Moving Through Trauma with Psychedelics: A Female Combat Veteran's Story

Psychedelic Therapy for Veterans

Alex Horton (@rigbyallen) was one of the first women in the US military's groundbreaking Cultural Support Team program--women who served with special operation teams in Afghanistan. After returning to civilian life, she struggled with physical and mental ailments, was prescribed multiple medications, and eventually hit rock bottom and drove to Southern California to end her life. However, a fellow female combat veteran called out of the blue and invited her to her first psychedelic ceremony, which pulled her out of the darkness. She talks about facing issues around race, gender, and sexuality as a gay woman in the military during the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" period. This episode highlights the power of psychedelic therapy and the need to provide mental health support for all veterans, especially those from marginalized communities.

[00:01:22] Alex talks about diversity in veterans and the creation of the Cultural Support Team, a program developed to attach female soldiers to special operations teams in Afghanistan due to the combat ban on women. The program aimed to expand the opportunities for women in the military and promote their advancement. The speaker was in charge of the program for six years and assisted in rescuing female Afghans from Afghanistan during the recent pullout.

[00:10:06] Military women are not getting the mental health care they deserve after serving in combat due to a lack of awareness of their experiences and the perception that special operations communities should be quiet. Nonprofits and organizations focus on male special operators due to demographic advantages, leaving women in the military underserved. Coordination of psychedelic retreats has been organized to counter this trend and provide assistance to military women requiring mental health care.

[00:13:47] She discusses the challenges of transitioning out of the military, including physical and mental damage, identity reckoning, and ethical dilemmas.

[00:20:39] She lost friends after speaking out on women's and queer rights.

[00:26:50] Nonprofits are shifting the narrative to support women. Holding space for combat trauma is important, and strong foundation in healing is needed to allow veterans to relax and be vulnerable. Experience with combat trauma is necessary to handle potential chaotic situations.

[00:30:26] Gender dynamics in psychedelic therapy can be complex and dependent on individual experiences and backgrounds, with conversations and accommodations needed to ensure comfort and safety during treatment. The presence of male or female therapists and participants can be triggering for some, and careful consideration should be taken in selecting staff and discussing expectations beforehand.

[00:33:37] Alex hits rock bottom with physical and mental ailments, multiple medications, and the loss of her dogs and relationship. She sets out to end her life but receives a call from a friend who leads her to get the help she needs in Mexico.

[00:38:02] She has a psychedelic experience during a retreat that involved mushrooms and DMT, leading to intense internal struggles and shedding of past trauma before needing to be restrained by others.

[00:43:54] She became happier, was able to repair her relationship, and her family noticed she wasn't angry like before after her psychedelic healing experiences.