The second part of Ana's podcast will be available this Wednesday. She'll be sharing some very helpful guidance and information that can be extremely supportive for those who want to have successful withdrawals themselves.
Last week, after the Weekly Update came out, Ana emailed me and referred to me as a guide who was able to show her the way up a steep mountain—a sherpa. It reminded me of a special vision I had at 17 when I was struggling to choose a career for myself. Read on for the rest of my spiritual experience and the wisdom behind it.
Have a great week!
"The Vision" and the Withdrawal Process
The wisdom of a spiritual metaphor
When I was 17, I encountered an unexpected twist of fate in my life that made me uncertain about my future and what career to pursue. As I normally do whenever I needed help, I prayed and asked God for divine guidance. Not long after, a vision came to me while standing in the family kitchen.
In the vision, I was helping a little, old lady cross a street. Along with this brief, selfless act of service, I felt a powerful explosion of sublime joy and love that I had never felt before. It was as if all the joy and love I'd ever experienced were just black and white movies, while this feeling was in full technicolor. At the time, I was so caught up by this inexplicable, intense state of joy and love that I didn't even realize that I had never helped a little, old lady cross the street before.
One thing led to another, and soon I was on the path of service and focused on becoming a psychiatrist. Over the many years since this vision, I've come to describe the feeling as a deep unconditional love and compassion for another human being and the joy that comes from serving them and helping them find a fulfilling life path.
After nearly 20 years of practicing holistic psychiatry, I still remember the vision clearly, but now have a better understanding of the wisdom behind the metaphor.
As a holistic psychiatrist, I am at a crossroads in many people's lives where they need some direction and safety as they cross the street of life. I have worked hard to have the authority to assist them, but once they have crossed the street, they keep walking down the sidewalk to their intended destination, as I help the next person at the intersection.
The vision showed me that the process will bring me the most desirable feeling of joy and love that one can possibly imagine. That was the carrot the divine universe used as the ultimate reward for my work.
When Ana got off her last medication, I felt great joy for her, though her healing journey is not completely finished. This weekend, I interviewed a patient who completed her healing journey in 2019. She was unable to attend college when she initially began her treatment in 2018. But after she healed, she went back to college and is now graduating on time with plans for medical school!
"Oh, the Places You'll Go!" as Dr. Seuss would say!
As a crossing guard of people's streets of life, it's wonderful to hear from them about the places they go!
Have a great week!
The Holistic Psychiatrist Podcast (Ep. 12):
Exploring the process behind a successful psychiatric medication withdrawal
(Part 2 of 2)
Check out the teaser for this new episode coming out tomorrow!
In part 2 of Ana's podcast, she continues to share the secrets to her successful withdrawal from six psychiatric medications. In addition, we discuss authors and books that provide more information and tools that empower well-being. Finally, we end by exploring other major benefits from using these therapeutic tools beyond just coming off medications.
Click here for the full episode available on Wednesday.
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