By day, Rachel Lithgow, a single mother of two teenagers, ran a consultancy connecting nonprofits to global resources. By night, she endured a year of memorably awful dates — now the centerpiece of her new memoir.
Released Thursday, Lithgow’s “My Year of Really Bad Dates: A Memoir” (She Writes Press; distributed by Simon & Schuster) chronicles a year of unsuccessful dating, applying humor and vulnerability. The memoir addresses divorce, dating, single motherhood, PTSD, grief, loss and starting over in midlife.
Lithgow, who is based in Long Beach and Manhattan, also runs The Noga Agency, helping nonprofits achieve their philanthropy goals. She said writing a memoir and running a business is a balancing act.
“Juggling a personal life of dating while raising two teenagers alone with no custodial or financial support, while starting a business and publishing my first book, was not a resounding success,” Lithgow told Long Island Business News. “But some things in life you can’t [go] over or around, but rather, you have to just go through and come out the other side. Hopefully stronger.”
With connections to the theater and television world, Lithgow is the former daughter-in-law of John Lithgow. Her audiobook is brought to life by actress Jodie Sweetin, best known as Stephanie Tanner on Full House and Fuller House.
As an established writer, Lithgow has been published in The New York Times, Daily News, Time, The Advocate, The Jerusalem Post, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Times of Israel, eJP, The New York Observer and Buffalo News.
For her Long Island book launch, Lithgow is appearing at Blue Door Books in Cedarhurst on Nov. 17 at 5 p.m., Long Beach Public Library on Nov. 18 at 7 p.m., The Next Chapter in Huntington on Dec. 2 at 5 p.m., and Northport Books on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m.
Imagine walking into a stressful situation, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on you. Now picture your loyal companion by your side, tail wagging, ready to help. A recent study about dogs and stress management from the University of Denver reveals the profound impact dogs have on managing stress, offering more than mere comfort.
The Stress Epidemic
In today’s fast-paced life, over one-third of U.S. adults report feeling overwhelmed. This statistic highlights a growing concern about mental well-being. As stress levels rise, the consequences on health become alarming. Increased risks of heart disease, cancer, and even dementia loom. Finding effective ways to combat stress is essential, and your furry friend might hold the key.
How Dogs Help
Researchers at the University of Denver studied dogs and stress management and the biological effects of dogs on stress response. They focused on two critical stress pathways: the HPA axis and the SAM axis. During a stress test, participants either brought their dogs or left them at home. Those with dogs showed lower cortisol spikes and a balanced alpha-amylase response. These findings indicate a healthier reaction to stress.
The Science Behind the Bond
Why do dogs excel at stress relief? Their presence triggers a calming effect. While cortisol levels drop, alpha-amylase rises, showing alertness and engagement. This balanced response helps individuals deal with stressful situations more effectively. Your dog’s companionship provides not only emotional support but also physiological benefits.
Practical Tips for Stress Relief with Dogs
Incorporating your dog into daily routines enhances stress management. Take regular walks together, explore nature, or engage in fun activities. Playing fetch or practicing obedience can strengthen your bond. Consider scheduling quiet time to relax together. These moments of connection reduce anxiety and increase feelings of safety.
A Lifelong Relationship
Understanding the role dogs play in stress management opens new possibilities. They become allies in maintaining mental health. Their unconditional love and support can ease the burdens of chronic stress and PTSD.
Dogs offer more than companionship; they serve as vital partners in stress management. Their ability to lower cortisol levels and promote engagement can enrich our lives. Embrace the unique bond you share. Your dog is more than a friend; they are a powerful ally in tackling life’s challenges.
COLUMBUS, Minn. — Hundreds of people spent a sun-filled Saturday supporting veterans, first responders, and their families, in an all-encompassing celebration of freedom.
Outside Running Ace’s Casino in Columbus, the Invisible Wounds Project hosted its annual “Freedom Fest,” the nonprofit’s primary annual fundraiser.
“Today is all about celebrating our veterans and first responders,” said Invisible Wound Project founder and executive director Russ Hanes. “It’s a community. It’s everyone working together to help.”
Hanes founded Invisible Wounds Project to support veterans and first responders struggling with PTSD and mental health concerns.
“The rate of PTSD for veterans and first responders is automatically about three times higher than the general public,” he said. “Our people run towards danger, you know? They run towards the things that everyone else is running away from…That’s a lot of weight to carry.”
Saturday’s event featured a silent auction, 5k run, pancake breakfast, car cruise, vendors and more. It finished with a concert featuring country musician Easton Corbin.
Recently, Invisible Wounds Project opened the doors of a Forest Lake-based support center — a brick-and-mortar building boasting spaces for work, hobbies and chances to connect with mental health professionals.
“People can work and go and connect with other people who understand them,” Hanes said.
In the crowd on Saturday was Heather Carlin, who attended the event for the second time. In July 2023, her husband, veteran Damian Cromartie, lost a battle with PTSD.
“We need to destigmatize PTSD, we need to make people aware that they’re not alone if they’re feeling stuck, or they’re feeling alone. They’re not, there’s help available,” Carlin said.
“If you haven’t checked in with somebody for a while, just check in with them. Just ask. Don’t be afraid to ask. Don’t be afraid to say, ‘Are you OK? You seem off.’ Because sometimes that’s all someone’s waiting for,” Carlin said.
The US Food and Drug Administration has rejected a first-of-its-kind proposal to use the psychedelic drug MDMA, also known as ecstasy or Molly, as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Drugmaker Lykos Therapeutics had asked the FDA to approve the drug in combination with talk therapy. The company said Friday that the regulatory agency has requested an additional Phase 3 trial so that the safety and efficacy of the therapy can be further studied. The decision comes after an FDA advisory panel in June concluded that there wasn’t enough evidence to recommend its approval.
Lykos said it plans to request a meeting with the FDA to ask for reconsideration of the decision and to further discuss the agency’s recommendations. “The FDA request for another study is deeply disappointing, not just for all those who dedicated their lives to this pioneering effort, but principally for the millions of Americans with PTSD, along with their loved ones, who have not seen any new treatment options in over two decades,” said Lykos CEO Amy Emerson in a company statement. She added that conducting another Phase 3 trial would take several years.
As many as 13 million Americans suffer from PTSD in any given year, according to the National Center for PTSD. Just two drugs have been specifically approved to treat the disorder, with the latest being greenlit by the FDA in 2000. The lack of options has turned combat veterans into unlikely advocates for MDMA-assisted therapy. In the days leading up to the FDA decision, veterans groups and members of Congress from both parties pressed for its approval.
In a letter to President Biden, more than 300 veterans and representatives of veterans service organizations wrote that MDMA-assisted therapy “offers desperately needed hope for veterans and their families, with the potential to save and drastically improve countless lives over the coming years.”
A bipartisan group of more than 60 members of the House of Representatives and 19 senators also voiced their support for the therapy this week. “Given the substantial burden of PTSD and the current treatment limitations, the possibility of new, more effective therapies is particularly meaningful,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter to FDA commissioner Robert Califf.
There has been increasing interest in recent years in using MDMA and other psychedelics to treat severe mental illness. But with the FDA decision, MDMA will remain a federally prohibited substance listed as Schedule I drug, defined as those that have “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
During a nine-hour meeting on June 4, Lykos representatives made their case to an independent panel of FDA advisers. The company’s clinical trial data showed that more than 86 percent of study participants who underwent MDMA-assisted therapy experienced a measurable reduction in the severity of their PTSD symptoms, and 71 percent improved enough that they no longer met the criteria for a diagnosis. In a placebo group, 69 percent improved and nearly 48 percent no longer qualified for a PTSD diagnosis.
Despite the positive results, advisory committee members cited concerns about the reliability of the clinical trial data, the long-term efficacy of the treatment, and the standardization of the talk therapy given during the MDMA sessions. One major question raised by the advisory committee was the extent to which the talk therapy contributes to the treatment benefit.
The panel overwhelmingly voted that there wasn’t enough evidence to recommend approval. Just two of the 11 committee members agreed that MDMA-assisted therapy is effective based on the evidence Lykos presented, and only one thought its benefits outweighed the risks. The FDA usually follows the recommendations of advisory committees but is not obligated to do so.
Lykos said it will “work diligently in the coming months to address FDA’s concerns and to take advantage of agency processes to resolve scientific disagreements.”
The Presidential debate has fed the news cycle for almost two weeks…but is the real winner marijuana?
In a break from tradition, the two presidential candidate agreed to a new debate format hosted by CNN. Historically, the Commission on Presidential Debates ran the show, but both the leaders for the Republicans and Democrats went with a new, untested format for a 90 minutes, live debate. Since the June face off, media online along in person conversations continue to buzz about the results. But in a surprise, the presidential debate may have helped marijuana – making it a winner of the evening.
After promising to do more for the marijuana industry, the Biden administration waited until the almost last year of his term to make a major move. At the end of 2023, he encouraged federal agencies to consider rescheduling. The Federal Drug Agency (FDA) and Health and Human Service’s (HHS) recommended cannabis to be rescheduled to Schedule III, with Schedule III drugs defined as having a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence (Schedule III drugs include ketamine, anabolic steroids, and testosterone). It now sits with the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), which isn’t the biggest fan.
This rescheduling will have a significant impact on state-legal cannabis businesses and consumers. Which is key to marijuana success. Roughly 85% believe marijuana should be legal in some form, but Congress and the Biden administration has been slow to act. But wit key young voters balancing weed along with political and economic issues….it is an easy win.
Photo by anankkml/Getty Images
While the process is slowly moving, uncertainty remains. The DEA is currently in a feedback phase. The DEA has not be overly excited and some congress members have been lobbying against the change. Noticeably, the medical community has backed rescheduling.
Once the DEA publishes its proposed rule, it will be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget (“White House”) and if approved, it would then proceed to a public comment period. Notably, the DEA could reschedule cannabis by issuing a final order and bypass the notice and comment period which would allow the change to become effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.
The current administration needs a big win with younger voters and to show strengthen and relevancy. This could help push him and the VP to be more decisive.
Hundreds of thousands of veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD. The children living with injured veterans are stepping up to help these wounded warriors and their families.
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Soldiers give their all, but sometimes return home a bit broken….access to cannabis can make a huge difference
The United States and Canada have over 1 million active service personal. They sacrifice so their fellow citizens can enjoy safety, democracy and more. Four years is the usual full time commitment, but sometimes, the time stays with them forever. With mini wars and flare ups around the world, from 20-30% come back with some level of PTSD. It is tough souvenir for trying to help your country. Science shows cannabis can help PTSD and hopefully the US federal government will move quickly to help more.
While the government grinds slowly, over 30,000 active duty personnel and veterans who have served in the military since 9/11 have committed suicide. That is the roughly the same amount of wiping out all of Fairbanks, Alaska. More veterans committed suicide, almost 100,000, after Vietnam, than in the war (roughly 58,000).
Photo by Jose Luis Pelaez Inc/Getty Images
Symptoms are generally grouped into four types including intrusive memories, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in physical and emotional reactions. Symptoms can vary over time or vary from person to person. These can cause a person to lose any advantage in life and cripple their day to day life.
Over 50% of research done on the medical benefits of marijuana have been focused on dangers and not ways to help. But existing studies indicate medical marijuana, in the right dose, can reduce the symptoms of PTSD and provide relief. More wide spread studies need to be funded and completed to better understand the full benefits and treatment regimes.
One study revealed cannabis users reported a greater decrease in the severity of their PTSD symptoms. They also were more than 2.5 times as likely to no longer meet the diagnostic criteria for PTSD as those who did not use cannabis.
Some good news is veterans participating in a state-sanctioned medical marijuana program will not be denied VA benefits, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA providers are able to discuss cannabis use with veteran patients and adjust care and treatment plans as needed. Veterans are encouraged to discuss medical marijuana use with their VA providers as part of their confidential medical record.
Hundreds of thousands of veterans have been diagnosed with PTSD. The children living with injured veterans are stepping up to help these wounded warriors and their families.
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Chuck Rotenberry served in Iraq and Afghanistan and returned home with post-traumatic stress disorder. He encouraged veterans confronting PTSD to not give up hope.
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Two million Americans served in Afghanistan and Iraq. And at least 600,000 have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. For the most part, the U.S. is doing better recognizing and treating these wounded warriors. But less well known are millions more who are in need but remain hidden. They are the children living with injured veterans. In a profound sense, PTSD can be contagious. Many children have become caregivers confronting depression and fear. And you will hear tonight that the stress can be so great it can lead to attempts of suicide. You’re about to meet two courageous families who spoke to us so that others can know that help is on the way for America’s children of war.
In 2011, Chuck Rotenberry was a Marine on patrol in Afghanistan when an improvised landmine detonated a few feet away.
Chuck Rotenberry: Which sent me down a hill 20, 30 feet, knocked me out– caused catastrophic injuries to the Marine behind me and the Marine behind him.
It was Rotenberry’s second combat tour, after Iraq.
Scott Pelley: What happened to the Marine behind you who had stepped on the IED?
Chuck Rotenberry: He lost both his legs above the knee.
Scott Pelley: You and the medic put the tourniquets on him?
Chuck Rotenberry: Yes, sir.
Scott Pelley: You saved his life.
Chuck Rotenberry: I helped out, yeah.
Chuck Rotenberry
60 Minutes
When Rotenberry came home from his seven month deployment, his wife, Liz, was pregnant with their fourth child. Chuck was suffering with a brain injury from a concussion and PTSD.
Liz Rotenberry: Chuck was struggling to just be in the house. Because he was dealing with so many emotions, mentally and physically– he was hiding in, you know, back rooms. And I’d find him crying, and he didn’t understand why he was crying.
Chuck Rotenberry, in video diary: I didn’t know whether I was coming or going.
Chuck kept a video diary as he dealt with self-isolation, anxiety, depression and denial.
Chuck Rotenberry, in video diary: One second, I’m up super high and the next, I’m not.
Scott Pelley: Chuck, who was that man who came home?
Chuck Rotenberry: In my head, it was me. But I was very far from it, I think.
At age 7, his son, Kristopher, pitched in. Over the years, he tried to shield his dad from triggers that set him off and shield his sisters from the emotional trauma.
Kris: I just worried about a lot of different things– things that kids, I guess, at that age, should not be worried about. And it, it kinda evolved into kinda like a helplessness.
Liz Rotenberry: He was becoming almost like my husband. There were times where he wouldn’t be able to go to school because he was so stressed internally from everything happening, and I don’t think he knew how to process it and understand it. I knew Kristopher was starting to struggle with the weight of it all.
The weight grew as Kris turned 12.
Kris: The worst of it was in seventh grade. I think I kinda decided that, you know, my family’d be better off without me here. I remember lookin’ back on those days, and it was just chaos all the time. And uh, I, uh, I remember takin’ my uh– one of the– one of the dog’s leashes upstairs and tied one end to the bunk bed that we had, my little brother’s bunk bed, and I tried, you know, hanging myself. Uh, it was working. And my mom walked in on me – kind of – and I think I was kind of about to pass out, I was kind of you know losing consciousness.
Kris Rotenberry
60 Minutes
Liz Rotenberry: Walking in and seeing what was happening to him, and what he was really struggling with, I knew everything else had to stop. Everything just had to stop, and my focus had to be Kristopher.
Liz became the warrior, fighting for her family. Kristopher went to intensive therapy. Then, he and his sisters enrolled in a clinic for military children confronting PTSD.
Liz Rotenberry: It’s hard as a military family to own that. When you’re built with such pride and strength, and you’re seen as resilient, as the word is in our community. But it’s OK to not be resilient, and it’s OK– it’s OK to ask for help.
Scott Pelley: Therapy saved your family?
Liz Rotenberry: It did.
Little was known about families like the Rotenberrys until the wife of a wounded warrior spent 10 months at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Elizabeth Dole, former senator and transportation secretary, heard these families while caring for the late Sen. Bob Dole.
Elizabeth Dole: And I met all of these young spouses, mothers, dads who were caring for their wounded warriors. I don ‘t think America is aware of what’s happening, most Americans have no idea what’s happening in these military families. Less than 1% are serving in the military today. Less than 1% are protecting our freedom and our security, and it’s so important for us to raise awareness of their challenges and their needs and provide ’em with the support.
Dole created a foundation that commissioned studies of military caregivers. studies discovered that more than one million are caring for those injured during the wars since 9/11. Nearly half said they were “overwhelmed.”
Elizabeth Dole: You know, they felt guilty, really, that they were they were leaning on their children so much– needing their support. And that this was causing problems for the children. There are 2.3 million military children living in the homes of wounded warriors.
Elizabeth Dole
60 Minutes
One of them is Elizabeth Cornelius.
Elizabeth Cornelius: And I just need to make sure everybody’s OK ’cause if my mom isn’t OK, everything’s gonna just fall.
Elizabeth has helped her mom, Ariel, as long as she can remember. Even before she was born, her dad brought terrifying memories home from a combat tour in Iraq. Ariel told us his first episode came with a pizza delivery.
Ariel Cornelius: The delivery man came up to the door and knocked on the door. And– you know, my husband didn’t expect it. And he had the me– you know, an immediate flashback and threw me to the floor and was yelling, “Get down. Get down. Get down. Get down.” Um…
Even with that, he deployed to Iraq again in 2007 and to Afghanistan in 2011. Ariel is a school teacher. Her husband is completely disabled by PTSD. He can’t work and wasn’t up to speaking with us. Sixteen-year-old Elizabeth has become something of a co-parent to a brother and sister at home in montana. Shielding them, she told us, from episodes and arguments.
Elizabeth Cornelius: I just try to shield them as much as I can as my mom did for me. And she did it for a very long time.
Ariel Cornelius: A lot of it falls on myself and then she goes out and helps pick up the pieces that I can’t.
Her husband’s worst crisis came on the anniversary of an attack that killed several of his fellow Marines.
Ariel Cornelius: Uh, oh gosh. He was extremely suicidal because of all the memories that came back. He was barely hanging on. And it– it’s just that regret. It’s the– just the flow of memories that come in.
“Extremely suicidal” but Ariel found beds for in-patient mental health care can be scarce.
Ariel Cornelius: You know, Helena is an hour and a half, two hours away. Casper, Wyoming is eight plus hours away. And they didn’t have a bed. We then looked at Idaho. They didn’t have a bed. We looked at Oregon. They didn’t have a bed. We still ended up having to wait three weeks before he could get the support he needed in Puget Sound, Washington. And, you know, that’s 10 hours away.
Scott Pelley: Three weeks during this time, you felt like he could commit suicide?
Ariel Cornelius: At any point in time. And we couldn’t get help.
Chasing care in a crisis and navigating government health insurance raise stress for everyone.
Elizabeth Cornelius: It’s rough on her ’cause she’s been on the phone for hours and hours, reading pamphlets, trying to find us help.
In 2018, Elizabeth Dole watched President Trump sign a law that expanded VA benefits for caregivers of the severely disabled. It offers a stipend, access to health insurance and counseling. The Dole Foundation’s studies found that at least 100 other organizations are providing support which now include the Dole Foundation itself. Steve Schwab is the CEO.
Steve Schwab
60 Minutes
Scott Pelley: How does the foundation help these children?
Steve Schwab: One of the first things that we do is we offer emergency financial support to anybody who needs it. Second is peer support. We’re building a first-of-its-kind peer support model that will link these children with other children like them for the first time in their lives. We offer on-the-ground respite care, backup care in the home to provide a trained health care worker to come in and back up that mom or dad so that that family can take a break together.
One Dole Foundation Partner called “Our Military Kids” paid fees to help keep the Cornelius children in sports. Their mom, Ariel, says that even the little things help her husband.
Ariel Cornelius: He is an amazing man. And I can’t wait for him to get past– and I know he’ll never get past the P.T.S.D., but for him to heal enough to enjoy life and to be able to enjoy the family dynamics and the just bein’ around.
Today, Liz Rotenberry leads a Dole Foundation initiative to train caregivers to be public advocates—for example, on Capitol Hill. Husband, Chuck, is recovering and works as a dog trainer for the Secret Service. And son, Kristopher, recovered and has applied to follow his father into the military.
Scott Pelley: After all the things that Kris did to help the family during your troubles, what would you like your son to know?
Chuck Rotenberry: First of all, everybody, everybody that’s in my life now, I wouldn’t be here without them. I tell him I love him all the time, and he replies, but I never really say why. Watching him grow being aware of other people. There’s plenty of proud dad moments for me. But I’m proud of you every day, all the time. You owe me nothing but to be happy.
More than just about anything, these families told us they want the nation to simply see and know the children living with disabled vets who are, in a sense, still fighting America’s post-9/11 wars.
Produced by Aaron Weisz and Ian Flickinger. Broadcast associate, Michelle Karim. Edited by Warren Lustig.
Scott Pelley, one of the most experienced and awarded journalists today, has been reporting stories for “60 Minutes” since 2004. The 2023-24 season is his 20th on the broadcast. Scott has won half of all major awards earned by “60 Minutes” during his tenure at the venerable CBS newsmagazine.
In Kathy Griffin’s life, there are no sacred cows. Since starting her career in the 1980s, the two-time Emmy and Grammy Award-winning comedian has fearlessly taken on celebrities, Hollywood, her family, herself and (perhaps, most famously) fellow reality TV star-turned-President Donald Trump…
People love THC for the fun – but if you look past it, there are other benefits
Marijuana is becoming increasing popular and over 85% believe it should be legal in some form. Unlike alcohol, cannabis has proven medical benefits. Mentally, people recognize it as a help with PTSD, pain, chemotherapy, and more, but generally people see it as a way to chill and have fun. And it is becoming an equal opportunity with women almost consuming as much as men. Still, stereotypes and entertainment continue to promote it as treat for a lazy stoner. But THC has more benefits than just getting you high…and it is important more research is done to help millions.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a terpenoid found in cannabis. It is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis and one of at least 113 total cannabinoids identified on the plant. THC generally refers to the delta-9-THC and is one to get you high. Many people fear using it for a benefit, thinking they will get stoned and it won’t help. Science says otherwise.
Photo by Wanida Prapan/Getty Images
Cannabinoids, including THC, are the active chemicals in medical marijuana, are similar to chemicals the body makes that are involved in appetite, memory, movement, and pain. While research is continuing slowly, patients are being helped on a daily basis.
Studies have shown cannabis is associated with a reduction in overall PTSD symptoms. In most studies, cannabis was well tolerated, but small proportions of patients experienced a worsening of PTSD symptoms. This can be attributed to both dosage issues and interactions with medications.
Another key issues which affects millions is a pain reliever, especially chronic pain. More than half of survey respondents reported their medical cannabis use led to a decrease in prescription opioid use, prescription non-opioid use and use of over-the-counter medications. This is a short and long term benefits as it prevents opioid addiction.
In addition, medicines containing cannabinoids are helpful in treating certain rare forms of epilepsy, nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy, and loss of appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS. Even the traditional American Medical Association acknowledged the benefits of cannabis.
Some current challenges are it is not insurance reimbursable, managing dosing is not as reliable as traditional medicine, and some physicians will not prescribe until it is either rescheduled or federally legalized.
A bipartisan group of state senators signaled its broad support for a bill making its way through the legislature that legalizes psilocybin mushrooms under controlled, therapeutic settings. Studies have found that psilocybin can be useful in treating mental illnesses such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
The Arizona Senate passed Senate Bill 1570 on Feb. 29 by a vote of 24-4, with two members not voting. The bill moved to the House and was assigned to the Heath and Human Services Committee on Monday.
Two weeks before the Senate vote, the Senate Health and Services Committee voted unanimously to recommend approval of the bill. Republican state Sen. Thomas “T.J.” Shope, the principal sponsor of the bill, led the hearing.
“We just had a press conference on this issue out on the lawn that was probably the most well-attended press conference we’ve had all session long,” Shope said during the Feb. 13 meeting. “That tells me there is a desire to explore what treatment for PTSD looks like other than what is already available to Arizonans.”
Psychedelic-assisted therapy is not limited to treatment for PTSD. The Arizona Department of Health Services was allotted $5 million in 2023 from the state’s $18 billion budget to conduct clinical trials on the effects of psilocybin mushrooms in treatment for autoimmune disorders, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and chronic pain, among other conditions. The $5 million in funding came after a bill that would have provided $30 million for natural psilocybin research failed to pass.
A quirk in the funding, though, means that researchers would need to spend grants from the $5 million by the end of the state’s budget year, which is June 30. Supporters of the funding said that’s not enough time. A legislative fix extending the deadline to 2026 — House Bill 2105 — has stalled in the House.
The medical benefits of magic mushrooms are getting serious attention by Arizona lawmakers.
Daniel Berehulak / Getty Images
‘Psilocybin not typically a substance of dependence’
SB 1570 would establish the Arizona Psilocybin Advisory Board, tasked with approving training programs to license health care professionals in psilocybin-assisted therapy centers. The bill calls for appointments to the APAB to be made by the end of this year.
According to the bill, the Arizona DHS can begin accepting applications to license health care professionals on Jan. 1, 2026. Only medical doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and naturopaths would be allowed to prescribe psilocybin.
“During my time as a psychiatric provider, I’ve become acutely aware of how limited our treatment options are for effective mental health interventions, both pharmaceutical and psychotherapeutic,” said Jennifer Montjoy, an Arizona psychiatric nurse practitioner, during the Senate committee meeting in February.
“Roughly half of patients treated for a major depressive disorder and PTSD do not respond to available treatment options,” she added. “They’re considered treatment-resistant.”
During the meeting, Montjoy noted that psychedelic-assisted therapy usually consists of one or two sessions. It is meant to be a short-term treatment, in contrast with some forms of talk therapy or prescription medications.
“Though psilocybin is used recreationally, due to the intensity and duration of high-dose experiences, it’s not typically a substance of dependence,” she said. “It’s also not a substance of ongoing, repeated misuse.”
Montjoy considers psilocybin a nonaddictive intervention, and she mentioned its potential application for treating anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, end-of-life anxiety and substance misuse, in addition to PTSD. She addressed fears of possible dependence by saying that withdrawal from the use of psychedelics has not been observed in studies.
Other states have been early adopters of mushroom use. Oregon passed a measure in 2020 that decriminalized hard drugs and allowed psilocybin mushrooms to be used in therapeutic settings. And in 2022, Colorado decriminalized the possession, growing and use of five natural psychedelic substances, including psilocybin. The measure allows for the use of psychedelic mushrooms in licensed facilities by late this year.
A psilocybin mushroom displayed at a growing competition in Denver last November.
Evan Semón
Arizona’s opportunity to be a pioneering state
Jimmy Nguyen is the Colorado-based co-founder of Psychedelic Passage, a site that provides information and referrals to people interested in healing through psychedelics. Both Nguyen and Montjoy acknowledge that embracing the use of psychedelics will not be a magic cure for PTSD or depression, and it isn’t for everyone, though it does provide another tool in addition to traditional treatment options.
“Arizona has the opportunity to be one of those pioneering states that say, ‘Hey, how does this work for Arizona?’” Nguyen said. “‘How does this work for us and the people who live here?’”
Nguyen, who has experience both as a facilitator and as a “journeyer” — a user of psychedelics for healing purposes — cited a number of factors to think about when determining whether psychedelics are the right treatment option. These include family attitudes as well as life and medical history.
When vetting facilitators for his organization, Nguyen looks for certifications and experience with trauma-informed care, as well as first responder skills. Personal experience with psychedelics and a background of caring for clients or journeyers also are important, Nguyen said. A facilitator’s demeanor can affect treatment.
”Some psychedelic experiences are full of bliss, love, connection with all and joy,” Nguyen said. “Some others are much more challenging and difficult to navigate through. I find that in those difficult experiences, there can be a lot of learning, a lot of catharsis and potential for growth.”
Nguyen said clients must feel comfortable; they need to trust the person sitting across from them. “These are experiences that bring up a lot of vulnerable topics,” he added. “These are experiences where individuals can dive really deeply into themselves.”
Nguyen encourages the use of psychedelic-assisted therapy alongside traditional forms of therapy or medication. He also noted that psilocybin has helped him grapple personally with the inevitability of suffering. The main root cause for most suffering comes from either a feeling of “not enoughness,” he said, or from an individual’s lack of a meaningful relationship with themselves.
Psychedelics provide an opportunity to dive into the core causes, Nguyen said. “Maybe it’s not addressing the symptom,” he said. “But maybe it’s actually addressing the core reason for why those symptoms exist in the first place.”
Waveland, Mississippi — Following his retirement and the death of his wife, 76-year-old Danny Chauvin of Waveland, Mississippi, said he had way too much time on his hands.
Chauvin served in the Army during the Vietnam War and has been treated for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. It’s when he’s alone with his thoughts that he’s the most vulnerable.
“That’s when stuff comes back to you,” Chauvin told CBS News.
But to keep his sanity, he knew he also had to keep busy. But how?
That’s when Chauvin realized one of the things he missed most about his wife was all the little handyman jobs he used to do for her. So, a few months ago, he posted a note on Facebook that read: “If there’s any honey-do jobs that you can’t handle, I’m willing to help.”
“And it spread,” Chauvin said. “It spread like wildfire.”
So now, on a daily basis, and sometimes four times a day, Chauvin fixes the hole in his heart by fixing just about everything else, like putting up a shower, hanging up a porch swing and fixing a closet door.
The price for his services? Nothing. It’s free.
“He showed much kindness to people,” one of his customers told CBS News.
Most of those Chauvin helps are women, many of whom are single or widowed. They call him the “Honey-Do Dude,” and say he is just about the only person they know willing to help with these small jobs. And, obviously, no one is going to match his price point.
In fact, when the work is done, the only thing he takes is a picture with his customers as a reminder that he is not alone in his struggle.
He also revealed his PTSD has improved since he started offering free handyman work.
Organizations Bridge Military-to-Civilian Gap, Empower Active Duty, Veterans & Their Families & Assist Those Struggling With Invisible Wounds
WASHINGTON, January 23, 2024 (Newswire.com)
– The Expiration Term of Service Sponsorship Program (ETS-SP), a national non-profit organization bridging the gap between military and civilian life, has partnered with Avalon Action Alliance, a post-trauma wellness non-profit helping veterans and their families gain control over issues related to mental wellness and brain health.
Annually, nearly 200,000 service members transition into civilian life. Navigating relocation, employment, housing and medical care challenges can be overwhelming and for some new veterans, the transition is more difficult if they struggle with traumatic brain injury or post-traumatic stress symptoms.
“Avalon is on a mission to help every one of our nation’s defenders win the battle against the invisible wounds of service,” said Joe Brennan, Avalon’s CEO. “Joining forces with ETS-SP affords us the opportunity to connect with transitioning service members and offer them an immediate path towards healing so they can thrive as veterans.”
Through its growing network of TBI Centers, Avalon Action Alliance combines the best traditional rehabilitation tools with complementary non-clinical interventions to create personalized programs with no out-of-pocket expenses to the veteran.
“There is a common misperception that all veterans struggle with PTSD,” said Brigadier General (ret) Mike Eastman, Onward Ops Executive Director. “While the number is closer to 30%, those that are suffering deserve affordable, effective care. This partnership provides our enrollees and their families with comprehensive care that works.”
Up to a year before their active duty ends, transitioning service members enrolled in the Onward Ops program are connected to a trained sponsor in their destination community to ensure a successful transition into civilian life. They work together on employment, education, family needs and housing while the new veteran accesses benefits and services in their future post-military community.
The ETS Sponsorship Program, in a public-private partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs, supports communities across the country in the successful reception and transition of service members out of the military and into civilian life through Onward Ops, its military transition support program. Connecting transitioning service members to destination communities through a secure, common-data platform augmented by trained volunteer sponsors, it sets conditions for a positive, proactive return to civilian life.
About Avalon Action Alliance:
Avalon Action Alliance exists to design, deploy and amplify life-changing treatment for our nation’s veterans and first responders battling Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS) and Substance Abuse (SA). On a mission to help every one of them win this battle, Avalon is a single point of access to a national alliance of leading TBI, PTS and SA programs that change lives. Each path is designed for the individual, with no out-of-pocket expenses.
Jennifer Lopez is getting candid about the “PTSD” of being in the spotlight with Ben Affleck again.
We all know this ain’t the first go ‘round for the husband and wife, but a messy past didn’t stop them from professing their love for one another once more. However, it does sound like it may have made them at least think long and hard about it…
During an interview with Variety published on Wednesday, the Jenny from the Block singer admitted that after documenting her love for the Argo star so publicly in her 2002 album, This Is Me… Then, she, and a lot of people in her camp were wary of her doing it again with its follow up, This Is Me… Now. But as an artist, she said she had to just go for it:
“As artists, we have to follow our heart and this is me following my heart and doing something that maybe everybody didn’t think was the best idea, but I had to do it.”
The February 2024 release of the highly-anticipated album will mark the 20-year anniversary of its predecessor, which was partially made famous by its love song, Dear Ben. It will also feature a companion short film — which doesn’t look like it’ll skimp on their romance. Watch the teaser (below):
But while she may have ultimately decided to follow her heart and go for it, she says she AND the Air star “both have PTSD” from the media storm that surrounded the first go at their relationship in the early 2000s — especially as Ben was rumored to have fallen in love with his baby momma Jennifer Garner while still engaged to the Hustlers star. But times have changed, and the 54-year-old feels they’re in a better place:
“We’re older now. We’re wiser. We also know what’s important, what’s really important in life, and it’s not so much what other people think. It’s about being true to who you are.”
Earlier this year, Jen opened up about having PTSD ahead of their summer 2022 wedding as “it all kind of fell apart” last time, so it sounds like overall she has some lingering doubts that she’s trying to work through… but it definitely feels like Bennifer 2.0 are stronger than ever, so they have our support! More power to them!
Thoughts, Perezcious readers?? Sound OFF in the comments down below.
There seems to be bi-partisian support for medical marijuana to be an aide in treating PTSD. The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act was introduced during summer for Department of Veterans Affairs. In addition to pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, the legislation would require the VA to examine how the plant affects sleep, agitation, mortality and hospital readmissions. It was is critical as it healthcare professionals, veterans and counselors give the nod it is a benefit for those in need.
Science is finally backing up these opinions. A study published in the Journal of Pharmacology looked at the patient history of 24,000 Canadians using 2012 Statistics Canada data. Researchers were interested in exploring how cannabis could affects those living with PTSD, specifically with regards to suicide and depression. Living with PTSD sharply increases the risk of depression and suicide in patients unless, researchers discovered, they consume marijuana.
“We know with limited effective treatment options for PTSD, many patients take to medicating with cannabis to alleviate their symptoms,” lead author Stephanie Lake told Global News. “However, until now, there has been no population-level data to suggest cannabis might have a possible therapeutic role in the course of PTSD. These findings offer those patients seeking treatment options some promise.”
Photo by lalesh aldarwish via Pexels
In the more than 24,000 participants, researchers found 420 Canadians who’d been clinically diagnosed with PTSD. About 28% (106 individuals) of those living with PTSD reported using cannabis in the past year. Only 11% of respondents undiagnosed with PTSD reported cannabis usage. Non-users were seven times more likely to have experienced a recent major depressive episode and had a 4.7% higher chance of contemplating suicide, compared to non-cannabis users who didn’t suffer from PTSD. Among cannabis users, the study did not find a connection between PTSD and depression or suicide.
Official VA statistics reports about 10-20% of veterans live with PTSD, depending on the service era in which they participated. But the organization’s National Suicide Report paints a starker picture — suicide rates are increasing for both veterans and non-veterans. About 20 veterans commit suicide each day, according to the report.
While more research is necessary, as Lake and her team said, this study points to how cannabis might assist those living with PTSD.
As we navigate these darker months during the winter season, conversations of seasonal affective disorder and tackling the depressive feelings that can come with less daylight are pervasive. Though, exposure to daylight may have an even more profound impact when it comes to mental health.
A new analysis of more than 85,000 people via UK Biobank data found that individuals who spend more time in daylight carry a lower risk of major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), psychosis and self-harm behavior.
The study, published in the journal Nature Mental Health, also independently found that greater light exposure during nighttime was associated with increased risks of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD, psychosis, bipolar disorder and self-harm behavior.
The Impact of Circadian Rhythm Disturbances on Mental Health
Authors note the impact of the circadian rhythm — or the 24-hour internal clock in our brain that regulates alertness and sleepiness by responding to light changes in our surroundings — as it pertains to many psychiatric disorders, namely the disturbance of this natural cycle. “Therefore,” researchers said, “habitual light exposure may represent an environmental risk factor for susceptibility to psychiatric disorders.”
Researchers looked to investigate whether exposure to natural light during the day and artificial light at night had any relation to psychiatric disorders involving circadian rhythm disturbances. They tested two primary hypotheses, that greater light exposure in the day is associated with lower risk for psychiatric disorders and better mood and that greater light exposure at night is associated with higher risk for psychiatric disorders and poorer mood.
“These hypotheses were motivated by the known effects of day and night-time light exposure on the human circadian system and the well-established links between circadian disruption and psychiatric disorders,” researchers wrote.
Researchers examined data from 86,631 individuals in the UK Biobank database, with light exposure data gathered in 2013 when more than 100,000 UK Biobank participants took part in a seven-day physical activity and light exposure study. Participants wore an accelerometer with a light sensor on their dominant wrist for a week to record data on their movements and light levels. Psychiatric data were later collected in 2016 as participants completed an online mental health questionnaire.
More Light at Night, Less Light During the Day Increases Mental Health Risks
Ultimately, the analysis proved both of the researchers’ hypotheses correct.
Results indicated that higher exposure to light at night was associated with a number of major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, PTSD and psychosis, while higher daytime light exposure was associated with lower odds of major depressive disorder, self-harm and psychosis.
“Our findings demonstrate a consistent association of light-exposure patterns that are healthy for circadian rhythms with better psychiatric outcomes,” authors concluded.
They also noted that, in today’s modern world, humans tend to spend roughly 90% of the day indoors, with our light-exposure patterns being less bright in the day and more bright at night than at previous points in our evolutionary history.
“Addressing this deviation from our natural light/dark cycles may improve the general mental health of people in industrialized societies,” they said.
A Potential Intervention for Mental Health and Invitation for Further Investigation
The study provides new insight on the topic as the largest examination of objectively measured light exposure and mental health to date. Still, it’s not without its limitations.
While there are “well-supported causal mechanisms” linking bright nighttime light and dim daytime light with circadian disruption, and circadian disruption to mental health, authors acknowledged the possibility of reverse causation, highlighting the need for future longitudinal studies. “However, the robustness of our findings to adjustment for confounders, including physical activity and sleep, provides support for our interpretation,” they state.
Authors also note that light monitoring was performed using a wrist-worn device which was not resigned to measure light at the ocular level. Additionally, the light monitoring and outcome variables were measured with almost two years between, so it’s possible that light exposure patterns changed during that time.
Still, as we continue broadening our horizons and exploring new and innovative solutions for mental health, the findings could prove useful for future approaches.
“These results suggest that light-exposure interventions may act in a transdiagnostic manner to improve mental health by strengthening circadian rhythms,” researchers write. “Brighter days and darker nights may be a simple, freely available, non-pharmacological intervention to enhance mental health that is easily implementable in a community setting.”
Wounded warriors are getting new Southern California veteran’s retreat for mountain getaways.
The Heroes Project
Former Hells Angel Tim Wayne Medvitz has had some big ideas in the past decade and a half. One is to use his mountaineering skills to take seriously injured military veterans on climbs up the world’s highest peaks. The Heroes Project charity he created after a motorcycle accident shattered his body and life has been doing this since 2009, even summiting Everest.
One of THP’s principal training grounds, the strikingly beautiful Mt. Baldy in Southern California, inspired the group’s latest effort, creating a veteran retreat center. This complex of cabins and recreational buildings will be built on United States Forest Service property in Icehouse Canyon, two miles from Mt. Baldy Village (and driving distance from Los Angeles).
Barring any unforeseen crises, the project will break ground in early 2024 and hopefully open in Fall 2025, Medvitz predicted, adding in an email, “It’s been a four year journey just to get the USFS to approve this project.”
Challenging Site
The group founder is undaunted by the property’s history of flooding and fire, or the namesake trail’s killer reputation. (The Los Angeles Times described it this way in a February 2, 2023 article: “That familiarity and easy access from a huge urban area have combined to give the mountain one of the worst records for death and injury in the U.S.. Since 2020, there have been more than 100 searches for missing hikers on Mt. Baldy, with six confirmed deaths, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.” British actor Julian Sands lost his life on that trail hiking solo last winter.
So far, none of those deaths, injuries or search and rescues have been associated with THP’s veteran training or volunteer fundraising events. (I participated* in the latter once in 2014, and found the Devil’s Backbone section of the trail aptly named; the hikespeak blog dubbed it “spine tingling” in an undated post.)
Medvitz, whose team has had to address dangerous conditions with THP’s climbs – including an avalanche and earthquake en route to a record-setting Everest summit by a Marine amputee – is not intimidated by Baldy’s physical (or development) challenges. He’s just plainly excited about bringing more vets in to enjoy the strikingly beautiful surroundings, each other’s company and new adventures to be planned there.
“After 10 years and thousands of hours of dreaming, drafting, designing, and negotiating, THP is proud to announce that effective, June 29th, 2023 the United States Forest Service special use permit is officially signed and in our hands!” his website proclaims. “Every detail of the VRC has been designed so that our veterans can disconnect from life’s everyday stresses and reconnect with the soldier/Marine that has been lost.” Given these new accommodations, the site notes, “We are able to offer temporary housing and a taste of the great outdoors, all part of our transformative experience.”
Resilience
“The only way to build a facility like this on USFS land would be to have an existing special use permit grandfathered in on the land,” Medvitz explained in his note. “The Old Icehouse resort had exactly that and needed to be brought back to life; we will do that in partnership with the USFS and with a great cause behind it. As far as floods and fire hazards are concerned, well, any mountain retreat will bring everything that mother nature throws at it,” he mused, then added that all of the Forest Service’s requirements for safety will be met. California’s wildfires have become more frequent and intense in recent years, including in Baldy’s home range, so resilience planning is a necessary precaution.
Wounded Warrior Housing
Assisting the relentless adventurer in constructing the new retreat center is Scott Youngren, a general contractor for Homes for Our Troops, another nonprofit organization serving combat veterans. Medvitz shared that the builder has created accessible homes for THP alumni as part of his HFOT work, so this new mini mountain compound will be a kind of homecoming for him – and them!
San Diego area Marine veteran and double amputee Julian Torres summited Mt. Kilimanjaro with the group and received an adaptive home from HFOT. He lives less than two hours from the new retreat.
The new center will include three cabins, two accommodating four guests and one accommodating two. There will also be tent camping spaces and a welcoming/programming center.
Building for this population needs to address a range of injuries, both seen and unseen, which Youngren’s experience with HFOT will help inform. These include limb loss, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress. “Mt Baldy and the Baldy community has always delivered on everything needed to pull these vets out of their dark places,” Medvitz noted.
The mountain setting can be a boon to those suffering from PTS in particular, but potentially a challenge to those with mobility issues. “We will be ADA compliant,” Medvitz commented. TBI is considered a signature issue of the Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans, which have formed the core of his mountain climbers. “We do focus on primarily post 9/11 combat wounded vets, but we will broaden our veteran outreach in other categories once we’re up and running.”
Author’s Note
This article is part of a series I dedicate to military-related accommodations every Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day. You can read past stories in my November and May archives going back to 2020.
I noted* above that I participated in a fundraiser for The Heroes Project, which merits disclosure. I made two donations of $500 apiece, one in 2014 as part of its Climb for Heroes fundraiser and one the next year for a related documentary (as yet unreleased) about the Everest summit. I do not serve (and never have) in any official capacity with the group.
