Jocko Podcast 381: Fighting The Odds and Trauma, With Kelsi Sheren.

Advocacy

Kelsi Sheren is a passionate advocate for mental health, particularly for veterans and first responders. She highlights the challenges faced by those seeking proper care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, when medical support was scarce. Kelsi shares a personal story about her friend Brady, who struggled with undiagnosed traumatic brain injury (TBI) and was initially dismissed as having mental health issues. Through perseverance, they found help at a specialized brain center in Texas, which marked a turning point in his recovery 1.

They treat civilians and ex-military, and a lot of times it's like Special Operators. So when I went down, there was like, Rangers, there's like, delta guys, there's seals, like, they treat the gnarliest of the gnarly.

--- Kelsi Sheren

Kelsi also collaborates with organizations like Boot Campaign and Defenders of Freedom to support TBI treatment and suicide prevention, emphasizing the importance of family and community in healing 2.

   

PTSD

Kelsi's journey with PTSD began after her deployment in Afghanistan, where she was diagnosed with acute PTSD. Initially treated as an outpatient, she faced significant challenges, including a lack of understanding from military leadership 3. Her healing process took a transformative turn when she began exploring psychedelics, which helped her address deep-seated trauma that traditional medication couldn't reach. Kelsi emphasizes the importance of proper integration and safe settings when using psychedelics for healing 4.

Psychedelics aren't for everyone. Psychedelics are not safe with certain medication. And psychedelics should not be done in a non-safe set and setting.

--- Kelsi Sheren

This approach opened new pathways for her recovery, highlighting the need for alternative therapies in mental health treatment.

   

Medication

Kelsi's experience with medication dependency underscores the complexities of managing mental health. For years, she was heavily medicated, leading to side effects like memory loss and emotional numbness, which she describes as a "chemical lobotomy" 5. The turning point came when she decided to pursue art therapy, which eventually led to the creation of her jewelry company, Brass & Unity. This creative outlet provided a sense of purpose and helped her move away from medication dependency 6.

I wasn't this, like, helpless, hopeless individual sitting across from you that just needed to be fixed. They needed to be fixed. I needed to be heard, and I needed to be understood, and I needed to be educated.

--- Kelsi Sheren

Kelsi's story illustrates the importance of finding personalized and holistic approaches to healing.