RECOVERable: Mental Health and Addiction Experts Answer Your Questions

Is extreme picky eating actually a life-threatening eating disorder? In this episode of RECOVERable, host Terry McGuire sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Brad Smith to break down Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID).
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Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is far more than selective eating—it is a complex, recognized mental health condition that goes well beyond simple food preferences. Unlike anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, ARFID is not driven by body image, weight loss, or body size concerns. Instead, it stems from severe sensory sensitivities to food textures and smells, aversive trauma responses following a traumatic choking or vomiting episode, or a total lack of appetite and interest in eating.
In this comprehensive guide, Dr. Brad Smith, an expert psychiatrist and medical leader at The Emily Program, clears up pervasive myths surrounding restrictive eating disorders. He explores the medical consequences of malnutrition, including severe cardiac arrhythmia, digestive slowdown, and brain fog, as well as the deep emotional and social isolation that living with food anxiety creates. We also examine the strong co-occurrence between ARFID, neurodivergence, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and ADHD.
Learn how medical professionals diagnose ARFID, why multivitamins are not a substitute for complete food nutrition, when higher levels of care or an NG feeding tube become essential tools for medical stabilization, and how exposure therapy with response prevention (ERP) helps patients safely expand their diet. Whether you are a parent wondering if your child's picky eating has crossed the line, or an adult navigating severe food aversion, this episode provides actionable clarity and hope for full recovery. Subscribe to RECOVERable for more insights on mental health, addiction, and recovery support.
Chapters: 00:00 – Intro: ARFID Myths vs. Facts
07:33 – What Is ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)?
08:52 – What Drives ARFID: Sensory, Trauma, & Low Appetite
12:51 – Is ARFID Just Extreme Picky Eating?
16:01 – When Do People Seek Treatment for ARFID?
20:12 – Physical, Emotional, & Social Impacts of ARFID
33:46 – What Is the Link Between ARFID, Autism, & ADHD? 
36:31 – How Serious Is ARFID & Can It Be Fatal? 
40:48 – When Is an NG Feeding Tube Necessary? 
51:26 – What Does Professional ARFID Treatment Look Like?
Questions the Video Answers:
What is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)?
What is the difference between picky eating and ARFID?
What are the three main types or driving factors of ARFID?
Can adults develop ARFID or does it only affect children?
Is ARFID caused by gentle parenting or spoiling a child?
Do you have to be underweight to be diagnosed with ARFID?
What physical health risks and heart complications are associated with ARFID?
What is the connection between ARFID, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and ADHD?
Does a child having ARFID mean they are automatically autistic?
Can ARFID be fatal if left untreated?
How does an NG feeding tube help in severe ARFID recovery?
Can taking multivitamins cure or treat ARFID?
How do medical clinicians diagnose ARFID?
What is the difference between ARFID and Anorexia Nervosa?
What therapy methods (like ERP) are used to treat ARFID?
#ARFID #EatingDisorders #MentalHealth

Are you living in constant survival mode, hypervigilant in relationships, or wondering why safe environments feel uncomfortable? You might be living with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD). In Part 2 of this deep dive on RECOVERable, host Terry McGuire sits down again with licensed clinical therapist and trauma expert Amanda Stretcher Lewis, MA, LPC-S, to explore how chronic relational trauma shapes the developing brain and nervous system.
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
Unlike single-event PTSD, complex PTSD stems from repeated interpersonal trauma, emotional neglect, or attachment wounds during childhood. In this episode, Amanda Stretcher Lewis—a trauma-informed therapist, supervisor, and co-founder of Crescent Counseling Dallas—explains why complex trauma leads to deep-seated feelings of shame, self-blame, and dissociation. Amanda breaks down why CPTSD is frequently misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, BPD, or ADHD, and why it is currently omitted from the DSM-5 despite being recognized internationally in the ICD-11.
Discover how somatic therapies like Brainspotting, Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, and the Safe and Sound Protocol help process trauma stored in the body beyond traditional talk therapy. Learn actionable tools to expand your window of tolerance, navigate relationship triggers, overcome trauma bonding, and step out of survival mode into genuine post-traumatic growth. Subscribe to RECOVERable for more expert mental health guidance, leave your thoughts in the comments, and share this video with anyone healing from childhood trauma!
Chapters: 00:00 – PTSD vs. CPTSD 00:01:29 – Brain Development & Relational Trauma 00:06:13 – Childhood Validation & Internalized Shame 00:08:49 – Developmental Tasks & CPTSD Deficits 00:10:44 – Understanding Dissociation & Coping Mechanisms 00:15:29 – Relational Healing & Trauma Therapy 00:23:12 – Why Survivors Minimize Childhood Trauma 00:31:36 – Trauma Bonding & CPTSD Triggers 00:37:01 – Misdiagnosis & Why CPTSD Isn't in the DSM-5 00:45:10 – Somatic Therapies & Signs of Recovery
Questions the Video Answers:
What is the difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD)?
How does childhood relational trauma affect brain development?
Why do trauma survivors internalize shame and self-blame?
What developmental milestones are missed due to childhood CPTSD?
What is dissociation and how does it manifest in daily life?
How does dissociation impact performance in high-stress jobs?
How can you support a romantic partner living with CPTSD?
What is trauma bonding and how does it affect relationships?
What are common relational triggers for people with CPTSD?
Why is CPTSD often misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, or BPD?
Why is Complex PTSD included in the ICD-11 but missing from the DSM-5?
Can Complex PTSD be completely cured or healed?
What are the best somatic therapies for complex trauma recovery?
How do modalities like Brainspotting and EMDR help process trauma?
What are the early signs that CPTSD healing is taking root?
#CPTSD #ComplexPTSD #TraumaRecovery

Are you constantly living in survival mode without knowing why? You might be experiencing Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD).
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
In part one of this two-part series on RECOVERable, host Terry McGuire sits down with licensed clinical therapist and trauma expert Amanda Stretcher Lewis to deeply explore Complex PTSD (CPTSD). Unlike single-event PTSD, CPTSD often stems from chronic, repeated exposure to relational trauma, emotional neglect, or attachment injuries during critical stages of brain development.
In this episode, Amanda breaks down why so many individuals spend years feeling broken, hypervigilant, or trapped in relentless people-pleasing without realizing their nervous system is responding to past wounds. We examine the core differences between PTSD and CPTSD, discuss why CPTSD is so frequently misdiagnosed as treatment-resistant depression or anxiety, and uncover how high-functioning individuals mask severe burnout. Amanda also sheds light on the protective nature of survival strategies, the impact of parentification, and why setting healthy boundaries can feel so intimidating after trauma.
If you have ever felt like safe relationships are uncomfortable or that life is simply harder for you than others, this conversation offers essential clarity, validation, and actionable insight to help you move from self-blame to self-compassion.
Be sure to subscribe so you don't miss Part 2, and share this video with anyone who needs help understanding trauma.
Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction
00:01:28 – Myth vs. Fact: CPTSD
00:06:41 – What Is Complex PTSD (CPTSD)? 
00:08:45 – PTSD vs. CPTSD: Key Differences 
00:15:39 – What Causes CPTSD & Relational Trauma? 
00:19:43 – Signs and Symptoms of CPTSD 
00:24:25 – People Pleasing and Setting Boundaries 
00:28:18 – Is CPTSD Misdiagnosed as Depression? 
00:32:25 – CPTSD in High-Functioning Individuals 
00:46:15 – Adaptive Strategies & Survival Responses
Questions the Video Answers:
What is the difference between PTSD and Complex PTSD (CPTSD)?
What causes Complex PTSD in adults and children?
Can emotional neglect cause CPTSD without physical abuse?
What are the most common signs and symptoms of CPTSD?
Why do safe relationships feel threatening or uncomfortable after trauma?
Is CPTSD frequently misdiagnosed as clinical depression?
How does CPTSD show up in high-functioning individuals?
Can you have CPTSD if you don't remember your childhood trauma?
What is parentification and how does it cause relational trauma?
Why does CPTSD cause chronic hypervigilance and survival mode?
How does childhood trauma lead to adult people-pleasing?
Why are boundaries so hard to set for trauma survivors?
What are adaptive survival strategies in trauma recovery?
#CPTSD #ComplexPTSD #TraumaRecovery

Can psilocybin and ibogaine truly cure depression and addiction, or are the risks being ignored?

Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/

In Part 2 of this episode of RECOVERable, host Terry McGuire sits down with clinical psychologist and research facilitator Dr. Chantelle Thomas, PhD, to explore the therapeutic potential, safety profiles, and common misconceptions surrounding psilocybin and ibogaine. Dr. Chantelle Thomas, a leading psychologist and researcher who has facilitated clinical trials at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, breaks down the emerging science behind psychedelic-assisted therapy for major depressive disorder, opioid use disorder, and severe trauma.

Together, Terry McGuire and Dr. Thomas separate myth from fact regarding magic mushrooms, neurogenesis, dendritic growth, and the cardiotoxicity risks of ibogaine treatment. Dr. Thomas explains how psilocybin turns down predictive thinking and increases experiential engagement, helping individuals break free from rigid, limiting thought patterns. They also examine the critical distinction between recreational mushroom use at music festivals and structured clinical treatment protocols.

Additionally, Dr. Thomas reveals why psychedelic integration and proper therapeutic preparation are vital, explaining how psychedelics can act as a powerful "gateway drug for therapy" rather than a standalone miracle cure. Whether you are curious about state-level legalization in Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico, upcoming FDA approval timelines, or how non-ordinary states of consciousness facilitate personal transformation, this episode offers an essential, grounded perspective on the future of behavioral health and recovery. Subscribe for more deep dives into evidence-based mental health treatment!

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction to Psilocybin & Ibogaine
00:01:35 – Psychedelic Myths vs. Facts
00:06:35 – Neurogenesis & Brain Connectivity
00:10:00 – Psilocybin Clinical Trials & Research
00:18:00 – What Happens in Psilocybin Therapy?
00:23:15 – Why Psychedelic Integration Matters
00:33:15 – Risks, Benefits, & FDA Approval Timelines
00:48:50 – Ibogaine for Opioid Addiction
00:55:00 – Safety & Caution in Ibogaine Treatment
00:59:30 – Final Advice on Psychedelic Healing

Questions the Video Answers:

Is psilocybin therapy effective for major depressive disorder?

How does ibogaine treat opioid addiction and withdrawal?

Can you get permanently trapped in a bad psilocybin trip?

What is the difference between recreational magic mushrooms and psilocybin therapy?

Does psilocybin stimulate neurogenesis and create new neural pathways?

What are the cardiotoxicity and heart risks associated with ibogaine?

How close is psilocybin to receiving FDA approval?

What is psychedelic integration and why is it necessary?

Can a single dose of psilocybin or ibogaine cure addiction?

Where is psilocybin therapy legally available in the United States?

How does psilocybin alter brain network communication?

What happens during an ibogaine life review experience?

How should you prepare for psychedelic-assisted therapy?

Why is traditional psychotherapy crucial before and after psychedelic treatment?

#Psilocybin #PsychedelicTherapy #Ibogaine

Can ketamine and MDMA truly transform trauma and severe depression? Clinical psychologist Dr. Chantelle Thomas, PhD, joins Terry McGuire to reveal the clinical truth behind psychedelic-assisted therapy. 
Find mental health and addiction treatment near you: https://recovery.com/
In this episode of RECOVERable, host Terry McGuire sits down with research facilitator Dr. Chantelle Thomas, PhD, for part one of a deep dive into the clinical landscapes of ketamine therapy and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy. Together, they dispel common myths surrounding recreational vs. therapeutic drug use, explaining how "set and setting" fundamentally alter patient outcomes. 
Dr. Thomas explains how ketamine acts on glutamate pathways and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) to offer rapid antidepressant relief in hours rather than weeks. You'll learn the crucial differences between standalone IV ketamine infusion clinics and comprehensive ketamine-assisted psychotherapy (KAP), as well as how integration therapy anchors altered states of consciousness into lasting recovery. 
The conversation shifts to MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Dr. Thomas shares insights from FDA clinical trials, highlighting how MDMA expands a patient's capacity to process deep trauma without being overwhelmed. They discuss cardiac risks, candidate screening, abuse potential, and why psychedelic therapy requires skilled facilitation. 
Whether you are exploring treatment-resistant depression, trauma recovery, or alternative mental health treatments, subscribe to RECOVERable for expert insights and stay tuned for part two on psilocybin and ibogaine! 
Chapters: 00:00 – Introduction & Psychedelic Myths 01:20 – What Is Set and Setting? 05:58 – Ketamine vs Antidepressants for Depression 08:00 – Is Ketamine FDA Approved? 14:49 – What Is Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy? 22:03 – Ketamine for Addiction & Trauma 27:00 – What Ketamine Therapy Feels Like 36:08 – MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD 42:34 – MDMA vs Traditional Trauma Therapy 54:11 – Critical Takeaways Before Trying Psychedelic Therapy