Complex PTSD vs Classic PTSD-- Medical trauma and MDMA assisted therapy

Complex PTSD vs Classic PTSD-- Medical trauma and MDMA assisted therapy

From Back from the Abyss: Psychiatry in Stories | Psychotherapy, Trauma, and Psychedelics by Craig Heacock MD

May 1, 2026 · 1h 0m · Season 7 · Episode 17

About this episode

The episode explores the differences between complex PTSD and classic PTSD through the story of Tracy, who shares her experiences with medical and parenting trauma.

Amidst a long catalog of previous BFTA stories featuring complex or developmental PTSD, today’s story is one of classic DSM-style PTSD, it’s a story of both medical and parenting trauma, of facing the fear of annihilation and death. In this three part story, first we hear Tracy tell of the increasingly severe medical challenges of her children, then Tracy flashes back to describe her own terrifying emergency hospitalization as a 5 year old, then finally we trace Tracy’s treatment ...

People in this episode

Host: Craig Heacock MD

Guest: Tracy

Topics covered

  • Complex PTSD
  • Classic PTSD
  • Medical trauma
  • MDMA assisted therapy
  • Parenting trauma
  • Emergency hospitalization

Keywords

  • PTSD
  • MDMA therapy
  • medical trauma
  • parenting trauma
  • emergency hospitalization
  • mental health
  • trauma healing

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