#15 – Paul Conti, M.D.: trauma, suicide, community, and self-compassion

In this episode, psychiatrist Paul Conti, M.D. discusses the impact of untreated trauma, the rising rate of suicide, and the influence of modern society on mental health, to name a few important topics covered. Paul also talks about how to deal with these challenges for yourself, your loved ones, and the community at large.

Want more content like this? Check out our interviews with Kristin Neff on the power of self-compassion and Esther Perel on the effects of trauma.

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We discuss:

• Paul’s background, and what drove him to psychiatry [5:00];
• How silent bravado and incessant striving can lead to a functional (and actual) death, and why Paul is critical of the current state of psychiatry [14:45];
• Psychedelics, psychotherapy and the dissolution of the ego [20:30];
• How current society may be contributing to the increasing amount of suffering [25:00];
• The ubiquity and impact of untreated trauma [31:45];
• The rising rate of suicide, parasuicide, and “accidental” death [35:30];
• Types of trauma, why we minimize it, and Peter’s introduction to Bridge to Recovery [44:00];
• Triggering shame and fear, childhood trauma, and why trauma doesn’t care about time [48:00];
• The impact of the brain on the body, and overcoming trauma with self-awareness [55:00];
• How to recognize and stop the cycle of shame transference [1:04:30];
• Peter’s profound experience at Bridge to Recovery, and the importance of finding shared experiences with others [1:11:15];
• How to identify and deal with our own personal trauma [1:19:00];
• Finding meaning in struggle, why we are less happy than ever, and the impact of an isolated society [1:25:30];
• What steps can we take as a society to make an appreciable impact on the rising sense of desperation and misery? [1:43:15];
• Resources, book recommendations, and things you can do [1:56:15]; and
• More.

Paul Conti, M.D.

Dr. Paul M. Conti is a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine. He completed his training at Stanford and at Harvard, where he served as Chief Resident. He then worked in private practice while serving on the medical faculty at Harvard. He was named as one of Oregon’s Top Psychiatrists in 2008, his first full year of practice in Oregon. Dr. Conti is a general psychiatrist, treating all aspects of both mental illness and the impact of life stressors. His practice includes use of medications and psychotherapy, and he also routinely treats complex cases, co-occurring alcohol and drug issues, and does neuropsychiatric assessments. In addition to clinical treatment, Dr. Conti provides business-related and legal consulting services. [pacificpremiergroup.com]