Raghu Markus calls on James Gordon, MD, to provide some tools to help us transform trauma and embrace hope.
James Gordon, MD, a Harvard-educated psychiatrist, is internationally recognized for using self-awareness, self-care, and group support to heal population-wide psychological trauma. He is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Center for Mind-Body Medicine, and his latest book is The Transformation: Discovering Wholeness and Healing After Trauma. Learn more about him at jamesgordonmd.com.
Coronavirus and Worldwide Psychological Trauma
Raghu welcomes James to the show, and they chat about some of the incredible teachers and mentors James has worked with, including Ram Dass. Raghu asks James for his take on the Coronavirus epidemic and the worldwide psychological trauma we’re all undergoing right now. James explores the concept of post-traumatic growth.
“Hopefully [post-traumatic growth] will come out of this, not only for us as individuals, but for all us on the planet. We’ll wake up to the kinds of appreciation, the kinds of celebration, the kinds of connection that are necessary if we’re going to survive and thrive as a species.” – James Gordon, MD
Francesca Maximé speaks with James Doty, MD, about compassionate action amidst social distancing on ReRooted Ep. 26
Transforming Trauma (24:21)
The talk turns to integrative medicine, and how our guts are under siege. A little comfort food during times of crisis is okay, but too much can really damage our systems. Raghu brings up the concept of historical trauma, and James talks about using expressive meditation techniques such as chanting as a way to transform trauma.
“These expressive meditations are the royal road to freeing ourselves from these frozen, shut down bodies, these closed minds that we have.” – James Gordon, MD
Embracing Hope (43:41)
Raghu asks James how we can embrace the powerful medicine of hope in a time of so much hopelessness. James leads a beautiful meditation breathing practice that he learned many years ago from Stephen Levine.
“So there is hope that change is possible. You may not be able to change the epidemiology of the Coronavirus… but you can make a change in yourself, you can make a change in how you deal with it, and that gives you hope.” – James Gordon, MD
