After a 40-day ayahuasca retreat in Peru, I returned calm and serene—but profoundly disconnected from myself. I mistook this afterglow for stability, believing I had found a solution to pain, fear, and relational needs. That fragile sense of grounding collapsed a year later, when illness and trauma rooted me in a body I could no longer ignore. Over the following years, I navigated chronic physical symptoms, emotional isolation, and psychological unraveling—confronting wounds I had long tried to evade.

This article examines the difference between symptom management and trauma resolution, emphasizing the importance of making this distinction in therapy. It explores how overlooking the gap can lead to stalled progress, and why both clients and therapists need clarity to guide treatment choices.

In the Chaos of Enmeshment: Untangling Fear, Disorganization, and the Struggle for Self