Episode 97 l Can Chronic Pain Be Emotional? Exploring the Mind-Body Connection with Sean Hershey

Episode 97 l Can Chronic Pain Be Emotional? Exploring the Mind-Body Connection with Sean Hershey

Can chronic pain, IBS, migraines, fatigue, and other persistent symptoms be connected to your emotional life? In this episode of Ketamine Connections, I welcome back therapist and mind-body medicine practitioner Sean Hershey for a fascinating conversation about the connection between chronic symptoms, emotional health, and healing. Sean shares his personal journey from years of debilitating IBS, restrictive diets, medical appointments, and failed treatments to discovering a completely different paradigm—one that transformed both his health and his career.  Together, we explore why so many people with chronic symptoms reach the end of the medical road still searching for answers, how emotions can manifest physically in the body, and why healing often requires looking beyond the symptom itself.  We also discuss the role ketamine may play in helping people access emotional safety, reduce nervous system activation, and create the conditions for deeper healing through neuroplasticity.  In This Episode: ✨ Sean's personal experience with chronic IBS and years of unsuccessful treatments  ✨ The surprising discovery that changed everything for his healing journey  ✨ Why chronic symptoms aren't always caused by structural problems in the body  ✨ The connection between emotional repression and physical symptoms  ✨ How chronic pain can function as a danger signal within the mind-body system  ✨ The role of neuroplasticity in healing chronic conditions  ✨ Why some people improve when they address emotions rather than symptoms  ✨ The overlap between ketamine therapy, nervous system regulation, and emotional healing  ✨ Common chronic conditions that may have a mind-body component  ✨ Why hope is often the most valuable resource people bring into healing Resources Mentioned 📚 Healing Back Pain by John Sarno 📚 Mind Your Body by Nicole Sachs 🎙️ Sean's Podcast:  Mind Body Medicine for Chronic Pain 🌐 Sean's Website:  MindBodyMedicineForChronicPain.com [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/] Connect With Anna If you're preparing for ketamine and want support before, during, or after your journey, check out the resources below: 🎧 Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)  👉 https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp [ https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp] 🎧 Access the Free Ketamine Starter Portal   👉https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/free [https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/free]

Episode 96 | Neuroplasticity and What's Actually Happening in Your Brain During Ketamine

What if the most important part of ketamine therapy isn't the medicine itself? In this episode of Ketamine Connections, we're diving deep into one of the most misunderstood concepts in the ketamine space: the neuroplastic window. You've probably heard terms like neuroplasticity, Default Mode Network, and subconscious mind tossed around in conversations about ketamine therapy. But what do they actually mean? More importantly, what do they mean for you and your results? In this episode, I break down what happens in the brain during and after a ketamine session, why ketamine creates a unique opportunity for change, and why so many people unintentionally leave the most important part of the journey untouched. We'll explore: ✨ What the neuroplastic window actually is  ✨ How ketamine affects the Default Mode Network  ✨ Why the subconscious mind matters so much in healing and transformation  ✨ How long the neuroplastic window stays open after a session  ✨ Why you can't "think" your way into lasting change  ✨ The difference between conscious goals and subconsciously sound intentions  ✨ What to do in the hours and days after ketamine to maximize your results  ✨ Why ketamine is the door—not the transformation itself If you've done ketamine, are preparing for your first session, or you're wondering how to get more from the sessions you've already had, this episode is for you. Resources Mentioned 🎧 Join the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP)  👉 https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp [ https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp] 🎧 Access the Free Ketamine Starter Portal   👉https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/free [https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/free]

Episode 95 | New to Ketamine? 5 Lessons Seasoned Ketamine Patients Wish They Knew Sooner

What do experienced ketamine clients know that first-timers don't? After working with hundreds of ketamine clients, I've noticed a clear difference between people who are brand new to ketamine therapy and those who have spent months or years working with the medicine. And no—it isn't that seasoned clients are more enlightened, more evolved, or somehow "better" at ketamine. They've simply learned a few things through experience.  In this episode, I break down the five biggest mindset shifts I see happen over time and why these lessons can dramatically change how you approach ketamine therapy, integration, and healing. If you're new to ketamine, this episode may help you avoid some of the most common pitfalls and frustrations. And if you've been working with ketamine for a while, you may recognize just how much you've grown through the process. In This Episode: *  Why you don't need every ketamine session to make sense  *  The biggest mistake people make when trying to "figure out" their experiences  *  Why every ketamine journey feels different—and why that's actually a good thing  *  The difference between controlling a session and surrendering to it  *  Why asking "Am I doing this right?" can keep you stuck on the surface  *  How subconscious change often happens before you can see evidence of it  *  The role of trust in psychedelic healing and ketamine integration  *  Why some of the most powerful transformations begin with subtle shifts  Key Takeaway The biggest difference between new and experienced ketamine clients isn't knowledge—it's trust. Trust that not every session has to be dramatic. Trust that healing doesn't always happen on your timeline. Trust that the subconscious mind is working beneath the surface, even when you can't yet see the results. And most importantly, trust that transformation is unfolding, even when it doesn't look the way you expected it to.  Resources Mentioned *  The Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) 👉 https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp

Episode 94 | Why Healing in Community Hits Different (And What Happened Inside the Live Round of KPP)

What happens when people stop trying to heal alone? In this deeply personal episode of Ketamine Connections [https://ketamineconnections.buzzsprout.com?utm_source=chatgpt.com], Anna Krishtal shares what unfolded during the recent live round of the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) — and why healing in community can unlock something that solo work often cannot.  This episode explores the power of group healing, vulnerability, subconscious transformation, and the unexpected magic that happens when real humans gather with a shared intention to heal. Anna reflects on the themes that emerged during the live KPP calls and explains why ketamine journeys may happen alone in the chair… but preparation and integration were never meant to be solo sports.  Inside this episode: *  Why community accelerates healing  *  The “group field” that forms in transformational spaces  *  How witnessing someone else’s vulnerability can unlock your own  *  Why live conversations create breakthroughs no self-paced course can replicate  *  The neuroscience and subconscious impact of storytelling and connection  *  The role of preparation and integration in ketamine therapy  *  What liminal space actually is — and why discomfort is often part of transformation  *  Why healing work deepens when it’s witnessed by others  Anna also shares powerful moments from the live round of KPP, including participants uncovering long-held subconscious patterns, experiencing emotional breakthroughs, and discovering new levels of honesty, safety, and connection through shared healing experiences.  One of the biggest takeaways from this episode:  You do not have to do this alone. Whether you are preparing for ketamine therapy, integrating a psychedelic experience, or simply navigating personal transformation, this conversation is a reminder that community itself can become medicine.  Topics covered in this episode: *  Ketamine preparation  *  Psychedelic integration  *  Healing in community  *  The subconscious mind  *  Group healing dynamics  *  Vulnerability and transformation  *  Liminal space and personal growth  *  Neuroplasticity and connection  *  Ketamine coaching  *  Emotional healing and nervous system safety  Resources + Links: * Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) 👉https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp * Free Ketamine Starter Portal 👉https://www.yourketaminecoach.com/free If this episode resonated with you, send it to someone who’s navigating ketamine therapy, psychedelic healing, or the messy middle of transformation. Sometimes hearing “you’re not alone” lands differently when it comes from someone walking the path too.

Episode 93 | The Power of Intention in Ketamine Therapy with Sean Hershey

What if the thing that changes your ketamine experience isn’t the ketamine itself… but how you prepare for it? In this episode of Ketamine Connections, I sit down with therapist Sean Hershey to talk about his experience inside the Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP), what surprised him most about ketamine therapy, and how intentional preparation completely changed the way he approached the medicine.  Sean shares how he came to ketamine after years of personal healing work and why he quickly realized that ketamine alone wasn’t the thing creating transformation. Instead, it was the combination of intention setting, subconscious awareness, integration, and participation in the healing process that shifted everything.  We talk about: *  why ketamine is not a “magic pill”  *  the importance of preparation before ketamine sessions  *  subconscious healing and shadow work  *  intention setting for ketamine therapy  *  how Sean’s intentions evolved from “let go” to “allow”  *  why trying too hard can block the healing process  *  the difference between passive healing and active participation  *  how ketamine accelerated emotional healing already in motion  *  why people often misunderstand what ketamine actually does  Sean also shares his fears before starting ketamine therapy, including concerns about “bad trips” due to previous experiences with cannabis, and how ketamine ended up feeling completely different than he expected.  One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that ketamine can open the door to the subconscious mind — but lasting transformation happens through the choices, awareness, and actions that follow.  If you’ve been wondering whether ketamine therapy is “worth it,” or why preparation and integration matter so much, this episode is going to completely change the way you think about the process. Resources & Links 🌐 Sean Hershey Website [https://www.mindbodymedicineforchronicpain.com/] 🌐 Mind Body Medicine for Chronic Pain [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mindbody-medicine-for-chronic-pain/id1803172562] 🌐 Ketamine Preparation Protocol (KPP) [https://www.annakrishtal.com/kpp]