Coming Full Circle by Shannon Duncan
What's It About?
Coming Full Circle is a detailed, informative guide on using psychedelics to heal that is intertwined with a deeply personal memoir of the author's own journey of healing.The idea of using psychedelic drugs to heal emotional and mental health issues such as depression, PTSD, anxiety, addiction and more has become an important topic. Many of us think of these kinds of drugs as scary hallucinogens of the 60s and 70s. Back in the 50s, though, psychedelics were being studied for other purposes, and this idea has had a resurgence in recent years. I recently saw a segment on a TV news show about their use in treating depression and other mental health issues.
According to Forbes, “The law has looked askance at psychedelic drugs since the 1960s, when it was used as a counterculture escape from reality. And psychedelics like LSD have carried a stigma ever since … Recently, though, there’s been a reconsideration of the potential benefits of psychedelics, and science is taking a second look.” A quick Google search shows that there are research centers all across the country devoted to the study of psychedelics as a treatment at top facilities like NYU in New York City and Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.
In his new book, Coming Full Circle: Using Psychedelics to Heal Trauma, author Shannon Duncan shares his first-hand experience with this kind of therapy. The author offers a very honest and open account of his own journey as well as helpful guidance if you are considering possibly trying this approach yourself. This book is part memoir and part informative guide for those looking to learn more … and there is a lot to learn!
Exploring the Health Benefits of Psychedelic Drugs
Duncan does a great job of sharing his childhood experiences and analyzing how they led to scarring traumas that negatively affected his life. He also shares the challenges he has faced while trying to overcome these traumas as an adult. He ended up using drugs recreationally for many years, but despite his experience, he clearly explains the difference between recreational drug use (the traditional “trippy experience” with your friends), expansive use (using psychedelics for personal development, spiritual growth or healing), and medicine work (“intentionally going deep, very deep, to effect healing far beyond what expansive insights can give”).
The book is divided into three key parts:
Part One lays the foundation for understanding both using psychedelics to heal and also what brought the author to the point of using these drugs in this way. “There are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation about how psychedelics can be used for healing” and the author hopes to dispel these in this first section.
Part Two takes a deeper dive into the specifics of this healing therapy and serves as a guide to finding the right professional to help you learn how to navigate this healing journey all the way through.
Part Three brings it all together, “coming full circle.”
Informative Guidebook for Beginners Seeking Alternative Therapies
Using psychedelics to heal trauma is a fascinating topic that is at the forefront of scientific and intellectual curiosity. Shannon Duncan became truly dedicated to healing himself from his childhood traumas and chose to write about his experiences so that his journey would be able to help others.
So, where do you even begin? The author takes you “by the hand” and helps guide you — finding the right qualified support, asking the “right” questions, knowing what to look out for and getting the most out of this kind of therapy.
Like the author, many people continually search for the most effective therapy for their struggles. Research shows that psychedelics are very effective for a large number of people who have not been as successful as they’d like with other forms of therapy. Using psychedelics may just be the right thing for you, too. Check out Coming Full Circle and see if Shannon Duncan’s healing journey inspires you to try a new form of therapy.
About Shannon Duncan:
Shannon Duncan is an entrepreneur and author of the landmark book, Present Moment Awareness. In his newest book, Coming Full Circle, Duncan shares what he learned during his own intensive multi-year process of healing trauma with the help of psychedelics. An advocate for those seeking to heal from trauma, it is his sincere wish that sharing what he learned through his experiences will be of service to those who are in need.
