Your Thursday Three Things for July 3, 2025

Rewiring a Broken Brain

Nope… this isn’t a repeat but there IS overlap… and it’s for a reason!

Three weeks ago, we shared a powerful conversation with Dr. Mark L. Gordon about how trauma, especially traumatic brain injury (TBI), can inflame the brain, disrupt hormones, and mimic everything from PTSD to depression.

If you missed that edition, you can still read it here: 👉 https://frogmanmindfulness.substack.com/p/your-thursday-three-things-for-june-472

This week’s topic may sound similar. But it’s not the same.

Because now, we’re diving into what it feels like to live inside that injured mind. And how one man…Dan Carcillo, former NHL enforcer turned healing advocate… is using cutting-edge treatments and ancient tools to get himself (and others) back.

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Dan was a two-time Stanley Cup champion. But after seven concussions, his mind started unraveling. He became someone he didn’t recognize. He lost hope. Almost lost his life.

But instead of giving up, Dan began rebuilding himself … through plant medicine, functional healing, and full-spectrum brain recovery.

🎧 Listen here: https://pod.fo/e/2f241a 📺 Watch the full episode:

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Dan now runs a world-class recovery center called Experience Onward, a place where veterans, athletes, and trauma survivors go to actually heal.

It’s not just about psychedelics. It’s about reclaiming control of your brain and body with science, soul, and support.

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What We’re (Finally) Learning About the Injured Brain

1️⃣ – You can look fine and feel like a stranger to yourself. TBI often doesn’t show up on scans. But inside, neuroinflammation can hijack your thoughts, identity, and nervous system.

2️⃣ – “Mental illness” might be a biological chain reaction. Dan and Dr. Gordon both trace many symptoms… rage, depression, impulsivity… to hormonal collapse and brain inflammation, not a broken personality.

3️⃣ – Traditional medicine often stops at symptom management. Dan was prescribed 9 medications. None worked. What helped? Testing, breath work, somatic release, psilocybin… and above all, ownership.

4️⃣ – Psychedelics aren’t magic. But they can make the pain visible. Dan describes plant medicine as “creating space between thought and self.” That clarity made transformation possible but only with daily follow-through.

5️⃣ – Healing the brain is a whole-body journey. Real recovery potentially includes multiple modalities - cold therapy, light exposure, breath work, nourishment, functional movement, and, yes, community.

Below the paywall: 3 specific tools used by Dan and Dr. Gordon that may help you (or someone you love) find a way out.

Disclaimer:
We are not medical professionals, and nothing in this newsletter should be interpreted as medical advice. The insights shared are based on our and our guests’ lived experiences, ongoing research, and personal exploration. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your physical, emotional, or mental health treatment plan especially when exploring alternative therapies, supplements, or medications. Your health journey is your own, and it deserves expert support.

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