174. David Gersten, M.D.

David Gerston, M.D.Dr. Gersten practices integrative psychiatry and nutritional medicine out of his office in Encinitas, California. In this interview we discuss his book Are You Getting Enlightened Or Losing Your Mind? A Psychiatrist’s Guide for Mastering Paranormal and Spiritual Experience.

Dr. Gersten writes from his personal experience, his work with patients, and the wisdom of the ages. He is the author of The POW Survival Guide (dedicated to the Allied Troops of Operation Desert Storm), mental imagery consultant to Rodale Press on 18 books, columnist on Alternative Medicine for The Life Connection, publisher of Atlantis the Imagery Newsletter, and author of more than 300 published articles. He has consulted with the White House on alternative medicine. Dr. Gersten is also an accomplished musician and composer of 2200 songs and 7 symphonic works. Being half doctor/healer and half artist/musician allows him to bring a wide breadth of experience to his work with patients. While psychiatry tends to focus on what’s wrong, Dr. Gersten strives to place as much emphasis on “what’s right,” helping through his clinical work, personal experience, and writings, to help people deepen their spiritual connection, find their purpose or mission and remove the obstacles to their dreams.

He has worked in most aspects of psychiatry, from suicidal, homicidal, and psychotic hospitalized patients…to out-patient strategic psychotherapy…to state psychiatric hospitals…to peak performance, training LPGA and high-level amateur golfers in the mental game. His expertise in mental imagery has created the possibility to help people beyond the scope of traditional psychiatry.

Dr. Gersten’s site

Transcript of this interview

Interview recorded 5/12/2013

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction and Overview
  • 00:04:24 – Synchronicities and the merging of the self and the absolute
  • 00:08:22 – The Seen and Unseen Universe
  • 00:12:36 – The Death Rate in Med School
  • 00:17:07 – The Evolution of Psychiatry
  • 00:22:16 – The Energy of Others
  • 00:25:56 – Thunder Before Leaving
  • 00:29:33 – The Devoid of Conscience Question
  • 00:34:03 – Attunement to our essence as a measure of sanity
  • 00:38:38 – Contrasting a Mystic and a Schizophrenic
  • 00:43:34 – Spiritual Insights and Delusions
  • 00:48:56 – Auras and Psychotic Symptoms
  • 00:53:08 – Reaching a Breaking Point
  • 00:56:37 – Kundalini Awakening Experience
  • 01:00:28 – The Radiant Vision of Michelangelo’s David
  • 01:04:32 – Kundalini Awakenings and the Challenges They Pose
  • 01:07:47 – The overlap between mania and kundalini
  • 01:11:19 – Spiritual therapy and the risks of natural therapies
  • 01:15:04 – The Paradoxical Case of Rapid Healing in Schizophrenia
  • 01:18:55 – The Importance of Stability and Foundation
  • 01:24:15 – The Alibi of Crazy Wisdom and Inappropriate Behavior
  • 01:29:39 – The Swastika Symbol in India
  • 01:33:59 – A Psychic Encounter with Colonel Diaz and Noriega
  • 01:38:19 – The Dark Side of Paranormal Experiences
  • 01:42:09 – Entities and Vulnerability
  • 01:46:01 – Confronting the Unwanted Visitor
  • 01:49:35 – The Journey of Inner Rearrangement and Stabilization
  • 01:54:10 – Inner Awakening and Alignment
  • 01:59:39 – Unity in Trinidad and Tobago
  • 02:03:22 – Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

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