Ketamine Therapy for Awakenings | Eva Altobelli, MD

THE INTERVIEW

Most of what we are reacting to is not based on our lived experience.

I am excited to share a conversation that really struck a chord with me. I recently spoke with Dr. Eva Altobelli, a psychiatrist who uses ketamine-assisted therapy to help people heal from depression and expand their awareness.

Her work isn’t just about medicine, it’s about helping people reconnect with themselves and step into new chapters of life.

What really got our conversation going was when we started talking about awakenings.

Funny enough, my sister had a copy of Natural Awakenings sitting in front of me while Dr. Altobelli was describing the benefits of ketamine-assisted therapy. It almost felt like a tool that could spark the same conscious shift I experienced during a season of my life when I knew it was time to leave a career I was no longer connected to.

For many of us going through life changes, the challenge is not just figuring out what is next, it is figuring out who we are now.

Dr. Altobelli explains that ketamine can help even the most structured-minded individuals open their consciousness and see the world in a completely new way. That shift in perspective is exactly what inspired me to name my company Recalibrated Vision, a phrase that describes the changes I experienced in my own beliefs and mindset.

What we are seeking is often already here. It just requires a shift in how we see things, giving ourselves permission to change, and letting go of what no longer serves us.

Dr. Altobelli also goes into the scientific benefits of ketamine, explaining how it can support conditions like depression and ADHD. Interestingly, she points out that the list of situations where it is not helpful is shorter than the long list of potential benefits.

But our conversation did not stop there. We also explored non-pharmacological ways to support mental wellness, which are often overlooked in Western medicine’s tendency to suppress symptoms instead of expanding awareness and consciousness.

Healing is not just about medication, it is about creating the space to explore, grow, and reconnect with ourselves. Next, Dr. Altobelli said something that really stood out to me. She said,

“Most of what we are reacting to is not based on our lived experience.”

Think about that for a moment. We are living in heavy political and social times, and much of what we see and experience every day is coming to us through screens, feeds, and headlines. When most of our reactions are shaped by what we observe rather than what we actually live, it can take a toll on our mental and emotional well-being.

We start carrying stress, fear, or anger that doesn’t even belong to our direct experience. It affects the way we make decisions, the way we interact with the people around us, and even the way we see ourselves.

This idea connects perfectly to the concept of awakenings we were discussing. Just like a career shift or a therapeutic intervention can help open our perspective, recognizing the difference between what is real and what we are reacting to allows us to reclaim our mental space.

It gives us permission to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting automatically. It is another reminder that clarity often comes from stepping back, observing, and asking, “Is this my experience, or am I carrying someone else’s?”

For an overthinker and future-focused entrepreneur like myself, this idea hits even closer to home.

We see the highlight reels of other entrepreneurs and think, “Gosh, why not me?” But the reality is, we rarely know what is real and what is performative. Most of what we react to online or in our networks is curated, filtered, or exaggerated.

One of the ways I keep myself grounded is by looking at actual data and research. It reminds me that most people are pacing through challenges just like I am, and just like you might be.

Dr. Altobelli takes it a step further. She explains that one of the best ways to reconnect with your own lived experience is to get out and surround yourself with people who are going through the same things.

There, you can hear and see what is really happening. That is the clarity that comes from direct experience, not from scrolling or guessing.

If any of this speaks to you, I invite you to check out this week’s podcast. And please feel free to share it with a friend or colleague.

I appreciate your support! Enjoy!

BEHIND THE VISION | NOMADIC FOUNDER

Live from Tokyo, Japan