Over the years now I’ve been interviewed on radio and podcasts a number of times. I’ve had fun every time.
This interview with Chris Cole, though, I believe is my favorite so far. That’s because he went straight to what is most important to me at this time in my work. That is the idea of how we are embodied beings. More precisely we talked about that in terms of what I’ve come to call the “somatic imperative.” When I first came up with that term it fit my experience so precisely I’ve started using it all the time. I googled it the first time I used it and it’s not a term that’s been used before. Still, I’ve found that many people resonate with it strongly when I use it and Chris and I had a great conversation that begins with this idea.
Update 2026: if you Google it now it’s used elsewhere. I don’t know if they got it from me or if it’s a 100th monkey sort of thing. It does mean exactly what it describes.
The other reason this interview is special in my mind is because Chris and I see things from different vantage points and yet we still have so much in common. I LOVE that. Chris uses the system and has a psychiatrist. He also is comfortable using the DSM diagnosis (while recognising its issues). I’ve been gravely harmed by psych drugs and don’t go near the system. And I do not give much credence to DSM diagnosis. We understand that we can have very divergent experiences and still find much common ground.
Here is the interview: LISTEN HERE: The Somatic Imperative with Monica Cassani
MORE here on Beyond Meds ABOUT THE ~~ Somatic imperative: collection
or for a more inclusive collection of articles about what we discussed:
Here is a PDF I put together as a companion piece. This can be downloaded by clicking on the arrow at the bottom of the PDF image.
Monica Cassani, Somatic Imperative, etc
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This topic is still painful for me, as I’m currently grappling with the decision to go back on meds for my own depression. I applaud you for being able to tackle it. I have seen and felt the harms of psychotropic medications, and I continue to live with those harms daily.
It’s aggravating when people think I should stifle my voice just to appease Big Pharma. It’s not unlike the opioid argument, yet it seems to be treated differently among the armchair doctors: all psychotropic drugs are good vs. all painkillers are bad. Make it make sense, please. That’s how it’s been in the crowds I’ve come across, at least.
I didn’t become addicted to any of my prescription medications except for Xanax, and I took all of them as prescribed. Xanax almost killed me, while Vicodin saved me. Yet the peanut gallery would prefer I take Xanax over Vicodin for some odd reason (last I knew, they didn’t pay my bills). One almost put me six feet under, the other allowed me to live a semi-normal life. Honestly, I believe my mental health would be much better if I could get pain relief. It’s like a never-ending cycle: the pain causes the depression, and the depression only makes the pain worse.
Thanks for sharing this interview and the documentation. I really need to look over your site more, but I keep avoiding it. Like I said, it’s still a painful topic for me. I’m sorry if it sounds like I’m trauma dumping on your blog.
In solidarity,
Tina
the term “trauma dumping” is just one more way to silence the most wounded people in society. I certainly didn’t feel like you were doing anything other than sharing your story. I’m sorry you’re facing all this shit and just know that your body will guide you through. One thing that helped me is the concept of “toxic medicine” which in ayurveda and Chinese medicine is the idea that when one is very toxic that sometimes toxic medicine (substances/herbs) are needed. That goes along with the philosophy of harm reduction as well. I think in terms of harm reduction always. We all need to do things that harm and so being kind to ourselves about what we still need is also part of harm reduction.
Thank you! I appreciate it!
I’m sorry I never responded to you. I just came across this comment. It was so kind of you to share such a piece of your heart. Sometimes I didn’t see comments or was overwhelmed with too many things to do. I guess which still remains a problem sometimes. I hope this finds you well.
Hey Monica, Again I find your blog so genuine, gently honest, informative. I just want to support you in every way I can, which is basically at this point bringing a similar voice and sensitivity to my workplace. I am so glad you are in this world. I am tempted, and will oblige, to share something about lying meditation that comes from a book written by Angeles Arrien, a Basque Elder, anthropologist, and, fortunately for me, mentor. As part of her work, which in many ways was to integrate the perennial wisdoms of a wide array of cultures, was to create a medicine wheel that was drawn from her research.
Each direction is associated with an archetype (healer, teacher, visionary, warrior – of which I see all four in you by the way.) Each direction and archetype is also associated with a meditation posture, (lying, sitting, moving, standing.)
The archetype of the healer is from the direction of the south and in the season of Spring. The meditation posture is lying. The human resource is love. the healer pays attention to what has heart and meaning. The body equates the lying posture with rest and nourishment that comes from giving and receiving love. The body is placed in its own ‘spirit canoe’ in order to be open to guidance and receive healing. We can then address both positive and challenging experiences that need to be addressed and while in our spirit canoe the various higher forces reveal to us what we need.
There is much more, but I don’t want to impose on you if this isn’t of interest to you. I just want to share something of great heart and meaning for me with you, someone who is sharing what has great heart and meaning with countless people. I hope you don’t mind.
Whatever the future holds, much metta,
Craig