Therapy is something that most people should invest in if they could. It is one of the best ways to take care of your mental health. While there are traditional ways—talking it out, for example—to go about it, there are alternatives methods that are proving to be even more effective. One method that is becoming more widely talked about is psychedelic medicine and therapy.
What Is Psychedelic Therapy?
Psychedelic therapy is a way of healing many mental health struggles by using psychedelic medicines in conjunction with integration/therapy to go deeper in the therapeutic process and often produce more rapid results. Therapists should have specific training in psychedelic integration, as this is not the same as traditional therapy.
4 Types of Psychedelic Therapy
There are plenty of psychedelic substances that can be used for healing and below are some that have been used in different settings currently or previously.
1. Ketamine
Ketamine is an anesthetic that has been used in medicine since the 1960s. It was discovered to have psychedelic properties at sub-anesthetic levels and to provide healing effects for depression, in addition to other diagnoses. This medicine is currently legal and being used to treat depression, anxiety, trauma, substance abuse, eating disorders and more.
2. LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, otherwise known as LSD, is a psychedelic medicine that creates a non ordinary state of consciousness and was used in a therapeutic setting prior to it becoming illegal. This experience is a longer journey, about 8 hours, compared to ketamine which is about 45-60 minutes. In the medical setting it has shown benefit in treating many mental health struggles.
3. Psilocybin
Psilocybin is the chemical found in mushrooms that has psychedelic properties. Often know as “magic mushrooms”. This substance is naturally occurring and is currently being studied to treat depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, among others. This medicine has been used in cultures for many years to aid in healing and although currently illegal in the US there are some cities and states that have decriminalized psilocybin.
4. Ayahuasca
This medicine is actually a mixture of two different plants and the active psychedelic component is DMT. DMT actually is a naturally occurring chemical in humans, known to be released in high levels at birth and death. Ayahuasca originated in South America and has been used for many years in healing ceremonies. This medicine is a powerful psychedelic and often induces purging. Many people report significant positive changes in their lives and improvement in their mental health and/or addictions. Ayahuasca should be administered by someone who has significant experience with the medicine and ideally has apprenticed with tribes/peoples who have worked with it for many years.
5. MDMA
MDMA, also know as Molly or Ecstasy, has a reputation as a party drug. However, this medicine was originally used in therapeutic settings because of the healing potentials, even before it emerged on the party scene. It was originally know as ADAM. The MAPS organization has been researching MDMA for treating PTSD and has shown significant results compared to traditional treatment strategies.
Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy
More and more studies are demonstrating its effectiveness as a therapy method every day, and many patients have shown great progress. Several sources have found that this type of therapy may work on anxiety, depression, abuse of alcohol or any other substance, and PTSD.
Traditional talk therapy has benefited some over the years, however, it often involves lengthy courses of treatment that are quite expensive and often out of the reach of many people. The slow rate of progress can be frustrating for many and may stop people from continuing on with treatment. Psychedelic therapy may be the key for patients for whom traditional methods have been difficult.
Many client testimonials contain positive responses to psychedelic-assisted treatments. This treatment is not a quick fix and is not for everybody, but it is definitely helpful for many and is currently demonstrating results that rival traditional treatment of psychiatric medication +/- therapy.
Conclusion
The not-so-positive impressions of psychedelic therapy often come from a place of mis information, negative history, or lack of knowledge about the subject. Michael Pollan’s book, “How to Change Your Mind” has helped bring the subject into the general population. This combined with many new studies showing the benefits that these medicines can have for people struggling with mental health conditions is making psychedelic treatment a more popular option. After all, medication has always been an aspect of mental health treatment, but it often required being on medication forever, having side effects, and sometimes having suboptimal results.
Are you open to giving psychedelic therapy a try? Stephanie Lyn Coleman MD, a licensed physician trained in ketamine assisted therapy. We support patients working on their mental health through the use of ketamine and integration therapy. Schedule a free phone consultation today!