The use of psychedelics in the treatment of mental health conditions, for personal use, spirituality, and self-exploration, or even for gaining an extra edge at work has been gaining traction in recent years. Studies have shown that psychedelics can be more effective than traditional medications such as SSRIs, Lithium, Depakote, and other drugs used to treat mental disorders many for over half a century when it comes to treating certain conditions with very poor results.
Psychedelic therapy involves using psychedelics, such as LSD, psilocybin, or ketamine, in conjunction with psychotherapy to treat a variety of mental health disorders. Psychedelic therapy is typically done in a controlled clinical setting under the supervision of a licensed therapist. The goal is to provide patients with an opportunity to explore their feelings and thoughts about their issues without feeling overwhelmed or afraid by them.
Research into psychedelic therapy for treating various mental health conditions has been ongoing for several years, with promising results. Studies have shown that psychedelics can be an effective tool in reducing symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In one study, 66% of participants showed significant reductions in their symptoms after just three psychedelically assisted therapy sessions. Ketamine has been found to have higher success rates in treating depression and suicidal ideations. A recent study of psychedelics for treating depression found that 71% of participants showed a significant reduction in symptoms after just one psychedelically assisted therapy session.
These results are promising compared to the traditional medications used to treat mental health conditions which often come with severe side effects and can take weeks or even months before they begin to take effect. And we are just dipping our toes in the water folks, currently, there are studies being done, some here in the town I live, Boulder Colorado. We were just able to pass Proposition 122 here in colorado a few weeks ago now. And it is an exciting time now here as we wait to see how the regulation process plays out for therapists. But Therapists with the correct training can guide folks using a particular strain of Mushroom that therapists grow say or the person themselves grows. The ability to talk with your Psychiatrist about how well the mushroom you grew is doing to help you with whatever medical condition has prescribed or recommended it to you for. The language is just 1 thing that will need to be sorted out.
Proposition 122 in Colorado which passed in November of 2022 also gives an individual the ability to use psychedelics for spiritual purposes and or self-exploration, this is as important for mental health just as much as any therapy session, medication, or ECT. Allowing for psychedelics to be used legally in a therapeutic setting is a big step forward for mental health treatments. And the results from current studies show that psychedelics may just be the answer we have been looking for when it comes to treating some of the most serious mental health conditions. So what did Proposition 122 that passed in Colorado open up to its citizens? That would be Psilocybin, Mescaline, DMT, and Ibogaine.
Psilocybin, the psychedelic found in magic mushrooms, is another psychedelic that has been studied in recent years. Studies have shown that psychedelically assisted therapy using psilocybin can be an effective tool in treating depression and anxiety. Also helpful with certain addictions.
Ibogaine, a psychedelic derived from the Iboga plant found in Central and West Africa, is being studied more and more every day. This psychedelic has been used for centuries in spiritual rituals, yet now we know Ibogaine a drug derived from the Iboga Root may be able to help people suffering from opioid addiction. In recent studies, Ibogaine has shown amazing results when it comes to curing opioid addiction with minimal side effects. That being said Ibogaine should be used under the supervision of a physician in a clinic with cardiac monitoring abilities.
DMT, is a psychedelic found in Ayahuasca and many natural plants, in animals like a certain toad and of course, humans produce DMT. Ayahuasca is a brew made from Amazonian plants. DMT has been used for centuries by indigenous cultures as part of spiritual ceremonies. Recently, studies have shown that psychedelically assisted therapy using DMT can be an effective tool in treating anxiety and depression.
Mescaline is a psychedelic alkaloid derived from peyote cactus and other cacti species such as San Pedro and Anhalonium. Mescaline binds to various serotonin, adrenergic, muscarinic, and histamine receptors in the body and can produce strong psychoactive effects often described as vivid changes in visual perception, emotional alteration, euphoria, or even intense fear. Mescaline's distinctive psychotropic effects have given it a long history of traditional use by Native American shamans for religious ceremonies and rituals. More recently, mescaline has been proposed for research into the treatment of mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression due to its potential efficacy in altering states of consciousness and providing insights into unhelpful thought processes or behaviors.
Now I would like to take a look at what Colorado has not legalized yet or any other State yet, but these substances are starting to be studied again after it was made illegal in the 1960s and another substance that came on the scene in the 80s but was quickly made illegal despite all the cries of therapists everywhere not to because of the great success they were having one of those therapists crying out was Rick Doblin and thank the Universe he did.
LSD, or lysergic acid diethylamide, is another psychedelic being studied for its therapeutic potential. LSD has a long and storied past in the United States from Timothy Leary to the CIA testing it on people in mind control experiments. But now we are seeing psychedelically assisted therapy using LSD showing promise for treating depression and anxiety as well as cluster headaches and addiction.
MDMA, or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, is another psychedelic being studied for its therapeutic potential. MDMA was widely used in therapists' offices before it leaked into the club scene and was quickly outlawed in 1985 and has recently been making a comeback as part of psychedelically assisted therapy to treat PTSD. It appears that MDMA will be legal for therapists to use and prescribe as soon as 2023. This leads me to the psychedelics that are legal right now to help people with treating mental health conditions.
Ketamine is a psychedelically assisted therapy that is legal right now and in many clinics across the country. Ketamine has been used for years as an anesthetic in hospitals but has recently been studied more and more for its potential to treat depression, PTSD, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and chronic pain. It appears that psychedelically assisted therapy using ketamine can be effective for these conditions when other treatments have failed. I have personally been through Ketamine Therapy and have written about it.
In summary, psychedelics are becoming increasingly accepted by physicians and therapists these days as an alternative treatment option for mental health conditions. Psychedelic-assisted therapies like Psilocybin, Ibogaine, DMT, LSD, MDMA, and Ketamine all show great promise in treating not only depression but also PTSD, addiction, anxiety, and even cluster headaches. While psychedelics are still illegal in many places, the tide is turning and hopefully soon psychedelically-assisted therapy will be widely accepted as an effective treatment option.
The evidence seems to back up these claims and show that psychedelically assisted therapies can be more effective than traditional treatments such as SSRIs, Depakote, and other medications. Studies have shown that psychedelics like psilocybin, ibogaine, DMT, LSD, MDMA and ketamine can help people suffering from depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, chronic pain, and even cluster headaches find relief where other treatments either fail or produce only minimal results. As more studies continue to come out regarding the efficacy of psychedelically-assisted therapies we may see psychedelics become more widely accepted and even legal in the near future.
Overall, psychedelics appear to be an effective treatment for mental health conditions when combined with therapy, as studies have shown that psychedelically-assisted therapies can be up to 90% successful in treating depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health issues. With more research being done on psychedelics every day, hopefully, soon they will become a more accepted form of therapy.
This article has focused on the potential benefits of psychedelics used in combination with psychotherapy as a treatment for various mental health disorders. We have seen that psychedelically assisted therapy using substances such as psilocybin, ibogaine, DMT, LSD, MDMA, and ketamine can be more effective than traditional treatments like SSRIs, Depakote, and other medications. With more research being done to support psychedelics as an effective treatment for mental health issues we may soon see psychedelics become a widely accepted therapy option in the near future.
Please remember that psychedelically-assisted therapies are still illegal in most countries and states in our country here in the US, and should only be used with the help of a professional mental health practitioner or trusted spiritual guide. Psychedelic therapy is not something to be taken lightly and you should always seek medical advice before beginning any psychedelically-assisted therapies. Please also keep in mind that psychedelics themselves may come with side effects or risks so make sure you speak with your doctor first before considering psychedelically assisted treatments.
I hope that this article has been informative for you and can help provide guidance for those seeking psychedelically-assisted therapies as a potential treatment option. They have certainly helped me tremendously once I got serious about it and sought out professional help with using them. Thank you for taking the time to read and we wish you all the best in your journey of healing.