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Psychedelic therapy is the practice of using a psychedelic drug in a therapeutic environment, usually involving psychotherapy. It's crucial to keep in mind, though, that psychedelics remain illegal on the federal level in the United States. It is also important to know that it is not recognized as an official practice.
Mind-altering states that disrupt perception, thinking, and sensory input can be brought on by psychedelic substances. They lack widespread legal acceptance and are traditionally recognized for their recreational use. However, psychedelic substances are also being studied extensively for their potential as a form of medicine.
What is Psychedelic Therapy?
Using psychedelic drugs in conjunction with traditional psychotherapy to treat mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, suicidality, and PTSD is known as psychedelic therapy. In the 1950s and 1960s, psychotherapy, and clinical and scientific investigations of psychedelic substances like psilocybin and LSD were widely used.
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The majority of psychedelic treatment is being conducted in clinical research studies in secret and in jurisdictions where using psychedelics is permitted. Several psychedelic drugs, including the following, are presently being researched and evaluated for usage in therapeutic settings:
- Psilocybin (Magic mushrooms)
- Ketamine
- MDMA
- Lysergic acid (acid)
How Does Psychedelic Therapy Work?
In some respects, learning how psychedelics don't work is a prerequisite for understanding how they do. They don't function the same way as the majority of other psychiatric medications. For instance, methadone works by targeting particular opiate receptors to lessen the effects of heroin addiction's withdrawal symptoms.
To reduce the desire for cigarettes, certain psychedelics may be used. Serotonin availability is increased by SSRIs (antidepressant medications) to enhance brain cell communication. Each of these medications treats a certain problem in a different way. After you stop using the medicine, the effects stop.
In therapy, a drug, such as psilocybin, can be used to treat a variety of mental health issues. The effects of the medication frequently outlast their immediate effects, and the therapy becomes an essential component of the treatment rather than existing independently from the drug. This provides a fundamentally new approach to mental health care that does not easily fit into previous dualities of care such as drugs vs. therapy.
Does the psychedelic substance significantly alter the physical brain’s altering viewpoint and behavior if psychedelic treatment aids in smoking cessation? Or perhaps there is something about the psychedelic experience that alters attitudes and behavior? The answer is still a mystery.
When available, psychedelic therapy should be provided by and under the supervision of qualified medical personnel skilled in various modalities. Consultations with medical professionals and psychiatric nurse practitioners are the first step in psychedelic therapy. Your medical and mental health history, current medications and treatments, as well as your session objectives and goals, will all be covered.
The therapist should start preparing you for the experience before the session by outlining what you may feel or want to focus on intellectually or emotionally while experiencing the effects of the substance.
Future Prospects for Psychedelic Therapy
Experts believe that psychedelic therapy is on the uptick thanks to more FDA grants and increased research. The stigma that surrounds psychedelic substances and mental health must also be dispelled in order for psychedelic therapy to be effective. This will require time and education. For the treatment to be more widely available, it will also need the support of medical experts, insurance providers, and state and federal regulatory agencies.
While there are still many obstacles in the way of therapy using psychedelics, the vast array of recent findings and advancements provide both trauma-informed treatment and people struggling with serious mental health issues hoping for a more completely embodied life.
Although psychedelic therapy faces many obstacles, the wealth of recent findings and developments gives both trauma-informed medics and people facing challenging mental health issues hope for a more fully embodied life. Psychedelic therapy has the ability to improve both our mental health and general well-being when used properly and under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
Janvi Kapur is a counselor with a Master's degree in applied psychology with a specialization in clinical psychology.
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