Therapy, coupled with medication, are the two most powerful tools used today to treat mental health conditions such as depression, PTSD, addiction, and anxiety. While these conventional treatment methods work for most people, research has revealed that there’s a group of patients that doesn’t respond to them. To help this group, researchers have discovered a new pathway—psychedelics, which shows promising and transformative results in mental health care.
And when talking about psychedelics, we refer to psychedelic-assisted therapy. This form of therapy is offered under the close guidance and supervision of trained medical personnel, who administer a controlled amount of psychedelic compounds like psychedelic mad honey, depending on your current condition.
Walking into your first psychedelic-assisted therapy when prepared can do wonders when relieving your fear or anxiety. However, the most important part of any psychedelic journey is harm reduction—making it as safe as possible for any patient who chooses psychedelic-assisted therapy. With that said, let’s look at the key considerations and expert tips on how to safely approach psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Certain medications and health conditions have a higher risk of contraindication when combined with psychedelic compounds. However, this doesn’t disqualify anyone who falls under this category from trying out psychedelics—it’s only that they present very high-risk factors.
So, psychedelic-assisted therapy might be your best option if:
Also, it’s important to note that prescribed medication, cannabis, alcohol, and other drugs can interact with psychedelics, thus affecting your experience. Therefore, if you are under any form of medication, it’s important to check and make sure that you don’t have any adverse effects with the psychedelic compound you want to take.
Moreover, researchers have found that although psychedelics are commonly used to address treatment-resistant suicidal ideation and depression, they can lead to or worsen mood liability or suicidal ideation. This is the major reason why medical experts believe that close supervision by trained and experienced medical personnel is important during psychedelic-assisted therapy. Therefore, if you are considering trying psychedelic-assisted therapy, ensure that you consult with your doctor or therapist to discuss any underlying risk factors and personal safety precautions.
While psychedelic compounds have the potential to be both fun and transformative, they are very powerful. That means they require a lot of care and thoughtfulness when interacting with them—whether for therapy or recreating.
Experts in psychedelic-assisted therapy say that the secret to harm reduction during therapy involves optimizing and understanding your:
Most therapists who focus on psychedelics recommend a start-low, go-slow approach with psychedelic-assisted therapy. Also, note that all psychedelic experiences are unique—and are not shared. Thus, psychedelic experiences differ for each person, and the psychedelic set and setting matter for every session.
When seeking ibogaine treatment for addiction, it’s recommended that you work with a trained professional who can take you safely through the therapy. Make sure you ask your therapist about potential plans in case of a medical or mental health emergency—particularly after hours.
It’s natural for one to feel nervous about a new and unfamiliar experience—like trying psychedelic-assisted therapy for the first time. However, good preparation can lower the chances of a nasty experience and make your experience impactful and more meaningful.
There are many books, podcasts, publications, and articles about psychedelics. Taking the time to go through these materials and educate yourself about psychedelics can give you the confidence you need before starting psychedelic-assisted therapy. Also, you can talk to people who have tried psychedelic-assisted therapy before to learn about their experiences.
Lastly, research can help you better understand psychedelic-assisted therapy, its potential benefits and risks, and how to balance those benefits and risks to better your health, vitality, and quality of life.
Discomfort is very common in psychedelic-assisted therapy since patients cannot control what comes up—which often results in facing their fears and confronting their unpleasant aspects. But you need to note that discomfort is part of your healing experience.
Psychedelic-assisted therapy can be a great way to learn how to let go of control. During your sessions, there are moments when you will feel overwhelmed. Those moments will present you with two choices—hold on to whatever is bothering you or let go of it. At the end of the day, you need to allow the experience to take place and focus on eliminating any friction or resistance that might prevent you from having a complete experience.
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