I'm deeply appreciative of your knowledge, experience and insight in this area.
I've recently been made aware that a licensed psychedelic assisted therapy center has opened in my town and I am somewhat eager, but
still trepidatious and wary, to try this therapy. As someone who is neurodivergent and suffering from trauma/mental illness/etc., I'm wondering if the effects/experience/outcome/ would be the same or similar or if it would become dangerous? I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!
It totally depends on your specifics. Neurodivergence is by no means a disqualifier, nor is trauma - sometimes, those make for great candidates. Certain mental illness like schizophrenia and psychosis would be a hard no.
But it's impossible for me to say here, I'd def recommend getting in touch with a reputable care provider. And if you want to share more, feel free to email me. And thanks so much, Tara!
I appreciate the simple grace in this piece, how you clarify the meeting point for what psychedelics can offer to folks who are willing and ready and able to do their own work to really benefit from them.
Your lens on psychedelics' role in addiction and recovery broadened and illuminated that world for me. I'm glad that there's more community support, understanding, and flexibility on that path than in the past.
Sean, damn man, I'm really happy to hear this. Especially appreciate the simple grace and that you grokked that the real benefit comes from those who can do some work in conjunction with these sacraments
Great article that touches on the difficulties we have in understanding the effects of psychedelics when employing the paradigms that shape modern science (evidence-based medicine and the obsession with quantifying the One True Effect of any substance). By definition, the healing process is experiential and subjective, and therefore will (at best) show some correlation with the measurable changes, but never be understood through such metrics.... Observing the disconnected and impersonal way that modern medicine goes about treating mental afflictions (eg. addiction) can be disheartening, but there is also room for optimism: will the falling dominoes of psychedelic-assisted therapy be the catalyst not just for individual recovery, but also for the toppling of woefully inappropriate approaches to mental health?
Really well said, Marek. And I think that's the hope, that these more integral approaches can build upon what works and is beautiful in existing treatment options/modalities, but then also allow for their expansion that can meet more people where they are at. I can tell you already get that tho :)
May 10, 2023·edited May 10, 2023Liked by Alex Olshonsky
I really enjoyed this article last week thanks Alex. Today, I came across a quote that reminded me of it.
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” ― Patanjali
Back into the game in an entirely new way, and very grateful too 🌿🙏🏼
Love how you describe the healing current as yearning to flow through us. I find it easy to get caught up in healing with trying to “do” something rather than let be, or let arise. Grounding and illuminating to hear that it already wants to happen. Thank you.
It is funny how even as a teenager when I would use psychedelics they would clearly tell me to seek sobriety, but I would dismiss their nudges. Now, at 30, I am realizing that the path to growth is directly through discomfort, and we can all agree sobriety is quite uncomfortable at times. Psychedelics may seem like a shortcut to outsiders, but when you experience them you can understand that they only briefly illuminate the dark room and that without integration the light of the candle will always burn out over time.
I'm deeply appreciative of your knowledge, experience and insight in this area.
I've recently been made aware that a licensed psychedelic assisted therapy center has opened in my town and I am somewhat eager, but
still trepidatious and wary, to try this therapy. As someone who is neurodivergent and suffering from trauma/mental illness/etc., I'm wondering if the effects/experience/outcome/ would be the same or similar or if it would become dangerous? I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!
It totally depends on your specifics. Neurodivergence is by no means a disqualifier, nor is trauma - sometimes, those make for great candidates. Certain mental illness like schizophrenia and psychosis would be a hard no.
But it's impossible for me to say here, I'd def recommend getting in touch with a reputable care provider. And if you want to share more, feel free to email me. And thanks so much, Tara!
This was a truly wonderful post, I shared it with many. Love from Glasgow, Scotland, via Tel Aviv.
thank you so much, Daniel, dope to receive this and appreciate you sharing it. sending love to your family in the homeland right now
It’s certainly true that belief in recovery is the foundation of success for any number of mental health challenges. Fascinating essay. Thank you.
Thanks, Graham
I appreciate the simple grace in this piece, how you clarify the meeting point for what psychedelics can offer to folks who are willing and ready and able to do their own work to really benefit from them.
Your lens on psychedelics' role in addiction and recovery broadened and illuminated that world for me. I'm glad that there's more community support, understanding, and flexibility on that path than in the past.
Sean, damn man, I'm really happy to hear this. Especially appreciate the simple grace and that you grokked that the real benefit comes from those who can do some work in conjunction with these sacraments
Great article that touches on the difficulties we have in understanding the effects of psychedelics when employing the paradigms that shape modern science (evidence-based medicine and the obsession with quantifying the One True Effect of any substance). By definition, the healing process is experiential and subjective, and therefore will (at best) show some correlation with the measurable changes, but never be understood through such metrics.... Observing the disconnected and impersonal way that modern medicine goes about treating mental afflictions (eg. addiction) can be disheartening, but there is also room for optimism: will the falling dominoes of psychedelic-assisted therapy be the catalyst not just for individual recovery, but also for the toppling of woefully inappropriate approaches to mental health?
Really well said, Marek. And I think that's the hope, that these more integral approaches can build upon what works and is beautiful in existing treatment options/modalities, but then also allow for their expansion that can meet more people where they are at. I can tell you already get that tho :)
I really enjoyed this article last week thanks Alex. Today, I came across a quote that reminded me of it.
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds: Your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be.” ― Patanjali
Back into the game in an entirely new way, and very grateful too 🌿🙏🏼
Absolutely love this quote, Patanjali! Thank you so much, Haydn
Love how you describe the healing current as yearning to flow through us. I find it easy to get caught up in healing with trying to “do” something rather than let be, or let arise. Grounding and illuminating to hear that it already wants to happen. Thank you.
It's like sleep - it happens on its own when the conditions are right. And thank you, Robert
It is funny how even as a teenager when I would use psychedelics they would clearly tell me to seek sobriety, but I would dismiss their nudges. Now, at 30, I am realizing that the path to growth is directly through discomfort, and we can all agree sobriety is quite uncomfortable at times. Psychedelics may seem like a shortcut to outsiders, but when you experience them you can understand that they only briefly illuminate the dark room and that without integration the light of the candle will always burn out over time.