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Psychedelic Therapy: Difference between revisions
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'''Psychedelic therapy is a new mental health treatment that uses clinically approved substances along side [[Guided Psychedelic Therapy|guided psychotherapy]] to treat conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).''' | '''Psychedelic therapy is a new type of mental health treatment that uses clinically approved substances along side [[Guided Psychedelic Therapy|guided psychotherapy]] to treat conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).''' | ||
Psilocybin mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline (peyote cactus) are a few of the substances that medical professionals most regularly employ in this type of therapy. Although a relatively new science, the study of psychedelics has progressed rapidly, recent findings indicate that these drugs may provide some patients with relief from certain symptoms, particularly when other forms of therapy have failed. | Psilocybin containing mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline (peyote cactus) are a few of the substances that medical professionals most regularly employ in this type of therapy. Although a relatively new science, the study of psychedelics has progressed rapidly, recent findings indicate that these drugs may provide some patients with relief from certain symptoms, particularly when other forms of therapy have failed. | ||
Researchers don't fully understand how or why psychedelics function in this way. They could "''reset''" the brain by changing neurotransmitter levels or give someone a mystical experience to give them a fresh outlook on life and show someone a different way to think. According to some studies, psychedelics do this by boosting suggestibility, which makes a person more receptive to the concepts conveyed in therapy. | Researchers don't fully understand how or why psychedelics function in this way. They could "''reset''" the brain by changing neurotransmitter levels or give someone a mystical experience to give them a fresh outlook on life and show someone a different way to think. According to some studies, psychedelics do this by boosting suggestibility, which makes a person more receptive to the concepts conveyed in therapy. | ||
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Psychedelics don't work for everyone, and researchers are unsure exactly how they function. They could function in a variety of ways, including: | Psychedelics don't work for everyone, and researchers are unsure exactly how they function. They could function in a variety of ways, including: | ||
Mystical or psychedelic experiences | * '''Mystical or psychedelic experiences.''' When using psychedelics, intensely significant experiences can change a person's perspective or set of beliefs, influencing how they act or think. | ||
* '''Increasing [[neuroplasticity]] to rewrite cyclical thought patterns.''' They may be more receptive to therapeutic advice or the advantages of their own hallucinations as a result. | |||
* '''Changes in [[Neurochemistry|neurotransmitters]]'''. In the brain, neurotransmitters act as chemical messengers. Many medications for mental health impact mood by directly affecting neurotransmitters. Some psychedelic substances may also alter neurotransmitter levels in the brain, altering behaviour and elevating mood. | |||
Changes in neurotransmitters | |||