Psychedelic Therapy

Psychedelic therapy is a new type of mental health treatment that uses clinically approved substances alongside guided psychotherapy to treat conditions like depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

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.

What is Psychedelic Therapy?

LSD and psilocybin from "magic" mushrooms are two examples of psychedelic plant substances that can cause hallucinations and are used in psychedelic therapy to address mental health disorders.

This medication is occasionally prescribed by doctors alone. However, they frequently mix it with additional therapies, including counselling or other types of support. Psychedelic therapy aims to improve the effectiveness of conventional therapies.

Doctors frequently use this type of therapy on patients whose symptoms haven't improved after being treated with conventional drugs or therapies.

How does it all work?

Traditional treatments for mental health disorders sometimes take many weeks to take effect or may only be effective while the patient is taking them. Contrarily, the majority of research on psychedelic therapy has discovered an instant benefit, frequently with a single dose. However, 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. 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 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.