Mental Health MDMA and PTSD

[Beefy]

Hi, I've always heard about underground psychotherapists who practice Ecstasy assisted psychotherapy for people with PTSD or anxiety, And i'm wondering if there's anyone here who has been through that or something close? and if so, has it worked? And if you didn't go as far as having a session with a liscensed therapist, has anyone used MDMA to help in getting over difficult experiences or just used it to try and help your depression get better because no SSRI has worked or stopped working?
Thank you very much in advance and i hope this is the right section for this kind of discussion.

 

[herbavore]

MAPS is doing a study right now using MDMA for PTSD in combat veterans. As far as I know they were not able to do it here and are conducting the study outside the U.S.

I think as time goes on and the use of psychedelics in therapy as well as hospice continues to be studied we should see more acceptance. Right now no one in this country could admit to doing it as not only would they lose their license but they would face criminal charges. I watched a documentary on using LSD for terminal cancer patients in hospice and it was pretty successful in alleviating the fears surrounding dying.

 

[ocean]

^I believe the studies are taking place in the US. (South Carolina)
There are proposed studies internationally and in Colorado, as well as other groups are currently doing studies internationally.
See: HERE.

 

[mrflowers00]

MDMA could definitely help you to get over traumatic experiences but LSD could backfire quite badly not to say that it wouldn't help but it may do just the opposite

 

[ocean]

^I agree.
Everyone reacts differently to , well pretty much everything (Drugs, herbs, food, drinks etc.)
That is why, my belief is, when using these drugs for purposes like overcoming psychological issues it should be done in a careful therapeutic situation- like these sorts of studies.
It's monitored, it's pure, you're in a safe environment...
If you read on MAPS' studies and how they're managed- it is truly something!

 

[jpgrdnr]

I imagine it would also be painful as hell. Let's go thru a hypothetical:

You're a combat veteran paramedic who has been to country X and seen the worst over several years. People in severe trauma that you've mentally put off for years just to keep going. You've come home and basically go thru PTSD hell. You should technically be in a group home / care center due to depression, anxiety and recurring flash backs of the traumatic events in question. Your day to day basically involves self care and thats it.

So for treatment a clinical psychologist is going to take you back to those traumatic events while under the influence of MDMA in order to connect in your brain serotonin (high amounts of serotonin) to the events in question. Basically to unrepress your bad memories. I've always wondered if you would start to associate those events with feeling good. And the possible depression after? Would it even work?

 

[Beefy]

MDMA could definitely help you to get over traumatic experiences but LSD could backfire quite badly not to say that it wouldn't help but it may do just the opposite

I also agree. I Can't really imagine using LSD when treating people who are having frightful thought patterns. I really can't see any good coming out of that. But some people have that theory of "confronting your fears" is the only way to get over them. I think that might work, but not on LSD. But with MDMA, you feel much safer when talking about things that have hurt you in the past.
I wish i could find a doctor who would be willing to do that, Or if i should just set up an appointment, take some mdma and not tell him till the end.

 

[MissKiddo]

I have PTSD and my psychiatrist has mentioned MDMA to me before. However due to laws she regrets she is unable combine it with therapy, but has suggested I do my 'own research' on it.

When I was 17 I was admitted to a mental institution where I was diagnosed. I was told that LSD had made my PTSD 'worse'.. However I still take psychedelics regularly. I think they can be very beneficial and very harmful when it comes to PTSD depending on where you're at in your recovery, your personality type, etc.

 

[Vaya]

I recently met a man who served seven consecutive years in Afghanistan as a Navy SEAL Squad Leader. A more important figure than I can mention, but needless to say, his stories were mind-blowing.

One of them was about his experience with MDMA therapy for PTSD after being hit by an IED and seeing 29 of 30 of his men slaughtered in four minutes (he was the thirtieth).

He described the experience as "...vividly re-living the past such that, just as I choose to re-visit that horrible scene, so too can I choose not to let it interfere with my life now. It was humbling - for all the combat that I've seen, for all the foreign fighters I've killed, for all of the life-altering injuries I incurred... The MDMA psychotherapy the government provided for me brought a certain type of closure to all of that. Not that it never took place, and not that I'm not 'allowed' to remember it. It signified that it happened, and while under the influence of MDMA, my therapist and I discussed a large number of new directions to take both my thinking and my life in the aftermath. I found the whole endeavor very positive, though I do not take MDMA recreationally and have never been inclined to take it at all before this."

I just wanted to share that with you.

 

[ocean]

I imagine it would also be painful as hell. Let's go thru a hypothetical:

You're a combat veteran paramedic who has been to country X and seen the worst over several years. People in severe trauma that you've mentally put off for years just to keep going. You've come home and basically go thru PTSD hell. You should technically be in a group home / care center due to depression, anxiety and recurring flash backs of the traumatic events in question. Your day to day basically involves self care and thats it.

So for treatment a clinical psychologist is going to take you back to those traumatic events while under the influence of MDMA in order to connect in your brain serotonin (high amounts of serotonin) to the events in question. Basically to unrepress your bad memories. I've always wondered if you would start to associate those events with feeling good. And the possible depression after? Would it even work?

I would suggest you google the studies that have taken place to see what the people who have undergone this treatment have said.
(There are studies published all over- particularly MAPS.org- as well as videos on youtube on it.)
The results are staggering. (Something like 83%+ after treatment do not have the symptoms of PTSD)
I think it's more acceptance rather than connecting the negative experiences with good feelings- more that they are able to confront the traumas in a different mindset than they would typically...learning to see the events, understand and accept the feelings that come with PTSD and the experiences that occurred. It's not an easy process, I'd imagine, by any means, b/c facing those negative thoughts and feelings are not pleasant but in that state of mind, they may not find it as difficult.... (?)

Vaya, that's a beautiful story. I feel for him. I imagine that guilt of living, the images related to it and the shock would be really hard to overcome.
Do you know if he still has symptoms of PTSD?

 

[feralkitten]

The MAPS stuff is really interesting to me. I suffer from ptsd and have heard really intriguing stuff about ayahuasca in treating it. It's something I would consider (under therapeutic guidance I mean, not just doing it on my own). I work with veteran's with ptsd as a hypnotherapist and a few of them have mentioned it as well, although I haven't met anyone who's experienced it first hand, just second hand accounts from my clients and what I've read from people online who have experienced this type of therapy.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Ayahuasca is often a very intense experience, it can be very challenging, but I truly believe it has the ability to help a significant number of people if done in the right context under the supervision of someone experienced. It was a substantial help to me. I also disagree with people saying that LSD would automatically be a bad idea to use therapeutically for things like PTSD. I know therapists who adminster LSD or Psilocybin mushrooms to patients struggling with mental health issues and I have found LSD helpful myself. I think ocean summed it up well:

Everyone reacts differently to , well pretty much everything. That is why, my belief is, when using these drugs for purposes like overcoming psychological issues it should be done in a careful therapeutic situation- like these sorts of studies. It's monitored, it's pure, you're in a safe environment...

 

[spork]

I went to a talk earlier this week concerning MDMA and PTSD and also (mainly) micro dosing of other psychedelics for a variety of different conditions. There are lots of really neat studies coming out that I find to be extremely fascinating!

 

[MrSpeedyG]

Has anyone had experience with using specifically MDMA for PTSD? I have a close friend that I am planning to use MDMA with in an attempt to try and help her... Any advice or advice where to look?

 

[Anthrogirl]

Does anyone know if MDMA has been used to help PTSD from rape? I've only read about it being studied in combat veterans who have PTSD from war. If it is effective for this type of PTSD then do you have to take it with a therapist to get the benefits? If you have used MDMA many times before can you just use it with a trusted friend and try to meditate about your past trauma or something? Or do you actually have to talk about what happened to you while you are rolling even if it really bothers you to do this? Sorry for all the questions and thank you to anyone who has any answers. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Beefy]

When I was going to a psychotherapy, I thought a lot of times about taking a dose of MDMA and then going to my therapy. But would I tell my therapist before or after the session? I'm afraid that if i told her before, She said she wouldn't want to be part of it, and end the session, (Most likely because it's against the law). But I would suggest someone try that, but don't tell your psychotherapist till the end.

 

[MrSpeedyG]

When I was going to a psychotherapy, I thought a lot of times about taking a dose of MDMA and then going to my therapy. But would I tell my therapist before or after the session? I'm afraid that if i told her before, She said she wouldn't want to be part of it, and end the session, (Most likely because it's against the law). But I would suggest someone try that, but don't tell your psychotherapist till the end.

I think it would be quite apparent you have taken something due to dilated pupils from the MDMA which a one on one psyciatrist to patient they will notice this pretty much instantly. Unless you psyc was pretty chilled and in the know and turned a blind eye to it if you had told them

 

[AlphaMethylPhenyl]

I'm convinced MDMA contributed to my mental illness more than it helped it. Nevertheless I doubt it was just MDMA in those pills.

 

[MrSpeedyG]

I'm convinced MDMA contributed to my mental illness more than it helped it. Nevertheless I doubt it was just MDMA in those pills.

Abuse yes? Using pharm grade MDMA in a once off suitable setting and controlled dose doesnt compare to rolling on who knows what in a hot environment... not taking it out on you dude, im simply stating apples and oranges here for people against this

 

[Pretty_Diamonds]

It's hard because it's hard to find a licensed psychologist who would do it...

From the therapy sessions I've seen (via media), it's usually a hut far in the woods and the patient is blindfolding during the entire experience while receiving therapy. This might sound unethical, but what if you popped a pill before seeing your therapist and just laid down with your eyes closed? If they find out, they are suppose to end the session immediately... but they may not... notice?