A few days after reading this post, I started researching self hypnosis as possibly a main way to start reordering the damage done by problematic thought processes developed in youth, which stem into the rest of life, and if not challenged, lay rooted.
I have a 20 year history of bipolar-manic depression and have had about 6 hospital admissions during this time. I first tried LSD at 18 and Pot earlier, later on I mistakenly mixed ecstasy when prozac, which was the start of hospital treatment.
I'm only on lactimal now 150mg, but this has only been since 2009, before this I was always on and off ssri's snri's and trycilics, as well as low dose stabilisers. I feel confident that now, if I can stay off AD's, I'm going to be ok, and that I can understand, and develop a genuine comprehension of how stuff work's, which bring's me back to the hypnosis.
I've been getting into meditation properly for about 2 years, but have not yet "applied" thought processes beyond breathing and tuning in to the required state to stabilise the mind, and now I'm understanding the opportunity to actually do something that really works, but adjusting the knackered activity towards using pathways that, as I understand it, do not activate the desire to peg it when a hard time arises. One thing which stood out on the first few pages of this basic hypnosis book, was that the process of preparing to enter the neurological state which allows new information to be place effectively, when the brain is in the theta pattern, that the amygdala is one of the areas which is turned down in activity, which reads to me that it is bypassable, to some extent.
So if this part of the brain can be turned down, which, would be tricky to do in rats, I guess new patterns which evolve from using this method, if applied correctly would alter the core element of the basis of fear, which exists as memory in other areas of the brain, which the amygdala is possibly obstructing when in a state which is damaged.
This part of the brain, at the moment, to me, seems to represent a place where chaos gets its way, so if damaged, it should be left to rest for a while until off the ssri's if possible.
Also,
part of my regime, to stay well includes using reishi powder, chaga, matcha and gynostemma, which are all regulating adaptogens.
I also believe using psilocybin every so often in a controlled and therapeutic way can return the mind to state which is not so involved will repeating conscious activity, towards it's natural state., though real understanding of what your up to and prepared enough for is necessary, which is what I'm trying to do. I wouldn't take LSD again at the moment, because I'm aware that work needs to be done, and self-hypnosis is a way to get started.
