LSD to cure depression?

[jabbajosh]

True, and he says he couldn't handle a bad trip when he had one. Obviously if you can't handle your high then it's best not to take the drug.

I said I've had bad trips. In fact all of them; I have manage to turn around and scrape together some enjoyment out of.

 

[Ismene]

There's only you know how you handle bad trips jabba. I don't have bad trips because I know myself. But if a bad trip is something that plays on your mind then you're obviously better off leaving it till you're feeling better.

 

[jabbajosh]

Also Allium, are benzos certain to abolish a bad trip?

 

[allium]

If you take enough amount of them. For dosages suggestion, and trip abortion in general visit The Big & Dandy Trip Abortion Thread.

Also, I think even doses within "normal" range should reduce anxiety a lot and cosiderably blunt tripping.

Though this is a giant risk to take. And I'm not sure I have the balls or the will-power.

If you decide to use psychedelics, I strongly advise you to have benzos or antipsychotics(though they are less preferable for trip abortion).

I'm definitely going to speak to a doctor and see what can be done.

It is really good idea. Like Dondante said, the final decision(whether to take anxyolitics or not) is up to you. You may take them for a while, until you feel more stable, and then use psychedelics for digging into your mind to find out the causes of the anxiety.

 

[rave_itsrealfun!!!]

LSD is really helping me come to terms with myself. I have been dropping lately and I have no desire for any other drugs anymore, even weed which I have been smoking like a fiend for ages. I have gone through extremely depressive states, been very anti social and paranoid at times. Never saw a doctor because I knew it was mostly just marijuana turning me into a dumbass, but I could not for the life of me quit. But lately, since I dropped (2 hits and then later 5) there has been SUCH a positive change! Life is just lovely, I love myself, so so much, and I have been smiling at everyone. I feel like my brain has been reset and I've been given a second chance! I create my own reality and I can do anything I want with it! And really this shows no sign of letting up! I react quite well to shrooms but they always left me scattered - LSD honestly seems like a tonic for me. I really wasn't expecting this - what a treat!

For me, the euphoria and just plain positivity of the LSD experience was so much, and the way it changed me, I saw my problems from such a compassionate perspective - no regret - it made no difference at all that I have been in and out of depressive states lately. But who knows what effects it will have on you, everyone is different. But this has been my experience with it.

 

[QuasiModo]

If anything all psychedelics, and Lucy in particular, taught me was that I am responsible for my state of mind no matter what I am on or what situation I am in. Meditating on this notion I have devised a very positive world view where as before I was very cynical and depressive at times. You must discipline your mindstate to be acceptable to your goals.

 

[Dondante]

...are benzos certain to abolish a bad trip?

Neither benzodiazepines nor antipsychotics are perfect trip aborters. A bad trip may not be completely relieved with benzos, and antipsychotics could leave you hung over for a day or more, not to mention both routes would likely be associated with more psychological trauma than not taking psychedelics in the first place.

I did mention earlier that I am managing to battle it to some extent, when I was not able to do this when it began. It's less like my view of reality is warped. More that there is a war between rational and irrational thinking going on in my head. It seems to sway from one extreme to the other.

This is why I was considering embarking on the psychedelic experience, as it would seem that intensifying this war between rationality and irrationality and rationality prevailing in the trip could win it entirely. Though this is a giant risk to take. And I'm not sure I have the balls or the will-power.

I'm definitely going to speak to a doctor and see what can be done.

There may be a place for psychedelics in mental health treatment, but it's not in the case of paranoia, severe anxiety, or psychotic symptoms (not saying that you have any).

The most important thing for you will be to find a mental health professional that you can trust. You'll need to be completely open with him/her and recognize that his or her recommendations are in your best interest, which may be difficult if your thoughts are characteristically biased toward paranoia. If it's a psychiatrist, you'll be asked to describe your symptoms in more detail and he or she will make treatment recommendations. There are often multiple treatment options (e.g. psychotherapy, SSRI, benzodiazepine, antipsychotic, etc.), and the psychiatrist should discuss these with you, answer any questions, and find out what you are open to. A psychiatrist cannot make you do anything (or take anything) that you are not comfortable with unless you pose an imminent threat to yourself or others (i.e. you're actively suicidal or homicidal).

I highly recommend at least giving psychotherapy a try for a few months (assuming you can find a good therapist) and see if it helps. As far as medication management, that's up to you and your doctor. I'd recommend keeping benzos to a minimum as they are physiologically addictive. SSRIs are probably the most benign group of psychiatric medications, though they also create physiological dependence, so stopping cold turkey is a bad idea. Antipsychotics typically carry a number of side effects, so they are reserved for patients dealing with psychosis*. You mention rationality vs. irrationality, but I'm not sure of exactly what you mean by this. If the difficulties are associated solely with your paranoid/anxious thoughts and you are able typically able to ascertain reasonably accurate explanations for external events when necessary that would be different than if you suffered from persistent delusions, in which one holds incorrigible beliefs that are held despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary (e.g. the US government is tracking me and wants me dead).

*Note: The word "antipsychotic" is a misnomer. There is no evidence that antipsychotics actually oppose some underlying pathology that results in psychosis. In fact, there is no common pathway to psychosis; it's much more complex than simply an excess of dopamine or dysfunction of the glutamate neurotransmitter system. Antipsychotics seem to work primarily by blunting the emotional response and distancing the patient from bothersome intrusive thoughts. This, unfortunately, is often accompanied by mild parkinsons-like symptoms (stiffness, tremor, decreased facial expression), akathisia (inner restlessness), and a small, but not insignificant risk of tardive dyskinesia (persistent movement disorder).

 

[jabbajosh]

Thanks for the detailed reply. If my delusions were persistent, i would not be considering LSD. Your description of anti psychotics puts me off even trying that route. I honestly can't see how medication can solve my problem at the moment. I doubt ssris or similar prescriptions will achieve much other than keeping the problem at bay until I stopped using them.

 

[allium]

I honestly can't see how medication can solve my problem at the moment.

Man, I assure you that medication can help you a lot. It works for many people, why do you think it wouldn't work for you?

I doubt ssris or similar prescriptions will achieve much other than keeping the problem at bay until I stopped using them.

Partially true. There is a chance that anxiety will return after stopping taking anxiolytics, but it will likely be nowhere near as severe, as it is now. Besides that, you will have plenty of time to think about things that makes you anxious. It is a good chance to reconsider various things.
And finally, you don't lose anything by trying medication, so it is worth trying.

 

[jabbajosh]

Thanks for all the advice,

 

[allium]

^ My best wishes to you!
Hopefully, you'll successfully overcome your anxiety this way or another!