I intend to do some work with an experienced guide. I'm new to this site and am psychedelic naive. I'll share that I struggle with depression and currently take Cymbalta. Through the years I've taken several different kinds of antidepressants. In the past I've weened myself off Effexor to experience some intensive experiential therapy for a few days. I wanted to be emotionally available for this experience and on the medication I felt NUMB and emotionless. I noticed afterwards my lows were not as deep as they were in years past when I tried "living" off medication. So I concluded the experiential therapy released and purged some ANGER I had suppressed for many years. Unfortunately, over time, say, 4-6 months the darkness returned to my inner world.
What I'm hoping to discover here is if there are others who suffer like I that might share some of their experiences and how they prepared themselves before and after a psychedelic session with a guide. I've read that some SSRIs reduce the affects of MDMA for example. I would like to know how you weened yourself off a particular medication to avail yourself for a pure experience. I wonder how much time is required for an SSRI to be out of ones system before a session. I recognize your experience is uniquely yours and I should not duplicate what you did but I'm seeking some guidance here.
Did you prepare yourself physically with exercise in order to have stamina for the session? I see this as a psycho-dynamic therapeutic experience that would be a catalyst for deeper personal inner recovery work. Therefore, I'd like to make the most of this experience. I recognize this experience is not a cure-all or that one session is the only session needed, but I've read how these substances occasion some profound personality trait changes. So, I'm willing to take the risk if I could experience a positive personality change and/or experience my dark side without fear.
From another source I've read the following,
"Preventive Measures
A fundamental precaution is to stay well hydrated. Drink water frequently during the MDMA session, and moreso if you're physically active. Under the influence, time can pass surprisingly quickly. It is useful if trip guides or trip buddies remind each other to drink water often.
For those who are concerned about the possibility of serotonin level or serotonin system changes in humans with therapeutic doses of MDMA, some researchers reckon changes can be lessened or prevented by taking antioxidants. In an article titled "Phenethylamines, Free Radicals, and Antioxidants" (MAPS Newsletter, Volume IV Number 1), author Brian Leibovitz suggests in Table 1 taking as a preventive measure the following: 5 mg B-Carotene; 2 grams Bioflavonoids; 100 mg Coenzyme Q10; 2-4 grams L-Ascorbic acid; 1 gram L-Carnitine; 2 grams N-Acetylcysteine (NAC); 250 ug Selenium, and 1,000 IU Vitamin E. "There is nothing magic about the doses listed; it is my best estimate based on present knowledge in nutrition." If you don't feel like buying out the local vitamin store, taking a subset of these (even just the ascorbic acid - vitamin C) could well be helpful.
And, if you're really concerned, recent non-human animal research suggests that most or all of the serotonin system reduction may be prevented by taking Prozac (fluoxetine) 0-6 hours after taking the MDMA (see McCann and Ricuarte in J. Clinical Psychopharmacology, 13 (3)p. 214-217, 1993). One might speculate that other SSRI drugs (Zoloft, Paxil) may work too. Note, however, that some people report that Prozac taken before or in the early part of an MDMA session lessens some of the desirable effects of the MDMA"
Did you use this suggestion above and was it helpful?
I like to quote a section from an article I found from a practitioner. "Despite prohibition, people have often asked me to attend their own psychedelic experiments, to keep them safe, to guide them towards liberation, the end of automatic habit patterns, kneejerk reactions, towards heartfelt responses, love, acceptance and forgiveness. After one session with MDMA, people were able to sustain insights gained, without further assistance from the drug. Psychotherapy proceeded faster and deeper than before: the debilitating effects of shame have been annulled, heavily defended hearts opened, and stayed open, and people acquired the ability to enjoy the sacrament of every living moment without distraction by past regrets or future worries. No small gains!"
Also from another net source. "Since MDMA can catalyze a broad range of psychotherapeutic effects (surfacing of repressed memories, dealing with emotional issues, etc.), MDMAers sometimes will trip by themselves or with a trusted guide, and spend the experience thinking about their lives. It has been said that "one hit of X [MDMA] is worth 3 months of conventional psychotherapy". Whether that is an exaggeration or not, MDMA has been praised by many psychotherapists as a notably effective means of dealing with personal issues. People who have had an MDMA experience of this kind often will want to talk to some people they are close to in order to discuss what MDMA has made them more aware of.
I recognize some of you might read that and think, "So what." but for me I'd really, truly like to know what it is like to experience and feel just some of these traits authentically and genuinely. Perhaps even learn what it feels like and hopefully continue with those feelings beyond the session. I'm 52 and psychedelic naive but I simply would like a chance at a better life. So your commentary would be appreciated.
What I'm hoping to discover here is if there are others who suffer like I that might share some of their experiences and how they prepared themselves before and after a psychedelic session with a guide. I've read that some SSRIs reduce the affects of MDMA for example. I would like to know how you weened yourself off a particular medication to avail yourself for a pure experience. I wonder how much time is required for an SSRI to be out of ones system before a session. I recognize your experience is uniquely yours and I should not duplicate what you did but I'm seeking some guidance here.
Did you prepare yourself physically with exercise in order to have stamina for the session? I see this as a psycho-dynamic therapeutic experience that would be a catalyst for deeper personal inner recovery work. Therefore, I'd like to make the most of this experience. I recognize this experience is not a cure-all or that one session is the only session needed, but I've read how these substances occasion some profound personality trait changes. So, I'm willing to take the risk if I could experience a positive personality change and/or experience my dark side without fear.
From another source I've read the following,
"Preventive Measures
A fundamental precaution is to stay well hydrated. Drink water frequently during the MDMA session, and moreso if you're physically active. Under the influence, time can pass surprisingly quickly. It is useful if trip guides or trip buddies remind each other to drink water often.
For those who are concerned about the possibility of serotonin level or serotonin system changes in humans with therapeutic doses of MDMA, some researchers reckon changes can be lessened or prevented by taking antioxidants. In an article titled "Phenethylamines, Free Radicals, and Antioxidants" (MAPS Newsletter, Volume IV Number 1), author Brian Leibovitz suggests in Table 1 taking as a preventive measure the following: 5 mg B-Carotene; 2 grams Bioflavonoids; 100 mg Coenzyme Q10; 2-4 grams L-Ascorbic acid; 1 gram L-Carnitine; 2 grams N-Acetylcysteine (NAC); 250 ug Selenium, and 1,000 IU Vitamin E. "There is nothing magic about the doses listed; it is my best estimate based on present knowledge in nutrition." If you don't feel like buying out the local vitamin store, taking a subset of these (even just the ascorbic acid - vitamin C) could well be helpful.
And, if you're really concerned, recent non-human animal research suggests that most or all of the serotonin system reduction may be prevented by taking Prozac (fluoxetine) 0-6 hours after taking the MDMA (see McCann and Ricuarte in J. Clinical Psychopharmacology, 13 (3)p. 214-217, 1993). One might speculate that other SSRI drugs (Zoloft, Paxil) may work too. Note, however, that some people report that Prozac taken before or in the early part of an MDMA session lessens some of the desirable effects of the MDMA"
Did you use this suggestion above and was it helpful?
I like to quote a section from an article I found from a practitioner. "Despite prohibition, people have often asked me to attend their own psychedelic experiments, to keep them safe, to guide them towards liberation, the end of automatic habit patterns, kneejerk reactions, towards heartfelt responses, love, acceptance and forgiveness. After one session with MDMA, people were able to sustain insights gained, without further assistance from the drug. Psychotherapy proceeded faster and deeper than before: the debilitating effects of shame have been annulled, heavily defended hearts opened, and stayed open, and people acquired the ability to enjoy the sacrament of every living moment without distraction by past regrets or future worries. No small gains!"
Also from another net source. "Since MDMA can catalyze a broad range of psychotherapeutic effects (surfacing of repressed memories, dealing with emotional issues, etc.), MDMAers sometimes will trip by themselves or with a trusted guide, and spend the experience thinking about their lives. It has been said that "one hit of X [MDMA] is worth 3 months of conventional psychotherapy". Whether that is an exaggeration or not, MDMA has been praised by many psychotherapists as a notably effective means of dealing with personal issues. People who have had an MDMA experience of this kind often will want to talk to some people they are close to in order to discuss what MDMA has made them more aware of.
I recognize some of you might read that and think, "So what." but for me I'd really, truly like to know what it is like to experience and feel just some of these traits authentically and genuinely. Perhaps even learn what it feels like and hopefully continue with those feelings beyond the session. I'm 52 and psychedelic naive but I simply would like a chance at a better life. So your commentary would be appreciated.
