psychedelic support line

[DouglasW]

I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say about this, so want to be careful. But I've used mushrooms on occasion in past 4 years as treatment for PTSD and depression primarily. Long story short, and so it doesn't sound like I'm just "advocating" -- it has had tremendous benefits as well as tremendous downsides in my case, big risks.

Trips tend to have a few things in common: I always think, about an hour in, oh no, I should not have done this... Then I often think I'm going to die (a common effect for many people, but not something that is actually going to happen). Then the extensive content of my life story, traumas, demons, all start surfacing, but with painful clarity. It's like remembering something awful you said at a party but suddenly realizing *why* it was so awful and being mortified, except, times a million. You see yourself in new light, see world more clearly. Denial is washed away for better or for worse. Then I often have new insights, laughter, a range of emotions, often will cry.

Anyway this last time I was calling peer support and crisis lines and talking through a lot of what was coming up, and one crisis clinician informed me about a national psychedelic support line called Fireside Project. I called that line and was told you could spent 45 minutes talking to a coach, and they are all well versed in psychedelics. It was *not* some woo hippie line, but felt far more serious and well-researched, and they could help integrate trauma and explore other things. It was amazing and helpful, I was able to talk about my 2019 experience of Gaia channeling a message to me (I know, sounds like woo hippie nonsense) as well as psychotic experience I had in 2021, and she was very insightful and understanding.

Notably, I never ended up going into my actual trauma story, which feels like progress in my integration of that story. Like I was able to connect authentically and talk about emotions and PTSD and healing without ever getting into the specific narrative of things that happened in my life to traumatize me.

Anyway wanted to share this. Don't know if any of my SF friends or anyone will like or comment. Again, I'm not advocating psilocybin, which remains federally illegal in US and is extremely potent and potentially dangerous substance, but also has had a lot of research showing its high efficacy working with trauma and other conditions. If this post is inappropriate please delete it and let me know, I'm not meaning to cross any line with sharing.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say about this, so want to be careful. But I've used mushrooms on occasion in past 4 years as treatment for PTSD and depression primarily. Long story short, and so it doesn't sound like I'm just "advocating" -- it has had tremendous benefits as well as tremendous downsides in my case, big risks.

Trips tend to have a few things in common: I always think, about an hour in, oh no, I should not have done this... Then I often think I'm going to die (a common effect for many people, but not something that is actually going to happen). Then the extensive content of my life story, traumas, demons, all start surfacing, but with painful clarity. It's like remembering something awful you said at a party but suddenly realizing *why* it was so awful and being mortified, except, times a million. You see yourself in new light, see world more clearly. Denial is washed away for better or for worse. Then I often have new insights, laughter, a range of emotions, often will cry.

Anyway this last time I was calling peer support and crisis lines and talking through a lot of what was coming up, and one crisis clinician informed me about a national psychedelic support line called Fireside Project. I called that line and was told you could spent 45 minutes talking to a coach, and they are all well versed in psychedelics. It was *not* some woo hippie line, but felt far more serious and well-researched, and they could help integrate trauma and explore other things. It was amazing and helpful, I was able to talk about my 2019 experience of Gaia channeling a message to me (I know, sounds like woo hippie nonsense) as well as psychotic experience I had in 2021, and she was very insightful and understanding.

Notably, I never ended up going into my actual trauma story, which feels like progress in my integration of that story. Like I was able to connect authentically and talk about emotions and PTSD and healing without ever getting into the specific narrative of things that happened in my life to traumatize me.

Anyway wanted to share this. Don't know if any of my SF friends or anyone will like or comment. Again, I'm not advocating psilocybin, which remains federally illegal in US and is extremely potent and potentially dangerous substance, but also has had a lot of research showing its high efficacy working with trauma and other conditions. If this post is inappropriate please delete it and let me know, I'm not meaning to cross any line with sharing.

I'm glad you received some benefit from this. My psychiatrist told me not to take psilocybin except in a clinical setting where I have someone trained to "talk me down" etc. And the dosages would be standardized. I am hopeful this will be offered as a treatment for chronic depression in the coming years.

 

[Livelife]

I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say about this, so want to be careful. But I've used mushrooms on occasion in past 4 years as treatment for PTSD and depression primarily. Long story short, and so it doesn't sound like I'm just "advocating" -- it has had tremendous benefits as well as tremendous downsides in my case, big risks.

Trips tend to have a few things in common: I always think, about an hour in, oh no, I should not have done this... Then I often think I'm going to die (a common effect for many people, but not something that is actually going to happen). Then the extensive content of my life story, traumas, demons, all start surfacing, but with painful clarity. It's like remembering something awful you said at a party but suddenly realizing *why* it was so awful and being mortified, except, times a million. You see yourself in new light, see world more clearly. Denial is washed away for better or for worse. Then I often have new insights, laughter, a range of emotions, often will cry.

Anyway this last time I was calling peer support and crisis lines and talking through a lot of what was coming up, and one crisis clinician informed me about a national psychedelic support line called Fireside Project. I called that line and was told you could spent 45 minutes talking to a coach, and they are all well versed in psychedelics. It was *not* some woo hippie line, but felt far more serious and well-researched, and they could help integrate trauma and explore other things. It was amazing and helpful, I was able to talk about my 2019 experience of Gaia channeling a message to me (I know, sounds like woo hippie nonsense) as well as psychotic experience I had in 2021, and she was very insightful and understanding.

Notably, I never ended up going into my actual trauma story, which feels like progress in my integration of that story. Like I was able to connect authentically and talk about emotions and PTSD and healing without ever getting into the specific narrative of things that happened in my life to traumatize me.

Anyway wanted to share this. Don't know if any of my SF friends or anyone will like or comment. Again, I'm not advocating psilocybin, which remains federally illegal in US and is extremely potent and potentially dangerous substance, but also has had a lot of research showing its high efficacy working with trauma and other conditions. If this post is inappropriate please delete it and let me know, I'm not meaning to cross any line with sharing.

I've read some about clinical application for those with certain diagnoses. Thank you for sharing about it. And what I read also included having the presence of trained individuals while experiencing. My curiosity about it was initiated when I found out that Cary Grant had utilized psychedelic therapy for treatment in a controlled and guided setting back in the 50's and credited this specifically for the healing he had been seeking.

 

[DouglasW]

Yes. AA was also founded by two fellows who used LSD to cure their own alcoholism.

 

[Gonz]

I would not recommend psychedelics outside of a professional psychiatric setting, which is a rarity as of right now. However, I would say that my experiences with mushrooms make me think the research into psilocybin as a treatment is worth paying attention to.

But, much like me, lots of people don’t always go about these things in the officially recommended manner; I could see this support line being a valuable resource.

 

[DouglasW]

Also my therapist took a position as director of a psychedelic clinic. I have access to people who know a lot about it. But I'd probably be rejected in a professional setting due to history with psychosis. I'm aware of the risk and have supports but my only option really is doing it on my own. Though the Fireside group will do guided sessions and other things like that exist here too. It's not something I do very often though, its pretty intense and can take months to process.

 

[Soul flower]

Yes. AA was also founded by two fellows who used LSD to cure their own alcoholism.

I know several in real life who also used LSD for this effect and it worked.

I also know some who used LSD in extreme excess as well, but not for such effect - and they continued to drink heavily. So it wasn't an automatic response to stop drinking. But it was the experimental time period of our lives, not sure they would have considered themselves alcoholics whereas the guys I mention above did.


I was highly experimental as a younger person. Very curious of altered states of consciousness. Wrote a thesis on peyote. Studied shamanism. Anthro degree. I find the variety of dimensions that can be opened via chemicals (some found in plants, fungi) fascinating,, but I do not have an addictive personality and no longer find time to delve into such pursuits.

Shrooms/ fungi are interesting all around and in general. Largest living organism on this planet is a fungi and their connectedness is awl inspiring. While many are seriously deadly, psilocybin has always been so kind to me. Happy to hear the world is opening to more natural possibilities.

Wonder what a clinician would say prior to a visit with her - ? And the influence such a controlled journey would bring. Shamans do this too. My experiences with psychedelics were much less tethered, but always in groups of liked minded souls.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

There's also the issue of micro-dosing. While I haven't tried microdosing mushrooms, I do take tiny amounts of THC which is legal here and the amount I take would be considered a microdose (2-4 mg).

My psychiatrist specifically advised me against taking any dosage of psilocybin due to the possibility of dose inaccuracy.

 

[DouglasW]

@Soul flower all very interesting! Yeah I studied a lot of the 60s research back in the day and experimented as a teen as well. Probably was unwise, may have contributed to mental health issues I've had. But I've always been interested.

@Lady Wolfshead coincidentally, next week will be my 1 year anniversary clean of pot. It had helped me a lot with PTSD and depression and anxiety for some years but over time became more harmful than helpful. Sadly. I'm glad it's helping you.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

@Soul flower all very interesting! Yeah I studied a lot of the 60s research back in the day and experimented as a teen as well. Probably was unwise, may have contributed to mental health issues I've had. But I've always been interested.

@Lady Wolfshead coincidentally, next week will be my 1 year anniversary clean of pot. It had helped me a lot with PTSD and depression and anxiety for some years but over time became more harmful than helpful. Sadly. I'm glad it's helping you.

Good for you - that's a big deal.

 

[DouglasW]

@Lady Wolfshead Yeah I miss it though :/

 

[dandelions]

I'm not sure what I'm allowed to say about this, so want to be careful. But I've used mushrooms on occasion in past 4 years as treatment for PTSD and depression primarily. Long story short, and so it doesn't sound like I'm just "advocating" -- it has had tremendous benefits as well as tremendous downsides in my case, big risks.

Trips tend to have a few things in common: I always think, about an hour in, oh no, I should not have done this... Then I often think I'm going to die (a common effect for many people, but not something that is actually going to happen). Then the extensive content of my life story, traumas, demons, all start surfacing, but with painful clarity. It's like remembering something awful you said at a party but suddenly realizing *why* it was so awful and being mortified, except, times a million. You see yourself in new light, see world more clearly. Denial is washed away for better or for worse. Then I often have new insights, laughter, a range of emotions, often will cry.

Anyway this last time I was calling peer support and crisis lines and talking through a lot of what was coming up, and one crisis clinician informed me about a national psychedelic support line called Fireside Project. I called that line and was told you could spent 45 minutes talking to a coach, and they are all well versed in psychedelics. It was *not* some woo hippie line, but felt far more serious and well-researched, and they could help integrate trauma and explore other things. It was amazing and helpful, I was able to talk about my 2019 experience of Gaia channeling a message to me (I know, sounds like woo hippie nonsense) as well as psychotic experience I had in 2021, and she was very insightful and understanding.

Notably, I never ended up going into my actual trauma story, which feels like progress in my integration of that story. Like I was able to connect authentically and talk about emotions and PTSD and healing without ever getting into the specific narrative of things that happened in my life to traumatize me.

Anyway wanted to share this. Don't know if any of my SF friends or anyone will like or comment. Again, I'm not advocating psilocybin, which remains federally illegal in US and is extremely potent and potentially dangerous substance, but also has had a lot of research showing its high efficacy working with trauma and other conditions. If this post is inappropriate please delete it and let me know, I'm not meaning to cross any line with sharing.

I'm on a little vacation atm (actually saw this post yesterday), so it's not been easy to add my comments here. but ironically, the people I'm visiting now (first time I've I've ever had friends and so much in sync with the real me) are very aware and knowledgeable about psychedelics especially about the important role it can play in treatment of the trauma a person has as discussed above.

for me and my friends, , this would also include what is lately known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (though I believe I have a better name which should apply to PTSD and others too).

I'm writing now just to say that I think it's great and so necessary that this discussion is happening here. and when I'm back home I'll be back to post my thoughts on the subject. 👽

 

[dandelions]

hi, i said i'd be back so here i am. but i was kind of too full of thought at the time and i wrote somemething very convoluted way too lengthy even if coming from me (🥸🤪🙀).

i do have lots of thoughts and need more time to think but one thing i think i can say right now is that i think this has a huge impact on those in the Dissociative and also Trans communities (people i know) as well as for those with PTSD. this may have to do with stuff like childhood sexual abuse trauma.

and i also feel as if the "professionals" may not be properly equipped to be appropriately objective and of course present laws may be inhibiting good research too.

I say these things though, because I know people who already know a lot on the subject. still there is much closed mindedness we have to contend with and the laws and stuff like what can be found in DSM are not helpful.

anyway my thoughts for the moment particularly because i want to keep this conversation active and alive. 👽

 

[Harmony]

Yes. AA was also founded by two fellows who used LSD to cure their own alcoholism.

It is important to note this was "claimed" by the founders of AA so as to not normalize and give anyone struggling with alcoholism the false and misleading impression LSD is a cure for alcohol abuse. While I gather you know that, others reading here may not, especially younger individuals who would be the most susceptible to having the use of LSD affect brain development and overall functioning for the rest of their lives.

 

[DouglasW]

Well, research at Harvard and other universities in 60s showed very high success rate treating alcoholism with LSD, research that has picked up again more recently as interest in psychedelics has grown. But yes, such drugs are associated with higher risk of psychosis, at least in people already having that risk, and I think these drugs have profound impact on the mind that can absolutely be dangerous, esp for younger people whose brains are much more fluid still.

 

[Lady Wolfshead]

My husband took LSD as a teenager a few times, and he found the experiences terrifying. While I think there is research showing psychedelics as having promise, it's important to wait until there are clinically standardized doses available from pharmacies, and that a full dose (as opposed to a microdose) should only be taken in a carefully controlled setting (in Europe this has been done in medically supervised settings where the patient has a family member and also medical staff with them). In Canada there was a couple who unfortunately set back the research by giving clients with PTSD psilocybin while they lay in bed basically cuddling them. One of them was a certified counsellor and the other was not, but there is video of one woman in obvious distress being restrained by them.

My own feeling is that there is tremendous potential but the possibility of a "bad trip" for a vulnerable person is too serious to be ignored. I had a bad experience once where I took a full dose (not a micro-dose) of THC by capsule, and even though I had taken the same dose before, this capsule clearly had more in it because I got way too high and panicked. I would NOT want a similar experience with a psychedelic.

 

[Dalida]

I have determined not to let capitalist gatekeepers keep me from accessing wildly successful medicines. I work in the medical cannabis, so THC is part of my routine. I want to try ketamine, but have been unable to source it safely. I have procured MDMA. I am trying it in tiny slivers. I can achieve elevated mood and energy without feeling altered. I have also procured 10 gm of psilocybin. I have used psychedelics therapeutically before, to great effect. What are your thoughts and experiences?

Promoting Health & Safety Within Music and Nightlife Communities
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[DouglasW]

Well, I want to be careful to stay within site rules. I can say, there is a dilemma for many that even with known benefits, I think ideally one should have access to "professionals" who can guide, make one safe, and know of associated risks, like people at higher risk for negative impacts. However, because these drugs are still illegal for the most part, even as they are approaching FDA approval, this means that there are very few "professionals" with such expertise and a license to treat patients. So, yes, many like me have used them on their own, though I've consulted with therapists and read a lot of the studies and live in an area where there's a lot of knowledge (and decriminalization which matters in terms of legal risks).

Having said all that, I myself HAVE experienced some of the negative impacts and I don't take them lightly. These drugs are powerful. Also, the risk of addiction -- not "physical" addiction but still overusing and pursuiing getting altered for its own sake, exists. These drugs typically are not physically addictive, so far as we know, and most people do not immediately want to use them again after one time as the effects are so powerful and it takes a long time to integrate them.

Lastly, these days, Fentanyl and whatever future toxic substances is laced into many many things sold on the street, meaning, it's even more problematic that most people do not have means to know how something is sourced and what it actually is as opposed to what the seller is saying.

 

[dandelions]

My therapist suggested looking for studies involving specific psychedelics. My guess is, people generally know where the most psychedelic friendly locations are in the USA. This may be the safest way. My brief search only found studies that had ended. But I would like to give it a try myself. 👽

 

[DouglasW]

I believe the MAPS organization is ongoing and is the source for knowing what studies are happening. I might be wrong, I don't follow it. My therapist also runs an organization that does psychedelic research, but ironically I've not asked her too much about what they do and how people can connect to such things. We talk about psychedelics now and then some though.