Psychedelic Society MN Blog Feed
A recurring topic of conversation within Psychedelic Society meetings is how to talk to other people about the choice to use psychedelics. The stigma around using substances is strong within our culture, regardless of the reasoning, which makes many people worry about what others will think if they choose to disclose their use to family, friends, coworkers, or acquaintances.
Many people use psychedelic substances to expand their concept of consciousness and interconnectivity, tap into creativity, or just to have an enjoyable experience. I have not surfed such pleasant wavelengths during my experiences. As a sufferer of complex trauma that expands beyond my own comprehension, I feel compelled to communicate that my experience with psychedelic-assisted trauma therapy is inherently different from the recreational psychedelic experiences that others describe. The experiences are challenging, uncomfortable, and occur within the darkest corners of my mind. The two most common descriptors I use regarding my journey so far are excruciating and wonderful. Though the words seem to be contradictory by nature, I see them more as having a cause-and-effect relationship in this context.
My advice to the guide seeker is to be around the psychedelic community. That wasn’t how I found my guide exactly but those were the waters I had intended to fish. The local psychedelic society hosts regular meetings and events on a variety of topics. While the sale of controlled substances or discussion of how to find underground guides is expressly prohibited in the meetings, the events allow others to get to know you and eventually trust you. The community is passionate about helping others so being known in the community seems to be a good place to start.
I did not take the decision to pursue psychedelic-assisted therapy lightly. I had put my time in on the therapy couch for almost a decade trying to overcome the crippling experience and eventual aftermath of a horrifically violent marriage. My therapist proved to be patient and creative as she tried every modality in her portfolio to help me. I also tried a variety of medications for depression, anxiety, disruptive dreams, hypervigilance, and ruminating thoughts. Eventually, I found myself stable enough to discontinue medications and successfully function in daily life with only the help of regular talk therapy sessions.
