Psychedelic therapy Netherlands

Psychedelic auxiliaries?

On more and more news sites you come across reports that psychedelic drugs are used in the treatment of mental disorders and addictions, but what are those psychedelic additives?
Psychedelics are a classification of plant-based and synthetic substances known for producing an unusual state of consciousness so powerful and unique that they are most often compared to near-death experiences or states of religious ecstasy. When one hears the term "psychedelic," it is often associated with hippies and the social movements of the 1960s, but beyond the superficial associations and stigmas lies a rich story of ancient human history, scientific discovery, and medicinal treatment.

Different types of psychedelics

The group of substances that fall under the category of “psychedelics” includes both plants and synthetic drugs such as cannabis, MDMA, LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, ayahuasca, DMT and ibogaine. Some of these, such as cannabis, ibogaine, and psilocybin mushrooms, occur naturally in the plant world and can be ingested or smoked to induce psychedelic effects. Others like ayahuasca are made by combining two different plants and preparing them in a specific way that produce visionary effects. Outside of the plant world are man-made compounds such as LSD and MDMA that are not found in nature.

How do psychedelics work?

What do psychedelics actually do in our brains? With such a diverse set of sources, it's hard to see a connecting factor, but there are many similarities in how these substances interact with our brain chemistry. The active chemical in psychedelics binds to the same receptor in your brain as the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is responsible for relaying information to different parts of the brain and is closely linked to mood, sexual desire, appetite, sleep, and memory . While there is still some mystery about exactly how they work in your brain, psychedelics have been shown to increase and decrease neuronal activity in brain regions as well as the prefrontal cortex. The prevailing hypothesis is that the effects of psychedelics are due to increased brain activity, but other research suggests that compounds such as psilocybin may work by regulating and restricting the regions of the brain that act as filters. This will allow us to temporarily break the barriers that limit us in a normal state.

Psychedelics are not new.

Psychedelics have always played a central role in many cultures around the world due to their ability to catalyze transformative experiences and revelations in those who use them. In the ancient Zoroastrian and Hindu cultures, the psychedelic substance known as soma played a central role in their religion. In ancient Greece, at the dawn of Western Civilization, their holy year ritual known as the Eleusinian Mysteries involved a brew known as Kykeon, which many scholars believe was a psychedelic drink. Other cultures such as the ancient Egyptians and numerous indigenous tribes also used and greatly valued psychedelics. Many of these indigenous tribes are still around and use psychedelics as a key component in their religion and spirituality.

Why we can use psychedelics now

Today, as the restrictions and stigmas surrounding psychedelics begin to diminish, there is a wide array of exciting new research and new applications for these transformative substances. Organizations such as the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), the Heffter Institute and others have scientific studies of the therapeutic value of psychedelics for treating conditions such as PTSD, substance abuse, fear of end of life, social anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder and depression. Psychedelics are particularly well suited to treat these psychological conditions because of their ability to bring a person to an unparalleled state of openness and self-reflection that is beyond their normal day-to-day ego awareness. In this revealing state, people can see things about themselves such as chronic behaviors, past traumas, addictions, and judgments that normally operate under the radar of the awakening consciousness. After such a revealing experience, people are often empowered to make fundamental changes in how they live and see themselves and the world. Harnessing the power of this "peak experience" that psychedelics provide is the essence of what makes them so unique and effective. Psychedelic therapy often involves not only taking a psychedelic substance, but doing so with a trained "trip coach" who can help a person open up and experience his/her experience in a supportive environment. This applies not only to clinical psychedelic treatments, but also to the realm of psycho-spiritual therapy that you would find in native psychedelic ceremonies or places such as ayahuasca retreat centers where trained shamans guide people through their experience and keep them grounded and supported. Psychedelics do not provide a cure by themselves, but create a visionary experience that people can use to heal themselves. Because they are so incredibly powerful, psychotherapists and shamans alike agree that they should rarely, if ever, be used alone.

The right guidance

Whether you choose MDMA therapy, LSD therapy or a truffle session with psilocybin…. It is always useful to delve into the matter. At the moment of writing MDMA therapy not yet legal in the Netherlands. You can, however, receive legal guidance during truffle therapy or through an analogue of LSD, the LSD therapy. At the moment you can go to triptherapie.nl for these types of sessions.

Read more on the website of Trip therapy