What Does Science Have To Say About Mental Health & Psychedelic Therapy?

TreatmentSeptember 5, 2022

To treat mental health issues, psychedelic therapy is one of the commonest options these days. More than ever before, mental health patients are opting for psychedelic therapy in an unprecedented number. According to the CDC, 62% of Americans who suffer from mental health decline “prefer” to opt for psychedelic therapy. Whether or not they are satisfied with the therapy is another matter; what matters the most is the scientific view of the risks that come with psychedelic therapy.

Nicole / Pexels / According to CDC, 62% of American mental health patients opt for psychedelic therapy.

Before we dive deep and analyze the scientific views of psychedelic therapy, let’s understand psychedelic therapy first.

What is Psychedelic Therapy & How Does It Work?

Psychedelic therapy refers to a complex psychotherapy process wherein doctors use psychedelic substances. Essentially, psychedelic therapy is used to treat critical mental illnesses like depression and anxiety. The procedure is quite complex as it includes psychotherapy and the treatment of complex disorders.

Cotton Bro / Pexels / Psychedelic therapy is performed to treat critical mental illnesses like prolonged depression, fear, and anxiety.

Here are some of the critical illnesses that require psychedelic therapy. Or, generally speaking, these are some of the mental disorders that can be treated through psychedelic therapy:

Phobias.
Anxiety, depression, and prolonged stress.
Lack of sleep.
Abnormal heartbeat rate.
Uncommon and excessive blood pressure.

However, it is essential to note here that it is not recommended to opt for psychedelic therapy unless it is inevitable. We recommend double-checking with your therapist before opting for it.

What Are The Major Risks Involved In Psychedelic Therapy?

Given the complex nature of the therapy, psychedelic therapy is not something that mental health experts recommend. One of the major risks involved in psychedelic therapy is the chance of prolonged hallucination. In other words, the patient may go through hallucinations (feeling dizzy and bewitched) after the therapy.

Engin / Pexels / Perception disorders and hallucination are the foremost risks of psychedelic therapy.

Another major risk of psychedelic therapy is the possibility of acquisition loss. In this disorder, the patient may fail to acquire things and may face difficulties in perception. In layman’s terms, the patient will talk gibberish and will not understand you when you talk to him. There are also chances that the patient may also suffer from memory loss and language disorder.

Similarly, the therapy and the drugs used in the therapy may cause adverse effects on the patient if he has an existing illness. For instance, if the patient already has high blood pressure or Schizophrenia, he is very likely to suffer more after the therapy. Likewise, patients with epilepsy and abnormal heart beat rate may also face the adverse effects of the therapy. Mental health experts also advise refraining from psychedelic therapy for patients with a history of strokes and heart attacks.

Based on these requirements, it becomes apparent that psychedelic therapy is not recommendable for anyone. Generally speaking, everybody has some sort of existing disease. This means that they should not go through psychedelic therapy.

That is why we do not recommend opting for psychedelic therapy. Unless it is not inevitable, we do not suggest opting for it.