unhappy all the time could psychedelics help?

im unhappy all the time. i have tried all the anti depressent meds and they only seem to make me sick or more nervious.....could psychedelics help in any way.....i have used them before and experienced some limited success with the depression.....what do you think? and if they might help how would they work ..i mean what would be the benefits?

 

psychedelics definitely have the POTENTIAL to help sort out any mental issues. they also have the potential to worsen them.

I've had some success with psychedelics working out some of my inner insecurities and problems, specifically by taking me deeper into my sub/unconscious mind and helping me get in touch with the deeper issues instead of the symptoms of my deeper issues. This can be a pretty difficult and emotionally charged experience, but when taken with the right attitude, psychedelics can help us overcome mental problems, like depression

 

They could possibly help, perhaps most effectively in the presence of a professional psychotherapist. It's more risky attempting to self-medicate with them as their effects can be highly variable but they could help in giving you insight to maybe some roots of your depression or things you can do to work on it but you would need to put some effort on working on that stuff past the experience, otherwise it'll most likely be limited success again.

 

Personally I would look into a gentle body detox, gentle exercise and a healthy diet before I would go down the psychedelic avenue.

detox: http://www.livingclaybook.com/

exercise: http://www.xco-trainer.de/en/ or flexi-bar or whole body vibration machine

diet: http://bodyecology.com/

meditation: http://www.mindfulnesstapes.com/

 

Before psychedelics, I was sort of in your position. I was rarely happy and just sort of moving through life. My first psychedelic experience was a wake up call, saying, hey, there's so much in life to enjoy! Learn how to love it! I didn't realize it at first, but I for sure realize it now. BUT my depression eventually worsened and I got panic attacks and derealization, which is something you do not want ever ever ever. So there absolutely is the potential for them to help you, but you may end up like me and feel a bit worse than before (though I do not regret my decision). Actually, I do not feel worse than before. I've become aware of how boring my life is, and I have the opportunity to improve my quality of life if I choose. That absolutely is a benefit! There are a few good books out there on the subject of psychedelic psychotherapy that are really interesting, but there's no chance of you finding someone who uses entheogens in practice.

If you do decide to, though, chances are you are going to have a wild time. And you might not even learn anything. But you hopefully will. The last time I actually tripped I got quite distracted from the inner healing type of things, but I had an amazing time.

Claudio Naranjo wrote about his work with psychedelics in "The Healing Journey." Basically any feeling that comes up in the trip that might be uncomfortable can be worked through and transformed. He's very psychoanalytic and in depth, but basically if you feel uncomfortable, really feel what you are feeling intensely, and let it be, and it will probably transform it into something pleasurable. Leo Zeff (probably the most famous psychedelic psychotherapist) said something similar. Visualize your pain and let it transform. Bring pictures of yourself, as a baby, at age 4 or so, and around 7. And pictures of your family, or close friends. For sure have someone with you who you can communicate to, and don't do it in public. If you have to do it in your room, fine, but make it feel like a sacred space. Music is important too.

 

thanks for your wisdom and advice

 

In your situation, I strongly recommand you to do pschiadelics under the watch of an experienced therapist. He will know what to take, how much to take, the good attitudes and questions to ask you.
Anyway, if you decide to do it alone, or with a friend (make sure to chose someone both close to you, and already experienced in drugs), remember the most important thing:
What you see is determined by you, and only by yourself.

Drugs work trough your mind. It means that if the hallucinations are getting weird/scary/not pleasant, it's your fault. Not the conscious you, but your inner you.
For example (I actually lived that): You're standing outside. Rhe sky is getting darker, it might soon rain.
Two possibilities (they can both happen on the same trip at a different moment, or even, for the stronger trips, in the same time).
If you're fine/happy/relaxed, the clouds will be dancing/representing something, but it won't be harmful.
If you're feeling bad, you will have the impression that they are about to attack you, and they will most likely look dangerous.

You understand? It's all in your head! Keep that in mind. I prevented myself several times from badtripping just by having the capacity to step back and understand that my hallucinations were going in the wrong way (example: i started seeing blood on the walls. I immediatly looked closer and started laughing at my own mind)
Remember that. Don't take a too high dose, and it's all in your head. Paranoia, hallucinations, voices, etc..

That being said, I do think that it can help you out with your issues.

 

i some time s make pictures in oil paint....maybe they help with my mood..files attached

 

You're an incredible artist! Jungian psychotherapy seems like it could be of help, if you are willing to spend the time and the money. There's no Jungians around where I live, but I'd love to explore my own unconscious. A book you might be interested in would be Transforming Depression: Healing the Soul Through Creativity. It's more related to suicidal people, but should be of interest if you enjoy art and are depressed.

 

Wow!

I wouldn't start with lsd - maybe mdma, cactus.

What part of the country are you in?

 

Wow seems like you got a pretty psychedelic mind already.

 

there is a clinic not too far away that deals with ibogaine...has anyone had experience with this way of healing depression?

 

Not explicitly, but I don't see why not.
http://www.ibogaine.desk.nl/naranjo.html

 

my pre existing psychedelic mind.....i am not new to psychedelics although my use is very intermittent and respectful.

 

Keep painting.

Paint, Paint, Paint, Paint. Maybe take some acid. Paint, Paint, Paint, Paint.

You must enjoy painting. You are very good and versatile, and can probably find a lot of interesting things to put on canvas. When you find yourself with nothing new to paint, take some acid.

Why do you think you are unhappy all the time? Is there a reason, or do you just feel terrible even though your life seems to be in order otherwise?

 

i have clinical depression and refuse to take meds....so thats my problem ay.

 

well i got a hold of some cacti..i ate quiet allot...i must say i got very ill initially and vomited and purged allot....there where allot of visions and sweating of an intense nature for some 10 hours and the experience seemed to go for about 3 days till it finally stopped yesterday.....during that time i became deeply introspective …wandered round …lay in bed and contemplated myself as a child and also a young adult....i think the experience was a good one in the fact it seemed to leave me with a deeper sense of who i am and how i had become who i am.....i was troubled a tad by a feeling of being lost in a way...i always had this lost feeling.....and do not blame it on external circumstances.....it seems to emanate from within my being.....perhaps when i can get to the root of that lost feeling i may find some satisfaction in life as i feel this feeling generates a constant low grade anxiety in my being.
however that being stated there where times within the past few days where it felt like everything was connected up and i felt a profound sense of oneness with everything. funny thing was that objects seemed to have personalities and personal histories.....i could talk to them and understand them...however the puzzling thing was i did not really understand where the object ended and the space in between them began.....i had a vision of a baby in the sky and elaborate gods and goddess motifs…..in intricate detail…..there was also a stage where the ground was full of rattle snakes……this did not really scare me as I was fascinated by the way their colors blended into the surroundings rendering them almost invisible and was more focused on their wavering forked shaped toungs. All in all it was a exhausting experience … one that left me with a seemingly more serious outlook on life…I wish I could giggle and be brighter…but the whole thing left me pondering life in even deeper more self absorbed vectors. All in all I love experiences they always leave me richer for them although seemingly no closer to the happiness and lightness of being I crave.i feel a sense of embarassment regarding posting this ...im not sure why but it seems so private.
as far as anti depressent medications go they seem to make me feel more anxious and disconnected from my essance.i do not think i will reverse my position regarding their use for myself.

 

I've read your storie with great interest and I support your position about the anti depressent medication. I've learned quiet a lot about it during my classes on the nervous system, and they're in the same category than drugs. They make you dependant, and you don't even get to have great hallucinations...

 

i took anti depressent meds for a few years..must have tried them all...mostly they made me more anxious and unhappy.

 

I enjoyed reading about your experience.

I'm not sure where you live or are from, but you might consider looking into what people in, say, Germany, use for depression. I think they are much more likely to use herbal suppliments and therapy.

Although a few people have told me that depression meds have saved their lives, I would be very skeptical too, if I was in your position. They don't really understand the mechanism of those drugs, and although the medical industry claims that the problem is based on a chemical imbalance, I don't think they can test for that imbalance and don't really know if the drugs they prescribe help it. Also, in most double blind studies, they don't help.

I can't recommend it, but if I was in your position, I would try low dose psychedelics frequently and high dose every few months or something. I would also try to make as many big changes in my life as I could to see if any change might help. Even if the change doesn't seem directly related to my depression, I would still try it.

(I really thing art is great therapy, so I wouldn't change that part.)