The Reality of Psychedelics
With all of the potential trauma that comes with the human experience, there is a serious need for healing. People are searching for solutions, and many are turning to plant medicines and psychedelic therapies. As psychedelics gain popularity and more success stories are published, the expectations placed on these substances are growing. People are approaching these medicines with expectations of healing, but should they? Many people are looking for a quick fix, a magic pill that will fix all of their problems, but the truth is, that’s not realistic. This doesn’t exist, no matter how much we would like it to.
The reality is that these substances have great potential to provide healing. They can help with processing emotions and trauma, and they can provide insights that can elicit change. They can open the door and show you the path, but you still have to choose to go down that path. Having a ketamine infusion, drinking ayahuasca, or having a mushroom journey can surely help facilitate healing and positive change, but that doesn’t mean they will solve all of your problems. Real growth and change take work and effort.
This is where preparation and integration come in. That is where the real healing takes place. It is important to come to psychedelics knowing this. It is important to come to psychedelics ready to do the work. So how do you do this work? Here’s an example. Say you have a psychedelic journey and you gain insight that your lifestyle or people in your life are contributing to your depression. Integration would be the process of understanding this insight and making the necessary changes to eliminate those factors. The psychedelic itself can show you this insight, but what good is it if you don’t make the necessary changes? You still have to put in the work.
\So if I’m ready to do the work, can I expect healing? You might ask. The truth is, psychedelics should never be approached with expectations. Expectations can lead to disappointment, which can induce a negative experience or a negative mood following the journey. It is best to approach these substances with an open mind, free of expectations. Psychedelics can be peculiar in that one person’s experience may be vastly different from another’s. It’s never safe to assume that what one person experiences on a psychedelic will be the same for you.
It is also important to know that psychedelics are not for everyone, and what works for one person may not work for another. Psychedelics are also not a great idea for people with certain mental health disorders or predispositions. This is something that should be considered prior to jumping into a psychedelic experience.
Once you’ve done your research and you feel ready to take the journey and put in the work, it is time to let go, be open, and allow the experience to go where it wants. There is a saying with psychedelics: “you get what you need, not what you want.” When you approach psychedelics with a sense of curiosity and an open mind, you are free to receive whatever the psychedelic might show you. Expectations will only hold you back and close you off from the possibilities.
-Stormy
To learn more about psychedelic integration, check out my blog: https://outofthedarkintegration.com/psychedelic-integration/
To book an integration coaching session with me: https://outofthedarkintegration.com/integration-coaching-sessions/