Written by Nina Izel, Healer, Teacher, and Author
Nina Izel is a well-known pioneer in the psychedelic healing field; she is the founder of Avatar Healing Arts, the author of the book Heart Medicine, Ayahuasca Assisted Therapy and the Integration Process, and the host of the podcast Ayahuhsca Avatars.
As the psychedelic renaissance gains momentum and becomes more and more popular, it is in your best interest to educate yourself about the potential risks and benefits of working with psychedelics for healing and awakening. In the following, you will learn about the top 3 fears people have around psychedelics and the top 3 promises psychedelic therapy offers for those who seek healing and expanding their consciousness.
3 top risks of psychedelic therapy
1. Bad trips
What most people call a bad trip is an intense, challenging, and uncomfortable experience caused by psychedelic substances. Feelings of intense fear, panic, paranoia, a total loss of control, and a feeling of existential crisis are common when you have a ‘bad trip’ experience.
What is a bad trip?
The following are the most common signs of a bad psychedelic trip experience:
Sense of doom, despair
Fear of death or paranoia, thinking that there are people out there to get you
Troubling thoughts about existence, life and death
Difficulty in discerning what is real and what is not
Extreme level of confusion and disorientation
Auditory or visual hallucinations that can be frightening or disturbing
Total loss of control over your mind and your body
How to prevent a bad trip?
Thankfully, these types of experiences don’t happen very often, and in most cases, they can be easily prevented by responsible preparation and professional guidance.
Your safety is your responsibility. Make sure you stay safe on your psychedelic journey.
Learn about the 5 steps of responsible preparation for plant medicine journeys in this popular webinar.
Even though these ‘bad trips’ can be intense, life changing experiences with professional support and guidance they can be integrated and turned into valuable gifts and a new beginning.
2. Permanent psychological damage
Another common fear regarding the use of psychedelics is losing touch with reality even after the effects of psychedelics have worn off. People with pre-existing health conditions, especially those with a history of psychosis or schizophrenia, should avoid the use of psychedelics because they could exacerbate their symptoms or trigger a psychotic episode.
Psychedelics induce an altered state of consciousness and hallucinations that can feel similar to psychotic disorder. This can make it difficult for individuals with mental illness to distinguish between the effects of the drug and their illness, potentially leading to a worsening of their condition.
How to prevent a mental breakdown?
Thankfully, these types of experiences don’t happen very often, and in most cases, they can be easily prevented by responsible preparation and by having professional guidance. Make sure that you go through medical screening, set your intentions, and follow the preparation guidelines before your psychedelic healing experience. Your best ally is a professional guide who is experienced and prepared to guide you through your healing process.
Remember that healing doesn’t happen overnight and your psychedelic healing journey includes the preparation and integration process, before and after your psychedelic experience. Having a safe container and professional support outside of the ceremony can make all the difference between reaching your desired results or eventually falling back to your old patterns.
Ayahuasca Assisted Therapy is a proven and effective 15-month long container to provide you with the necessary guidance and support and create your breakthrough results.
3. Physical health risks
A lot of people are concerned about physical health risks regarding the use of psychedelics. Cardiovascular issues can be a contraindication because some psychedelics can dramatically increase heart rate and blood pressure. People with conditions such as hypertension, arrhythmia, or heart disease are at greater risk of a heart attack or even a stroke.
While psychedelic therapy shows great promise, its use during pregnancy remains highly controversial and risky due to potential developmental risk and possible miscarriage. It is generally advised that pregnant women avoid psychedelic substances, however some shamanic tribes have a tradition of safe use of psychedelic plants during pregnancy and even lactation.
Medical guidelines for working with psychedelics
Make sure you go through a thorough medical screening to assess your physical health. It’s vital to have trained professionals guiding you through your psychedelic healing experience and that medical assistance is available immediately if necessary. Thankfully, these types of experiences don’t happen very often, and in most cases, they can be easily prevented by responsible preparation and by having professional support.
Educate yourself and read more about the medical guidelines when working with powerful psychedelic substances.
3 top promises of psychedelic therapy
1. Deep healing and personal transformation
Most people hope to use psychedelics as a tool for deep healing and personal transformation. This includes overcoming trauma, mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and healing chronic disease. Psychedelics facilitate profound insights and emotional breakthroughs that can lead to lasting positive life changes. Psychedelics are known to facilitate deep self-exploration, helping individuals gain insights into their unconscious behaviors, motivations, and life patterns. This self-understanding is crucial for personal growth and transformation. Psychedelic therapy is more and more available to the mainstream and promising breakthrough results where everything else failed.
I guided and witnessed many people recover from trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and chronic disease. Listen to these inspiring stories of healing and hope from people who changed their lives with psychedelic therapy! (testimonials)
2. Spiritual awakening
Many people who use psychedelics report experiencing a profound sense of connection to a higher power or the divine. Spiritual awakening and exploration of consciousness is another promise of psychedelic therapy that attracts certain kinds of seekers. Some people are drawn to psychedelics to experience spiritual or mystical states of consciousness. Psychedelics can help you to achieve a deeper connection with the divine, with the universe, a sense of unity and oneness, and to gain a deeper understanding of your place in this world.
Psychedelics can dissolve the boundaries between the self and the external world, fostering a sense of unity with the universe. This feeling of oneness can lead to a profound connection to other people and Mother Earth.
Psychedelics can induce transcendental experiences and mystical states which can lead to profound spiritual insights and a connection to something greater than yourself. These experiences can be transformative and lead to lasting changes in worldview and behavior. Most people describe feelings of boundless love and compassion during these experiences, which can foster greater empathy and understanding toward others.
Mystical experiences are often accompanied by a profound sense of peace and serenity, which can persist long after the experience, contributing to your long-term psychological well-being. These experiences can help you find greater purpose and meaning in your life, promote lasting positive changes, and enhance your well-being.
3. Enhanced creativity and problem-solving
Psychedelics have long been associated with enhanced creativity and problem-solving abilities. Users often report that these substances allow them to think in novel ways, break free from conventional patterns of thought, and approach problems from unique perspectives.
Many renowned artists, writers, and scientists such as Steve Jobs and Aldous Huxley have credited these psychedelic substances with enhancing their creative processes and leading to breakthroughs in their work. In Silicon Valley, psychedelics have gained popularity among professionals seeking to boost creativity and productivity.
The use of psychedelics allows you to alter your perception, experience sensory enhancement, break free from mental barriers, increase your brain connectivity to facilitate creative thinking, and novel solutions to complex problems. Psychedelics are proven to promote cognitive processes that are less linear and more holistic by increasing connectivity between different regions of the brain, fostering more integrated and holistic thinking.
As interest in psychedelic therapy continues to grow, further research will likely uncover even more about the profound impact these substances can have on human cognition and creativity.
Conclusion
Psychedelic Therapy offers breakthrough results.
As the psychedelic renaissance gains momentum it's crucial to educate yourself about both the potential risks and benefits of working with psychedelics for healing and awakening. Understanding the top fears and promises of psychedelic therapy can help you make informed decisions and prepare adequately for your journey.
Facing the unknown can be scary, but with responsible preparation and professional support and guidance, the transformative potential of psychedelics can be safely harnessed. Informed by both ancient wisdom and modern research, psychedelic therapy holds the promise of profound personal transformation. By navigating this path with care, respect, and support, you can unlock the incredible power these substances offer, leading to a richer, more meaningful life.
If you are called to explore psychedelic therapy get in touch with me for a free consultation!
Read more from Nina Izel
Nina Izel, Healer, Teacher, and Author
Nina Izel helps people to heal and change their life with psychedelic-assisted therapy. She is passionate about self-discovery and self-empowerment and she believes that you are the healer and love is the medicine. Her mission is to support, educate and guide people regarding the safe, responsible and effective use of sacred plant medicines for healing and awakening.
