K'hiel Anker specializes in ushering males into purposeful, mature, manhood by guiding them through time-honored rites of passage that incorporate psychedelic therapy, men's work, and psychosomatic coaching.
These days, it’s nearly impossible to avoid news about psychedelics. From personal celebrity accounts of Aaron Rodgers’ experience with Ayahuasca, Mike Tyson’s with 5-MeO DMT, and Prince Harry’s with psilocybin (“magic mushrooms”), to the FDA’s funded research regarding the impact of MDMA on PTSD, the media is flush with a bevy of psychedelic information, to say the least!
And so how do we reconcile this with the history of psychedelics in this country? Reagan’s War on Drugs, and D.A.R.E’s grade school programs would certainly not have been in favor of such explorations.
However, the amount of curiosity around psychedelics and its applications are certainly gaining momentum. Topics such as microdosing, legalization, indigenous history, and neuroscience are common table-talk these days.
And so, to support demystifying the air around psychedelics, this article will focus on the absolute most intriguing and attractive topics: therapeutic uses and mental health benefits.
Therapeutic uses and mental health benefits
Historical and anthropological research shows, without a doubt, that psychedelics – and plant medicines with similar properties – have been used for time immemorial throughout human history. Whether it be the powerful Amazonian brew of Ayahuasca, or the subtler potion of Mexican cacao, mankind has gathered to sing, dance, and pray with such medicines. But why?
While Western research may still largely be out regarding ancient indigenous rituals and ceremonies with these substances, it has certainly begun to yield promising fruit regarding the potential applications and benefits for the mental health of Western peoples..Today, I will briefly cover the following topics of psychedelic application for Western Mental Health. In order of popularity and public interest, they are:
Depression Treatment
PTSD Treatment
Anxiety and End-of-Life Distress Treatment
Addiction Treatment
Neuroplasticity Support
Depression treatment
The top area of interest and curiosity around the therapeutic use of psychedelics is the treatment of depression. Over the past 50 years, the percentage of people diagnosed with depression has risen from 3% to 25%. Research shows these numbers impact teenagers and women primarily, with the chief drivers of the increase being social and economic forces, technology and social media, the pandemic, and a general increase in awareness around mental health (aka – we are paying more attention now, and noticing it more.)Personally, I see this affecting men just as much, though men are less likely to submit themselves to diagnoses as most of us are still burdened by the mindset that shouldering such a burden is a strength. I also understand through my work in this space that dietary and environmental factors have a great deal to do with this (and all following) mental maladies.
Thankfully, studies and research have come to prove that psychedelics, especially psilocybin and MDMA, have been very effective at treating depression – even “treatment-resistant” depression. It has been shown that a single high-dose (5+ grams) of psilocybin – in partnership with skilled therapy or coaching – can very well lead to significant improvements in mood and emotional well-being. And in my own experience as an integration coach for multiple ketamine clinics, I have seen similar results.
According to our understanding of psychology, these psychedelics help to “reset” the brain’s “Default Mode Network” (DMN) – which can essentially be referred to our “ego”, or the part of the brain that is taught to perceive the world in a certain way. In doing so, this part of the brain becomes open to receiving new information about our worldviews and beliefs.
PTSD treatment
While Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has only been formally included into mental health vocabulary in 1980 when 30% of the population’s war veterans were diagnosed, it has certainly been on the rise since and has garnered much attention from mental health professionals.
Since then, we realized that PTSD was not solely affecting traumatized war veterans as research quickly uncovered other root causes such as abuse, accidents, and natural disasters (all of which we now know cause trauma, so there is the link!). In light of this understanding, we now see the rate of PTSD diagnoses climbing 6-7% annually, affecting children and women more than ever, with root causes being war, childhood and sexual abuse, natural disasters, and our growing awareness of it (just like with depression). Of note here is that we now understand that over 20% of adolescents between 12-17 years of age have experienced a “major depressive episode”.
Now that is something to be curious about… Now, here is where MDMA shines: understood as one of the most promising psychedelic treatments for PTSD, especially for veterans, clinical trials have reported that MDMA-assisted psychotherapy allows patients to confront and process the memories responsible for the PTSD without feeling overwhelmed by the common feelings of anxiety, depression, or related stressors which. And so, in due time with proper support, these treatments greatly relieve the symptoms of PTSD.
Unfortunately, the final call from the FDA was to dismiss the results of the trials, thereby dissolving the current possibility of MDMA becoming an approved medication for PTSD. That said, there is still much hope and promise that it will, in time, be available for such recovery and healing as many believe this is simply a sign that more research and study is needed.
Anxiety treatment
Prior to the 1990’s there was no diagnosis for anxiety, though ‘stress’ – now highly correlated to anxiety - was something that an estimated 2-3% of the Western population struggled with. Since then, as awareness of anxiety disorders and treatments grew, an estimated 20-30% of adults suffer from anxiety, peaking at 40% during the pandemic – clearly, this is no small issue to currently contend with.
Not unlike depression and PTSD, and not surprising, the causes for such ailments are the same: social and economic stress (there’s that word again), technology and social media, the pandemic, and our general growing awareness of it. Similarly, our youth are vastly more affected by anxiety with 15-20% reporting symptoms in the 2020s, up from only 5-8% in the 2000’s. And in step, ~25% of women are experiencing anxiety related symptoms presently, and are twice as likely to be diagnosed due to a combination of biological, hormonal, and societal factors. Currently, studies with psilocybin are being conducted for people suffering with existential anxiety – especially those facing terminal illness, which is a powerful source of such an ailment. Present research from institutions such as the John Hopkins University shows that proper application of psilocybin reduces fear and anxiety – including the fear of death itself – ultimately leading to a greater sense of peace and relaxation with all things, and increased overall quality of life.
I can say with confidence and experience, both with myself and my clients, that this research is accurate and the suggested outcomes are entirely possible. Of course, such outcomes are contingent upon exquisite training and impeccable care before, during, and after the treatment.
Addiction treatment
Now for the fourth horseman of our present Western mental health dilemma: addiction. Rising from 8-10% of the population in the 70’s, to 13-14% in recent years, the opioid epidemic – beginning with the release of Oxycontin in 1996 – is largely at cause here, with alcohol, Methamphetamine and – most recent, and easily the most dangerous – Fentanyl hot on it’s heels.
Varying from the causes of depression, PTSD, and anxiety, research shows that prescription drug misuse, alcohol use, stimulant use, behavioral addictions, and the pandemic are largely at cause here. In addition, however, I have come to find through my work that addiction is highly correlated to depression, anxiety, PTSD and similar conditions. In fact, I haven’t worked with a single person for whom one of those mental conditions was not the underlying factor for their addiction. Further, it is the opinion of myself, and many professionals and peers in the space, that one or more of these conditions is prerequisite to the formation of addiction, but that will be an article for another time.
Also deviating from the prior topics, Men are the most heavily affected demographic here. Being twice as likely to develop alcohol misuse disorders, men are at much higher risk to be led to illicit drug misuse. And while clear statistics are less available here, reports state that youth and women are trending towards higher levels of abuse of alcohol and marijuana (especially since legalization) since the pandemic.
Recent applications of psychedelics to treat addiction have Ibogaine as the clear front-runner for mental health applications here. This is due to its powerfully unique capacity to offer a neurochemical reset by regulating the dopamine pathways (these pathways are responsible for the positive ‘reward’ feelings afforded us when we ingest a substance that we know will reliably provide just that.) In addition, Ibogaine’s ability to modulate our opioid receptors is unlike any other psychedelic; properly applied, it remarkably reduces – or even eliminates – any withdrawal symptoms from opioids, often resulting in a complete lack of cravings after the experience.
Also, being one of the most potent, intense, and long-lasting psychedelic experiences, the benefits of emotional catharsis and general ‘psychospiritual reset’ – common to all psychedelics – are often most powerful with Ibogaine.
Worth noting, Ibogaine treatment centers are currently available to those suffering from addiction in countries such as Mexico and Costa Rica. Personally, I find this to be very promising, as I do believe addiction and related coping mechanisms and control patterns are truly at the root of any mental health issue we could find ourselves facing. To boot, other studies with psilocybin have shown to be successful in eliminating nicotine addiction with smokers, with long-term success rates eclipsing those of standard therapies.
Neuroplasticity support
Underpinning all of the research and applications above is the burgeoning understanding of how psychedelics, in general, influence neuroplasticity (and I thought it’d be nice to end on a strictly positive note)
Neuroplasticity essentially refers to the brain’s ability to form new neural connections. Such development increases brain “flexibility”, per se, and results in enhanced communication between its many regions, leading to both cognitive and emotional healing.
And, as noted above with the MDMA applications for PTSD, strengthening our neural networks can afford us an entirely different relationship with psychological material we have carried our entire lives. This allows us to, in essence, rewrite ‘stories’ about experiences we have had, which consequently rewrites the stories of who we are.
The primary psychedelics explored to this extent are psilocybin and LSD, and this is precisely why these two have been of chief interest in microdosing culture – a topic I’ll cover at another time.
Conclusion
With even this cursory exploration of the history of Western mental health, it is clear to see that it is largely on the decline, and thus there should be little surprise as to why we are now exploring new approaches to healing despite the cautions offered us from the impact of the War on Drugs campaign and the consequent grade school D.A.R.E. programs.
In my opinion, much – if not all – of that historical discourse was a knee-jerk reaction to best address the symptoms of something much larger, which we now understand to be the growing stressors of society, economy, and technology at large. And, just as the research stated, the more we understand about these stressors, the more we notice these symptoms.
And let’s not forget that the statistics offered are merely ‘reported’ numbers of those submitting themselves to diagnosis. Meaning, the true numbers are likely much higher when we consider both the amount of people that do not opt to be diagnosed, or simply can not afford to be.In fact, it does not seem too far-fetched to say that depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction now appear to be rather endemic to the Western psyche, and thus Western civilization. And with that realization, I can’t help but recall the fact that simpler indigenous civilizations – many of which these psychedelics come from – have no words or understanding of such mental health issues. And so, I can’t help but contemplate whether or not we have strayed too far from some of their ways, and if the resurgence of using these plants and substances for our healing is part of a greater balancing act for the good of all mankind.
Read more from K'hiel Anker
K'hiel Anker, Psychedelic Integration Coach and Medicine Guide
K'hiel Anker is a pioneer of safe, powerful, effective psychedelic therapy and men's work. When his path into manhood was turned upside-down during a poorly facilitated Ayahuasca retreat in the Amazon which nearly took his life, he decided to take matters into his own hands and create the solution to the problems of unsafe psychedelic experiences and rites of passage.
He is now a fully apprenticed medicine guide who synthesizes both ancient wisdom and modern psychology to provide comprehensive, safe, initiatory experiences with psychedelics.
His focus in this work is to revive the mature masculine within men so we can once more live within harmonious communities built on healthy relationships.
References:
Depression Statistics and Information Sources:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Depression: Prevalence and Risk Factors.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Depression and Mental Health Statistics.
World Health Organization (WHO). Depression in America: A Global Perspective.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
American Psychological Association (APA). Depression Prevalence and Risk Factors.
Twenge, J. M. (2019). The Age of Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES): Depression Trends.
World Health Organization (WHO). Depression in a Pandemic: Mental Health Impacts.
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Mental Health During COVID-19: Depression and Anxiety Rates.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Depression Statistics: Gender and Ethnicity Disparities.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Depression and Substance Use Disorder Overlap.
PTSD Statistics and Information Sources:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Statistics and Risk Factors.
Veterans Affairs (VA). PTSD Prevalence Among Military and Civilian Populations.
American Psychiatric Association (APA). History of PTSD in the DSM and Diagnostic Evolution.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Mental Health: Trauma and PTSD Rates in U.S. Adults.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey on Drug Use and Health: PTSD and Trauma.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Comorbidity Survey: PTSD Trends in the U.S.
Kessler, R. C. (2005). PTSD in the National Comorbidity Survey: Epidemiology of Trauma and PTSD.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). PTSD Statistics: Gender and Racial Disparities.
American Psychological Association (APA). PTSD in Adolescents and Youth: Prevalence and Impact.
Anxiety Statistics and Information Sources:
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Anxiety Disorders: Prevalence and Risk Factors.
American Psychiatric Association (APA). History of Anxiety Disorders in the DSM.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Anxiety Statistics: Prevalence During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Anxiety and Depression.
American Psychological Association (APA). Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders in the U.S.
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). COVID-19's Impact on Mental Health: Anxiety and Depression Rates.
Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Happy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Health Interview Survey (NHIS): Mental Health Trends.
Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). The Relationship Between Social Media Use and Anxiety Symptoms in Adolescents.
World Health Organization (WHO). Global Mental Health Report: Anxiety and Depression Statistics.
American Psychiatric Association (APA). Anxiety in Women: Prevalence and Risk Factors.
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Mental Health in Adolescents: Trends in Anxiety and Depression.
SAMHSA. Disparities in Mental Health Treatment Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities.
Mental Health America (MHA). Anxiety and Depression Among Minority Populations.
American Psychological Association (APA). Anxiety in Black and Hispanic Populations: Access to Care.
Addiction Statistics and Information Sources:
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Opioid Crisis Statistics and Trends.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Overdose Deaths and Substance Use Trends.
American Psychiatric Association (APA). History of Addiction and Substance Use Disorders in the DSM.
SAMHSA. The Impact of COVID-19 on Substance Use and Mental Health.
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). COVID-19 and the Opioid Crisis: Substance Use and Addiction Rates.
American Psychological Association (APA). Alcohol Use Disorder: Prevalence and Risk Factors.
SAMHSA. Youth Substance Use Trends: Marijuana, Vaping, and Prescription Drug Abuse.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). National Health Statistics Reports: Alcohol and Drug Use in Adolescents.
Twenge, J. M. (2017). iGen: Social Media, Substance Use, and Adolescent Addiction.
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Methamphetamine Addiction and Rural America.
SAMHSA. Disparities in Addiction Treatment Among Minority Populations.
American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). Gender Differences in Addiction: Risks and Prevalence.
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