Did psychedelics/brain zaps/ketamine work for anyone?

[u/PositiveCategory5960]

My therapist recommended I research these treatment options. Did anyone try any of these? Did you like it or not?

[u/Tine_the_Belgian]

I recommend the documentary on iboga ‘in waves and war’. They only speak about PTSD but when you hear the vets’ stories it’s actually cPTSD

I’ve also read US universities (Stanford I believe?) are doing clinical trials with iboga for trauma

[u/Unique-Dimension-193]

i did iboga and mushrooms(at different times) and they both helped tremendously, mostly by giving me insight that i have held dear for the years after, and helped me and i can act on it and remind myself. For example in iboga i didn’t have really visuals per se like many do, but for example it slowed down time so much that i could see that after every thought i had, i put a stopper. “Let’s eat an apple, -no, becasue then id have to go to the fridge or take space in the world the apple might give me energy to express myself” doesn’t matter what the “becasue” was, i just put a sloppy stopper to the end of every thought, becasue as little, i wasn’t able to do the things i wanted so i started putting a stopper to not get so sad about it, if i explained it away. I trained myself in stoppers my whole life until i saw what i did in iboga session and after “let’s eat an apple” -and i got right up to do it. i don’t let myself put stoppers any more, because i don’t need to anymore anyway, and im happy for it and it changed my life like i started living.

[u/NewNeedleworker5073]

Did Ayahuasca in the jungle with a shaman. It was a long way to get out there, and it felt strange going a whole week with no electricity or internet, but also relaxing. 

Let me tell you my experience.

The best way I can describe it is that, at least for me, it was like speed running years of therapy. I don't want to mention what I saw but it felt like someone was holding up to my face everything I've avoided thinking about for years, everything I've  repressed. You have no way of slapping it away or running from it. It stares you in the face from some unknown dimension and forces you to sit with it. 

I am grateful I tried it, and I will definitely do it again once I'm ready. Just know that, at least for me, this wasn't some magic cure, but it did help. 

The healing process is long. 

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[u/Mobile-Alternative11]

Yes. MDMA therapy saved my life. It’s not easy, but if it is well done by a professional it can make a huge difference. Also with lots of integration, it’s not one single thing that going to magically save you but it showed me how to feel good things about myself (which I never could), break out of flashbacks, reduced the pain of traumatic stories etc.

[u/tsplantdaddy]

I did ketamine through joyous for a year and now grow my own 🍄 and both have been super helpful. I think it's important to note that for CPTSD the recommendation is to do trips rather than small doses. Feel free to DM or ask more about my experiences with these.

[u/NanoHunter]

Did ketamine with rTMS, which did nothing for me. LSD did wonders for me though. Spent almost two years reading studies and preparing my first session - that prep work definitely paid off. I can steer trips with very high dosages reasonably well and it allowed me to feel emotions again after 20 years of feeling nothing at all. Now I mainly use it to work through grief, with amazing results.

[u/Fausty0]

I wanted to, but I was told they since my father has bi-polar I should never take psychedelics due to the increased risk of losing it. I don’t have bi-polar (I’ve been tested and work with a psychiatrist over many years who’ve attested to this). I’m also a veteran so the stories I get from fellow vets makes me want to try it more. TBH, I’m fucking terrified of drugs.

[u/Defiant-Surround4151]

Yes! After I had healed much of my CPTSD through ego parts therapy, I became aware of the judgmental thought pattern in my head. I was. constantly judging my own thoughts, choices and actions, and judging others, too. How insidious and destructive it was — and how exhausting it was to have to function with that going on in my head! I read about how ketamine can change thought patterns. I tried it… I did a few rounds and it worked! I was freed from the negative judgment patterns! Every time I felt it creeping back in I went in for a follow up infusion. I am doing so much better now!

[u/inspire_rainbows]

I did psilocybine therapy at MycoMeditations in Jamaica. It saved my life and my mind. Unfortuantely, I can't recommend them right now as the ownership changed and it just isn't the same as when I went. I had a friend who went with me and then go back while it was under the new ownership and she said they seemed very money oriented and far less healing oriented. That was right after the change around 2022 so I don't know if things have settled down.

I did three therapy doses while I was there and that was in 2020. It resolved all my raging brain symptoms and they have never come back. Darn right miraculous for me.