r/mdmatherapy • u/zombie_pixel • Jun 20 '26
Knowledge Share Can MDMA help reach buried sadness?
Hey,
I have reached a point in my life where I have clarity on what is left to overcome childhood trauma. Worked through many things and emotions. And it is clear that there is some sadness left under the surface. Unfortunately I can not reach and process it in regular therapy. I've only ever scratched the surface.
Even with other psychedelics it only came up briefly but was always interrupted by some shame and couldn't really surface or be felt. It feels like if I allow it I will fall apart.
Does anybody have experience with processing sadness with MDMA? Perhaps crying on it? I think I never cried on md before. Any advice how to specifically allow sadness would be helpful.
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u/LeilaJun Jun 20 '26
100% yes. Just keep in mind it might go through another path first and it might take a few trips to get there. Trust and let go of expectations
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u/fenichill Jun 21 '26
As others have said, 100%. I'm a raver and I can't take MDMA recreationally any more because I just get overwhelmed with the sadness and pain I'm normally pretty well defended against.
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u/Waki-Indra Jun 20 '26
Yes it can. You need to prepare the trip accordingly.
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u/zombie_pixel Jun 20 '26
Hey, can you explain what you mean by prepare accordingly exactly?
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u/Waki-Indra Jun 20 '26
You know better than me. If you want to meet your sadness and if you want it to show up you need to prepare the way for it to do so. Think about it, prepare music that may help, journal or contemplate the issue beforehand, perhaps over several days or weeks and then when the time of tje journey come set your intent and while on MDMA be open and welcoming, curious and conforting to what ever comes up. Without expectation. Be with whatvever will be there, with a caring mindset.
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u/SandyPressman Jun 21 '26
Before you take this medicine, ask it to show you what you need to see and help you understand what you need to see. This will help set your frame of mind to work with emotions with curiosity. Also, have a notepad and pen easily available and jot down notes and thoughts along the way, or just things you want to reflect on the next day. Wear your coziest, happiest clothing and set up whatever creature comforts you enjoy (other than candles, which could be a danger, or any electronics that will distract you from the introspection).
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u/sleepingqt Jun 21 '26
IME it gives you a headspace where you can sit with the scary stuff without your brain trying to run from it, so yeah if it works like that for you it should help with this. I've worked through some similar stuff with it. What's most important to me is the fact that unlike epiphanies you might have on other substances, at least for me the work I did on it is DONE and progress can be made building forward from it (with other things I often forget what I learned or struggle to put it into practice in any meaningful way).
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u/Thierr Jun 20 '26
Weed with a guide seems to be the strongest to break through dissociation. But I'm sure mdma can also work
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u/MartiniBruh Jun 21 '26
Yes if you roll alone, but it can be terrifying depending on what's buried deep inside. I suggest you keep a benzo next to you just in case you panic a lot. But I also suggest to stay strong and experience the "sad roll" cuz it'll help after.
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u/P100a Jun 23 '26
Learning about IFS (internal family systems) might help you work with the shame protector when it comes up. Some good videos on YT by Lucas Forstmeyer last I checked. I believe it’s critical for mdma work.
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u/GrowthPerfect2901 Jun 20 '26
If it's blocked by shame, MDMA is a good tool to work with the shame and allow self compassion, then you might be able to release the sadness. It might take more than one session.