Gasser And LSD

“Hallucinations and voices that caused schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders have been stopped with the use of new medications”. (MHT, 2) “Just as aspirin can reduce a fever without curing the infection that causes it, psychotherapeutic medications act by controlling symptoms,” (MFMI, 4). “Another advantage of these medications is an increased understanding of the causes of mental illness. Scientists investigate the results of the medications, and through these results, they have learned a great deal about the working of the brain system.” (MFMI, 4) The use of new drugs has made it possible for mentally ill persons to live a normal life.

According to scientific studies, the risks and benefits associated with psilocybin are rather psychological and not physical. Test subjects

Anxiety and depression give into the power of the potent psilocybin. Emerging studies show the incredible therapeutic experience of psilocybin with sustained treatment. In a study at the New York University, in a study of psilocybin treatment for anxiety and depression, one patient described the experience saying, “Magic mushrooms trump Xanax resoundingly. Rather than getting rid of one’s anxiety, Xanax just numbs it until the medication’s effects wear off. At that point another pill is required. In his words “you’re not taking it and it solves your problem. You take it and you solve your problem yourself.” Prescription drugs often exacerbate one’s condition or manifest an addiction to the drug prescribed. These drugs are costly and toxic to the body; psilocybin is free and is proving to be unhazardous to health in recent studies. (Westlund

Psychedelic chemicals are currently banned for any medical use and strictly limited in research to determine if they can be used effectively to help patient. With one out of ten people in America suffering from depression and one out of four people struggling with some type of mental illness not using every tool available to use seem foolish to limit the tools used by psychotherapist. During the next few pages I will discuss earlier uses for MDMA in psychotherapy and whether these results support or contradict these uses. This will be broken up into four sections; a brief overview of effects, couples therapy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and schizophrenia.

In studies conducted with nearly 130,000 patients in the general population and in US military veterans, “lifetime use of psilocybin or mescaline and past-year use of LSD might be linked to lower rates of serious psychological distress... Lifetime use of LSD was linked to fewer psychiatric medicine prescriptions and lower frequency of outpatient treatment for issues of mental health” (LSD Could Improve). New information is coming to light that LSD may infact have a positive effect on your mental state, and there is now more information supporting the treatment of depression and social disorders with safe, regulated psychedelics. Furthermore, the hyper emotional and psychosomatic journey that acid takes users on has been noted to resolve deeper emotional trauma in the forms of memories and past experiences, making them easier to deal with. The fact of the matter is, tightly restricted laws created nearly 50 years ago by the Nixon administration with inadequate knowledge about how hallucinogens work through improper research is what is preventing more studies in the field. Therefore those suffering from non-physical illnesses may have more relatively new and safer options as opposed to suicide or violence which we have seen in countless school and public shootings as a result

     LSD has always been a center of controversy in American society, often times because peoplehave been miseducated about its effects or exposed to media bias. Its physiological effects onthe brain and body have become more and more apparent in the last few decades when research in neuroscience peaked. The psychological effects of LSD have been often difficult to describe and document very well -- they were first discovered on April 16, 1943 by research chemist Albert Hofmann when a small amount of the drug soaked through his fingers during a routine synthesis. He experienced an imaginative dream-like state for a duration of about 2-3 hours. Since then, a great

The first study concerning the application of LSD in psychotherapy was conducted by Dr. med. Gasser, and this was the first worldwide study after more than four decades without a legal research (Barrau-Alonso et al.). This paper’s main aim is to shed light on the effects of LSD assisted psychotherapy in daily life. This paper examines the effectiveness LSD assisted psychotherapy from the client’s view point. Due to limitations in methodology, it is difficult to establish whether the actions and changes taken on seen here will prove to be true on a larger scale. Whether LSD therapy affect daily life more so personal relationships can be confirmed and will be discussed within the paper. The long term triggers that are associated with this psychotherapy will also be examined in depth. Data was obtained from qualitative interviews held between a participant and the spouse in the study conducted by Dr. med. Gasser in Switzerland (Winkelman and Roberts). We take an overview look at the data from the therapy sessions with more inclusion from the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire the results that were found prove that the use of LSD in psychotherapy assistance leads to changes in the attitude and behavior of the patient and they are also reflected in the daily life (Griffiths et al.). These long-term changes in most cases are not noticeable even by the closes family members, though after a

The effects of hallucinogenic drugs are not well understood and do not alway produce hallucinations but do produce changes in perception, thought and mood (Pamf). LSD users experience several mood swings at once or rapidly. High doses LSD produce delusions and visual hallucinations; sense of time and self

Being confronted by a threat like a life-threatening disease commonly yields psychological stress and isolation. LSD increases the ability to feel emotions, so patients were forced to deal with the negative emotions they had repressed. Patients responses included having a break-through in accessing emotions, being encouraged to free themselves or their minds, to let emotions flow, and to let go of fear. In regard to de-schematizing, or changing one’s perspective of oneself and others, patients said judgements of “good” and “bad” experiments were expelled; and that life and death are not all that different, and that familiarizing the self with this was priceless. One notable response focused on looking at one’s self as more than one’s

The affect LSD has on the body is controlled in the brain. As the substance enters the

During the 1980s-1900s, it was considered a “safe drug” since it was said to create relaxation, emotional openness, intimacy, and empathy (Duterte, M. et al, 2009). Despite this, long time usage can create more negative outcomes than positive. Over time its positive effects have been proven wrong, and many negative psychological effects on the human mind and body have emerged. For example, abusers may experience memory loss, depression, anxiety, and “impaired decision making” (Brecht & Christina, 2002) Initial Effects Depending on the type of pill and amount taken, about 40 to 60 minutes after the ecstasy tablet is consumed, users will start feeling the immediate effects of ecstasy. The effects slowly build up, but once it kicks in it is described as a rush and wave of emotions. After about two hours of consumption, users will fall from the high of ecstasy (Brecht & Christina, 2002). During the build up phase once ecstasy is consumed, users will have heightened senses and will become extremely emotional and aware of their surroundings. As time goes on and the peak hits, users will experience an immense desire of empathy towards one another and will have the urge to engage in intimate

The most common physical effects were pupil dilation, changes in heart rate, changes in blood pressure, and increase in stretch reflex (Quentin 1960). The changes in heart rate and blood pressure were assigned the “adverse” categorization, while pupil dilation, and stretch increase were given the “neutral” categorization. The most common psychological effects of psilocybin are anxiety and paranoia, which were assigned the “adverse” categorization (Amsterdam, Opperhuizen, and van den Brink 2010). Additionally, further common psychological effects include hallucinations, increased sensitivity, intensified mood state, and distorted perceptions (Hasler, Grimberg, Benz, Huber, Vollenweider 2004). These effects were assigned the “neutral” category. Lastly, single trials of psilocybin use have been proven to completely lift symptoms of depression, and induce euphoria. (Carhart-Harris, Bolstridge, Rucker, Day, Erritzoe, Kaelen, Bloomfield, Rickard, Forbes, Feilding, Taylor, Pilling, Curran, Nutt 2016). These psychological effects were assigned the beneficial

There is strong evidence for the fact that chemicals can have a strong influence on behaviour and experience. Recreational drugs affect mood and cognitions. Alcohol usually makes people more relaxed and less inhibited. Drug such as LSD can cause disturbances of disturbances of perception, including hallucination.

LSD is undoubtedly an extremely powerful substance. For the inexperienced user it can create a world of mass confusion and fear. It is a substance that should be used only under the safest and secure conditions. It takes advantage of some of the normal processes of the brain by releasing and detecting certain chemicals termed neurotransmitters. With LSD, it’s most important sites are receptors of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, which is responsible for controlling behavior, mood, sleep, appetite and blood flow (Strange). It has psychotomimetic actions that mimic the symptoms of psychosis, including delusions and/ or delirium as opposed to just have only hallucinations (Wikipedia). The effects of LSD are unpredictable because the user’s sense of reality and correct perception of the environment is greatly altered and skewed. The changes can have traumatic or euphoric effect

It is no secret that drug use has the ability to completely alter a person’s state of consciousness, whether it be through extreme euphoria, increased hyperactivity, pain relief or psychedelic hallucinations. Although many drugs are used for medical purposes, the global issue of recreational drug use is now being fronted as an extremely serious matter that is steadily on the uprise. Recreational drug use is often associated with negativity, addiction and as having serious physical and mental repercussions. One of the few class of drugs that is often associated with both positive and negative connotations are hallucinogens, otherwise known as “psychedelics”, which have powerful altering effects on ones sense of perception, brain function