[Solved] Anxiety and dissociation after ayahuasca ceremony

Anxiety and dissociation following an ayahuasca experience unfortunately occur more often than many people expect. Especially if the ceremony was inadequately guided, or if unresolved traumas or overwhelming emotions surfaced during the trip, the mind can "get stuck" in fear, confusion, or a kind of survival mode (dissociation is an example of this). We have heard many people with similar complaints ask roughly the same questions. They have had a negative experience (bad trip) elsewhere and would like relief.

To answer your question directly:
Yes, a guided psychedelic session can help in some cases., but it is important that it is handled very carefully and tailored. Often, work is done first on grounding, safety and stability before you use a psychedelic substance again at all. In some situations, it may even be wiser to first a number non-psychedelic sessions (such as trauma processing therapy, integration conversations, or bodywork) to do to calm your nervous system and make your system feel "safe" again. In some cases, a doctor may prescribe anti-anxiety medication to help you stabilize.

If psychedelic therapy is appropriate, a substance is often chosen that mild and controlled works, such as a low dose of psilocybin (for example via truffles), an MDMA session, or possibly MDMA with a small amount of psilocybin. In this, you work together with an experienced therapist specifically on the process and reintegrate of the experience. We have observed with previous clients that after bad trips or negative after-effects, MDMA with a small amount of hallucinogenic psychedelics (LSD or psilocybin) works better at altering the stress response or triggers activated by the ayahuasca experience. This approach is a psychedelic-assisted exposure therapy and can override negative triggers with safety and calm.

Important conditions for success are:

• An experienced psychedelic guide or therapist
• A preparation in which the risks are also discussed and mitigated
• A safe setting in which you have full control over the process
• Aftercare/integration to process experiences

NB: if you are experiencing severe dissociation right now, it is not It is unwise to take a psychedelic substance again without preparation or in an unfamiliar setting. That can worsen the symptoms.