Opinions - LSD for Depression and Past Trauma

[metaphoria]

SWIM has suffered from depression for most of his life. He's tried a myriad of drugs and a bunch of psychotherapy (CBT, counseling, etc.), but nothing's really seemed to have much of an effect. SWIM know his thought patterns are to blame...he's always lived in the past and can't get over things that happened months, even years ago. SWIM's mind constantly tortures itself with the most painful thoughts and memories it possibly can, and not being able to get over anything really takes its toll. Not only does his own past make him terribly sad, but knowing the terrible things that have happened to the one he loves most is extremely painful as well, wishing he could have been there for her. (abuse in the past and such)

SWIM has only done acid once before, and it was pretty weak, so he doesn't think he got the full experience. SWIM knows that LSD and depression can sometimes be a bad idea and he's willing to take that risk. He knows that LSD has the power to drastically change the way your mind works, and SWIM was wondering if he would be able to use this to change his thought patterns and finally free himself from the emotional turmoil caused from negative thoughts and memories.

SWIM knows that drugs are not the answer to life's problems...but perhaps they would help him find the answers on his own.

[BrainMelt]

Has swiy tried MDMA? Swim had very similar problems to what swiy describes and found that MDMA helped him immensely with getting into a better state of mind. Can't comment on LSD though since swim has not tried it.

[metaphoria]

SWIM actually abused MDMA quite a bit last year...and while helping at first, I think going overboard worsened a lot of symptoms. He's taking a 6 month break before he trys it again...and so far he's 4 months in.

[Macee]

SWIY shouldnt do it unless you have immense experience in psychedelics, since they are damn intense.

perhaps SWIY should try MDMA first as brainmelt suggested.

[Niteflights]

I believe that depression must be treated at it's source which is most often outside of the chemical realm. I would suggest reading some enlightened authors such as Eckart Tolle or Dalai Lama, or just learning some simple breathing/mediation techniques. Treating depression with drugs tends to exasperate the problem in large part due to ignoring the fundamental causes. Quite commonly this leaves the person in a profoundly worse state than to begin with in that then they are dependant yet still depressed. I have seen users with boatloads of xxx you name it substance and more suicidal than ever... just look at Elvis, Cobaine, Morrison, Moore.

A highly under acknowledge reality in the modern world is that depression is a natural part of human existence. Learning to exist with your emotions is key.

Drugs are wonderful and can open up wonderful realms of experience but they can not replace the source of any real or permanent happiness or satisfaction with life.

[Joe-(5-HTP)]

^^ I agree mainly with Niteflights, but if you are determined to use drugs to help your condition, then definitely go for MDMA. In swim's opinion, LSD is too risky to use for therapeutic reasons outside a professional context. If swiy uses MDMA, don't just take it and expect clarity to come to you: you have to combine the euphoria with structured thinking about things like Niteflights talks about if you want to get anywhere.