Burnout, Loss, Anxiety: Why People Seek Psychedelic Therapy, According to Experts
Why do people seek psychedelic therapy?
At a time when technology has society more connected than ever, more and more people report feelings of isolation and discontent. In fact, studies show depression and anxiety are on the rise in the US and abroad.
There’s growing awareness of the pressures of modern life—from financial hardships and workplace burnout to social media use.
It’s alongside these challenges that we’re witnessing a surge of interest in psychedelic-assisted therapy, a which people tout as a hope for treatment-resistant depression, PTSD, and other ailments.
These bland, clinical words–like demoralization, trauma, or obsessive-compulsive disorder–can seem foreign or weird, and can actually confuse us about what’s really causing our suffering.
So we wanted to know: which parts of modern life are psychedelic patients most seeking relief from? In plain language: what’s causing the suffering people feel? Phones? Absent dads? Traffic? Selfish spouses? Too-hard jobs? Not enough work?
What?
We talked to psychedelic experts to find out what’s driving patients toward psychedelic therapy. And we were surprised to learn there was a common theme to our suffering, beyond all these individual bummers: disconnection.
Dr. Mike Cooper – Innerwell At-Home Ketamine Therapy
Clients are often seeking relief from job burnout, financial insecurity, unfulfilling relationships, and existential distress. Related to these issues, they may be experiencing apathy, a sense of disconnection from others, and a lack of creativity. It’s important to note that these issues are often interrelated. A good example is someone who feels overworked and unsatisfied with their career, and whenever they’re not at work, they’re thinking about work, which negatively impacts their relationships with their loved ones, and in turn they feel disengaged from their life. They then struggle to find joy and meaning, and they start drinking to cope with their situation. When they discover that drinking is only making things worse for them, they may seek psychedelic treatment for a fresh perspective and to learn how to become unstuck.
— Dr. Mike Cooper, Medical Director of Innerwell At-Home Ketamine Therapy
Tyler Strause – Eleusinia
In our work at Eleusinia Retreat, we often uncover a profound sense of disconnection at the core of our clients’ struggles. This disconnection from nature, self, community, and creative expression manifests in feelings of isolation and dissatisfaction. The intense pace of modern urban life, filled with technology and devoid of creative outlets, can erode essential connections to inner wisdom and self-compassion. Through our integrative practices, we guide individuals to rediscover their creative spark and cultivate self-compassion, fostering a harmonious alignment with both nature and their inner selves. By providing pathways for creative exploration and gentle self-inquiry within the context of psychedelic experiences, we help clients mend these disconnected parts, allowing them to find peace, balance, and fulfillment in a fragmented world.
— Tyler Strause, Psychedelic Support Specialist at Eleusinia
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Dr. Jeanette Waxmonsky – Noma Therapy – At Home Ketamine Tele-Health
People seek psychedelic therapy at Noma when they are ready for change. Many people come to us when they are undergoing a transitional stage in their lives. They may have just experienced a personal loss, are undergoing a midlife transition, or they simply aren’t getting the results they need from their existing therapist or medications.
People also seek psychedelic therapy to gain a new perspective on their lives. Psychedelics help people connect with their emotions in new ways and gain insights that they don’t otherwise get. It allows people to start thinking in a different way, and this enables them to make the profound changes that they are seeking
However, to translate these new perspectives into lasting change, it’s essential to combine psychedelics with psychotherapy. The guidance of a trained therapist helps individuals navigate their new insights, enabling them to make sense of them and integrate those insights into their daily lives. To this end, Noma Therapy combines regular ketamine dosing sessions with weekly psychotherapy sessions that are specifically designed to translate psychedelic experiences into lasting positive change.
— Dr. Jeanette Waxmonsky, Head of Clinical Services at Noma Therapy – At-Home Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy
Vernise Cardillo – One Retreats Jamaica
We field inquiries daily from individuals seeking a transformative psilocybin experience. Our intake process places emphasis on intention, prompting a deeper dive into the motivations behind their choice.
— Vernise Cardillo, Retreat Coordinator & Psilocybin Facilitator, ONE Retreats Jamaica
It is overwhelmingly unanimous that there is a shared yearning for relief from some kind of past hardship, disappointment or traumatic experience. These incidents include childhood abuse, sexual abuse, death or some kind of loss, to name a few.
Trauma has the ability to lodge itself within the body, whether physically, mentally or emotionally, and can shape our behaviors and create ailments that can obstruct our daily well-being.
While we know we cannot change the past, psilocybin possesses the potential to unearth these traumas, allowing us to cultivate understanding for what occurred and liberate us from the guilt and shame of it.
This is simply what individuals mostly want, to free themselves of their past.
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Andrew Tansil – Sayulita Wellness Mushroom Retreat
Modern success often results in professionals feeling unexpectedly detached. The mounting pressures of work, coupled with the isolating effects of urban living, can strain relationships and create a sense of disconnection from oneself. The urgency of modern life only magnifies this detachment, leading to a pervasive feeling of being adrift. We find this often leads to symptoms such as stress, anxiety, and a general sense of unfulfillment. This disconnect can take a toll on mental and emotional well-being, affecting overall quality of life. Addressing this challenge requires a comprehensive approach that often includes: reconnecting with a natural environment, receiving personalized 1-on-1 psychological support, resetting the nervous system through therapeutic psychedelic treatment, detoxing the body with anti-inflammatory food, invigorating well-being through movement, and providing the space to truly relax the body and mind.
— Andrew Tansil, Sayulita Wellness
RELATED: Psychedelics Won’t Fix You. Here’s What They Will Do
Jennifer Tessler – Alalaho Retreats
Many individuals aren’t aware that this is the underlying issue they’re grappling with when they choose to participate in a psilocybin retreat. Disconnection tends to operate on several levels: disconnection from oneself (a lack of awareness of and attunement with one’s own feelings); from others around us (unfulfilling relationships, feeling trapped by certain roles, masks, expectations); from the natural world (which is one of the greatest source of vitality, comfort, and inspiration), and from the deepest aspects of life – ‘the Great Mystery’ as we like to call it (a sense of being part of something greater than one’s skin-encapsulated self). Thankfully, studies have demonstrated that psychedelics, when combined with other therapeutic methods, can catalyze significant transformations in these areas, fostering a deeper sense of connectedness and fulfillment.
— Jennifer Tessler, Founding Director of Alalaho
RELATED: Tens of Thousands of Trained Psychedelic Practitioners Needed, Experts Say
Lexi Loman – Integrative Psychiatry of Oklahoma
I’ve found the biggest reason for client’s symptoms of depression and anxiety stem from a disconnect within themselves. In return they become disconnected from others and the world around them. This leads to a heavy focus on external factors (most of which they have no control over) that worsen their mental health and worsen the disconnection. We are designed to connect. If we can’t connect with ourselves we are incapable of truly connecting with others. It leads to trying to fill the void with anything else (work, relationships, social media, money…), but a heart-shaped hole can’t be filled with a square. The relief they’re truly seeking is the disconnection within themselves.
— Lexie Loman, Licensed Professional Counselor at Integrative Psychiatry of Oklahoma
Why People Seek Psychedelic Therapy – An Overview
The demands of modern life can leave us feeling disconnected to each other, to nature, and, ultimately, to ourselves, and that disconnection is just one of the many reasons driving the growth of psychedelics. In a fast-paced world that can leave us feeling fragmented and overwhelmed, psychedelic therapy offers a promising avenue to slow down and re-connect with ourselves.
If you’re exploring psychedelic therapy as a treatment option, it’s essential to remember that psychedelics are not a panacea—but they are a tool that can be used alongside traditional mental healthcare, innerwork, and wellness practices. If you’re curious about psychedelic therapy, speak with a reputable provider in your area who can help you determine if the treatment is right for you.
