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I've been writing a short book called "Open MDMA: An Evidence-Based Synthesis, Theory, and Manual for MDMA Therapy Based on Predictive Processing, Complex Systems, and the Defense Cascade," available here: https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/aps5g. I have a large section on all the different risks, but here is the bit about cognitive/serotonin-system effects, in case anyone is interested in another assessment of the issue:
Some observational human studies and controlled high-dose animal studies have found that MDMA use is associated with neurotoxcicity (oxidative stress in this case) or cognitive problems (The History of MDMA by Torsten Passie). However, these problems have not been found in controlled studies in humans (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3053129/pdf/nihms-247953.pdf). The human observational studies that find problems... (read more)
Everything in your comment here is just about exactly how it went for me too.
I've been using this method a lot and I realized there's a shortcut if you have an exceptionally powerful disconfirmation memory. The moment you realize a distressing feeling has arisen, activate the powerful memory and hold it until reconsolidation is complete. You don't need to identify the target schema or identify a relevant disconfirming experience. The identity of the schema is usually revealed during reconsolidation, which feels easier than identifying it before reconsolidation. For me the memory was taking MDMA (alone, therapeutic context) for the first time and feeling like I'd still be full of love even if everyone and everything I love burned to ashes in front of me. Other's have reported spontaneous meditative experiences that seem similar. I strongly suspect most fears boil down to disconnection of some form, so powerful memories of connection may be a universal mismatch.
Plant suffering depends on completely unverified theories of subjective experience (See https://iep.utm.edu/hard-problem-of-conciousness). Suffering is possibly unmeasurable. We only know that we can suffer and we assume others can suffer because they seem similar enough to us. Plants are different enough than animals with central nervous systems that assuming they can suffer seems a shaky proposition. One could write a microcontroller program that makes some signal if it's circuit is damaged. Does that mean that program can suffer?
I did an experiment and prompted ChatGPT4 to guide me in the Coherence Therapy model. I did an hour long session, treating the session as seriously as if I was with a valued human therapist. In this narrow context, I felt empathized with, understood, and effectively guided through healing a bit of my pain. I've already done a lot of healing (largely mdma+psilocybin sessions), have a good idea of the types of emotional wounds I have, and have a pretty good understanding of how healing works. I think this experience was valuable in guiding GPT4 to do what I wanted. Despite that experience, I still have a hard time therapying myself without... (read more)
I'm glad to see others are talking about this! I've had an exceptionally effective experience healing severe early childhood emotional neglect through around 10 MDMA/psilocybin combo trips over the past 2 years. I started with a trusted guide and then transitioned to solo once I got the hang of things. It saved my life and made me much more compassionate, rational, and effective. I'm also less attached to my identities. I feel whole and alive for the first time in my life.
I also used to view my value as largely instrumental. My mental health was bad enough that I couldn't work and as a utilitarian, I acknowledged my intrinsic value but thought... (read more)
Hi everyone, I'm new here. I'm particularly interested in the positive effects of healing unprocessed trauma (via MDMA therapy[3], psychotherapy, etc). It increases cognitive flexibility, increases compassion, and reduces the rigidness of identities. I think some effects of extreme unprocessed trauma like narcissism, manipulativeness, dehumanization of others, violent crime[1], fascism, etc. have catastrophically large negative effects on society and treating the trauma at the core[2] of these problems should be among the highest of priorities.
[1] https://www.google.com/books/edition/Base_Instincts/c_vlTkkvEI0C?hl=en&gbpv=0
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trauma_model_of_mental_disorders
I'm not sure if this is in the category of things you're looking for, but I've spent a couple years writing "Open MDMA: An Evidence-Based Synthesis, Theory, and Manual for MDMA Therapy Based on Predictive Processing, Complex Systems, and the Defense Cascade" as my own way to scale up healing and secure attachment. https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/aps5g
I think the circle model is oversimplified and that reality is some unfathomable complex system with a ton of known and unknown nonlinear factors pushing in different directions. But that's not much practical use :P.