Therapy types

Yes, exactly! @Former-Member

Grief genuinely is so complex... I think exploring ACT with your psychologist, and being held in this safe space will be really healing for you. Please keep me posted. 🥰

@Former-Member I saw you mentioned EMDR Therapy. My doctor suggested it for me and said it has been very successful and it would help with my CPTSD. I started doing some research and found this article regarding people having debilitating side effects.

I found the attached message. And there were others on different sites as well, stating they had debilitating side effects. Some lasted for months and had to be hospitalised.

Now I am not so sure about this form of treatment.

https://forums.beyondblue.org.au/t5/treatments-health-professionals/emdr-extremely-severe-side-effects/td-p/611125

I have just had a new mental health care plan done, so my therapists wants to try Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT). It is a evidence-based approach that helps individuals, couples, and families improve emotional connection, understand and transform negative interaction patterns, and build secure, lasting relationships. Developed from attachment theory, EFT focuses on identifying, processing, and expressing primary emotions to foster connection and address underlying needs in a safe, structured environment, leading to increased trust and greater relationship satisfaction.

@tyme @AuntGlow @AlwaysMyself

@Former-Member @AuntGlow @tyme @Chasingsunsets @REDLINEZ750 @AlwaysMyself @Oaktree @Jynx @avant-garde @Ru-bee @rav3n

Has anyone looked into psychedelic-assisted therapy? I saw a presentation on TED https://go.ted.com/eUUuX Basically unlike traditional therapy, clinicians use substances such as psychedelics [edited by moderator] to supplement counseling sessions. The idea is that with the inclusion of psychedelics, the person will have an altered state of consciousness and be open to more profound emotional healing and personal growth. My therapists wants to do the training, so she can use this type of therapy. It sounds interesting.

Also I was talking to a fellow PTSD sufferer and I was telling him the troubles I am having with my PTSD and the medication. He uses and alternative therapy [edited by moderator] and says he prefers it because it is natural. Has anyone tried this method?

@Mustang67 psychadelic assisted therapy is growing in Australia. I know of a family friend's child who had treatment and a very positive outcome.

I am hoping to get into a clinical trial for one of them (and if im lucky not the control group lol). Hopefully even if I do get in and end up in a control group then maybe the researchers will know if there are any local clinicians I can pay for treatment afterwards.

I think over the next 12 months more practitioners will get prescribing rights and training.

You can search for clinical trials on https://anzctr.org.au/ and use keyword search [edited by moderator]. It lists whether they're open for recruitment, the eligibility criteria, and a contact person.

I would be very interested to hear peoples experiences if they have done psychadelic-assisted treatment.

@AlwaysMyself The TED talk I watched was over 6 years old. It usually takes a while before we start paying attention. I love that my own therapist wants to learn it. Lol

Thank you for the link for the clinical trials, I have book marked the page and will have a look. I wish you luck in getting into the control group. I will keep my fingers crossed for you 🤞🤞🤞

Hi @Mustang67 @AlwaysMyself funnily enough I did a training in PAT a couple years ago. It's an area I am suuuuper passionate about!

I think one take away that might help you understand the benefits a bit more is that psychedelics can shut down what is called 'Default Mode Network' (DMN) - aka the standard array of neural pathways your brain adheres to in your day-to-day. Basically it's all our automatic thoughts, particularly active during moments of introspection or daydreaming. Our self-perception and sense of identity would emerge from it... Introducing psychedelics opens us up for rewiring those neural pathways - lot easier to break a bad habit when our brains are lit up like a christmas tree haha

Here's a pic that shows standard DMN (left) vs. someone under effects of I believe psilocybin (right):

I found a research paper about it, if you wanna know more - here. But yeah you can see all those extra pathways lit up, making it easier for us to alter our thoughts and self-perceptions.

Someone once said to me that taking psychedelics was like 'a year's worth of therapy in one sitting'. I think if you can access this kind of treatment, it's definitely worth a shot 😉

Could ramble about this for days haha pls do ask me stuff if you have more queries! 💜

Oohh @Jynx this is so good to hear! And yes I will read the article, thank you 😁.

What you describe is exactly why I have sought out a clinical trial for it. Not sure if you've read/remember my MH situation (I dont expect you to have!) but I've had it so long its all I remember/know -- and hence I suspect there is a significant element of neural pathways that are not active (possibly due to early childhood lack of developing due to trauma, or possibly just due to a long time of not being used becoming dormant) and no amount of "doing things i used to enjoy" and other techniques have been able to budge it at all. Hence I think my brain needs some assistance to stimulate new neural pathways.

(I did try TMS, thats a longer story. I had to stop after 3 weeks ☹️.)

@Jynx It does sound very promising. I seem to do my therapy and workshops to learn new things, but over time, It feels like I am not retaining the important parts that I need. I have book marked the research that you did, so I can learn more about it.

Now that I know one of my therapist is interested in doing the education she needs, so she can use with her clients, I will be more than happy to push her along. Lol

I can't believe the difference in the picture that show a standard DMN vs someone under effects of I believe psilocybin. There certainly are a lot of neural pathways being rewiring.

Not sure I have @AlwaysMyself but if there's a thread or spot where I can have a read I'm more than happy to. But yeah sounds like it could be super helpful for you!! You ever hear the phrase, 'neurons that fire together, wire together'? Makes sense that these patterns are hard to break if they once kept you safe - our brains cling to 'survival' behaviours (even the ones that end up being distressing) because they're familiar. Creatures of habit - blessing and a curse at times ahaha.

I would love to hear about how you go, if you do end up in the trial (and are comfy/allowed to share of course)

@Mustang67 I did my course with Mind Medicine Australia - might be worth checking out the website cos I think they do have clinical services, plus they run trainings and so there's heaps of info and stuff on there.

Ever scoped out the works of Terrence McKenna? One of the leaders in psychedelic research and philosophy.

@Jynx you asked if I've ever heard the phrase, 'neurons that fire together, wire together. Well I heard that phrase for the first time on Thursday, when I was discussing P-AT with my therapists. Lol

Thank you for the link to Mind Medicine Australia. I clicked on the link and I can do with learning more about the title that came up. When my medication is working as it should, I enjoy learning new things. So I will definitely be checking it out.

I have never heard of Terrence McKenna? But I will look him up. Thank you for your suggestions. I really appreciate it. 😊