4 ms·

> “I was able to forgive myself. It was like a clean sweep.” I think this is the overlooked key point in these discussions of MDMA or other treatments as remed

> “I was able to forgive myself. It was like a clean sweep.” I think this is the overlooked key point in these discussions of MDMA or other treatments as remedies for PTSD: it brings on the ability to see yourself and your actions with compassion and forgiveness that is not present in baseline consciousness. For my own healing of trauma (which did not involve the use of MDMA), that has been the key. And letting go of deep resentment towards others (e.g., parents, former partners, lost friends) happened pretty much immediately, once I was able to have self-compassion and forgive myself. As promising as the research around MDMA might be, it's still likely to be a long time before it has clinical and legal approval in most jurisdictions and even then it may not be the be-all-and-end-all for emotional healing. Whereas there are techniques for bringing on self-forgiveness that are already available, though not yet accepted in the mainstream. Hopefully that may start to change soon.

ltempaaay 8y ago
Do you mind expanding on letting go of resentment? I was not aware it is a major factor. I was somewhat aware that decisions on how to handle resentment were somehow going back and forth.
- tenaciousDaniel 8y ago
  In my own experience, I did sense an ability to let go of some deep-seated resentment. At the time it felt as if it had disappeared forever, but the resentment came back after the effects of the drug wore off. That was a casual experience with the drug, though. Not taken in a clinical setting with the objective goal of dealing with those issues. I could easily see how the drug could be used carefully for such a goal. In fact it was one of my first reactions when I felt it for the first time. I thought "holy shit this would be an amazing therapeutic tool". There really is no way to describe it.
technotony 8y ago
> Whereas there are techniques for bringing on self-forgiveness that are already available, though not yet accepted in the mainstream. Could you comment on what those are?
- tomhoward 8y ago
  There's a bunch of emotional exercises/practices that enable you to connect with unresolved traumas held in the subconscious mind, learn about what they are and how they're affecting you, and let them go. Which as far as I know is what MDMA enables, but they don't require you to have access to MDMA, and are safer for frequent long-term use. The practices all work in different ways too, so I'm sure they enable you to have experiences/insights that are quite different to what MDMA activates. Some practices I'm familiar with include Holotropic Breathwork (developed by Psychiatrist Stan Grof, who was a pioneer of research into LSD before it was banned), EFT/tapping and Milton Erickson Hypnosis. A friend of mine frequently does Family Constellations workshops and finds them highly beneficial, but I haven't tried that yet. There are others that are more left-field than I'm willing to go into here but you're welcome to email me (address in profile) if you want to know more.
  - ryanmarsh 8y ago
    A religious based modality for this is called Theophostic Prayer. Careful if you google it. You'll find some bizarre stuff that had nothing to do with my treatment. It's really weird when you read about something that changed your life dramatically for the better and others trash it and talk about it using a description that sounds nothing like your reality. Really makes one wonder about other things getting blasted publicly.
    - bostonvaulter2 8y ago
      Do you have a link that does explain what you went through?
      - ryanmarsh 8y ago
        Unfortunately no.
- MrEfficiency 8y ago
  I can only speak about the times me and my wife had taken it together. It gave us an ability to talk about everything. Nothing weird, just a fantastic conversation. The next morning- >I had 2 TVs side by side as monitors(previously, she was worried about 'what the neighbors would think'.) >We had our finances planned for how we would deal with upcoming house work. >We learned about each other during sex, nothing weird, just better. This is the big stuff that others can likely relate to. It was like 3 hours of fantastic conversation.
blueprint 8y ago
What on Earth do you have to forgive ?
- facetube 8y ago
  With apologies to Neal Brennan: if you're asking that question, congratulations on having a great life.
ryanmarsh 8y ago
it brings on the ability to see yourself and your actions with compassion and forgiveness that is not present in baseline consciousness Didn't use MDMA but this was a core part of my treatment for PTSD (combat related). We (semi-religious therapist and I) dove deep into triggering feelings and memories and connected with them and I was basically able to forgive myself and others. Changed my life.
- simonsaidit 8y ago
  exactly what happens in my Changa trips. hundreds of conversations play out, or someone ends up in the mothers womb feeling her love or many other scenarios often relating to memories of the past. afterwards forgiveness or some issue seeming less of an issue, or just being in the moment more happens. cured my stress, ended my years of heavy marijuana abuse. saved a friends marriage. according to his wife.

ltempaaay 8y ago

Do you mind expanding on letting go of resentment? I was not aware it is a major factor. I was somewhat aware that decisions on how to handle resentment were somehow going back and forth.

tenaciousDaniel 8y ago
In my own experience, I did sense an ability to let go of some deep-seated resentment. At the time it felt as if it had disappeared forever, but the resentment came back after the effects of the drug wore off. That was a casual experience with the drug, though. Not taken in a clinical setting with the objective goal of dealing with those issues. I could easily see how the drug could be used carefully for such a goal. In fact it was one of my first reactions when I felt it for the first time. I thought "holy shit this would be an amazing therapeutic tool". There really is no way to describe it.

technotony 8y ago

> Whereas there are techniques for bringing on self-forgiveness that are already available, though not yet accepted in the mainstream. Could you comment on what those are?

tomhoward 8y ago
There's a bunch of emotional exercises/practices that enable you to connect with unresolved traumas held in the subconscious mind, learn about what they are and how they're affecting you, and let them go. Which as far as I know is what MDMA enables, but they don't require you to have access to MDMA, and are safer for frequent long-term use. The practices all work in different ways too, so I'm sure they enable you to have experiences/insights that are quite different to what MDMA activates. Some practices I'm familiar with include Holotropic Breathwork (developed by Psychiatrist Stan Grof, who was a pioneer of research into LSD before it was banned), EFT/tapping and Milton Erickson Hypnosis. A friend of mine frequently does Family Constellations workshops and finds them highly beneficial, but I haven't tried that yet. There are others that are more left-field than I'm willing to go into here but you're welcome to email me (address in profile) if you want to know more.
- ryanmarsh 8y ago
  A religious based modality for this is called Theophostic Prayer. Careful if you google it. You'll find some bizarre stuff that had nothing to do with my treatment. It's really weird when you read about something that changed your life dramatically for the better and others trash it and talk about it using a description that sounds nothing like your reality. Really makes one wonder about other things getting blasted publicly.
  - bostonvaulter2 8y ago
    Do you have a link that does explain what you went through?
    - ryanmarsh 8y ago
      Unfortunately no.
MrEfficiency 8y ago
I can only speak about the times me and my wife had taken it together. It gave us an ability to talk about everything. Nothing weird, just a fantastic conversation. The next morning- >I had 2 TVs side by side as monitors(previously, she was worried about 'what the neighbors would think'.) >We had our finances planned for how we would deal with upcoming house work. >We learned about each other during sex, nothing weird, just better. This is the big stuff that others can likely relate to. It was like 3 hours of fantastic conversation.

blueprint 8y ago

What on Earth do you have to forgive ?

facetube 8y ago
With apologies to Neal Brennan: if you're asking that question, congratulations on having a great life.

ryanmarsh 8y ago

it brings on the ability to see yourself and your actions with compassion and forgiveness that is not present in baseline consciousness Didn't use MDMA but this was a core part of my treatment for PTSD (combat related). We (semi-religious therapist and I) dove deep into triggering feelings and memories and connected with them and I was basically able to forgive myself and others. Changed my life.

simonsaidit 8y ago
exactly what happens in my Changa trips. hundreds of conversations play out, or someone ends up in the mothers womb feeling her love or many other scenarios often relating to memories of the past. afterwards forgiveness or some issue seeming less of an issue, or just being in the moment more happens. cured my stress, ended my years of heavy marijuana abuse. saved a friends marriage. according to his wife.