5 ms·
I have a friend who has severe depression, including self harm and thoughts of suicide. So far guided meditation sessions and antidepressants have had little ef
by throw819352119 4y ago
I have a friend who has severe depression, including self harm and thoughts of suicide. So far guided meditation sessions and antidepressants have had little effect.
I have read that some illicit drugs can be effective in treating depression, even after just one or two uses. Can anyone suggest what might be the best option out of ketamine, shrooms, LSD or MDMA?
- scythe 4y agoSpeaking very broadly, ketamine has shown positive effects on depression, MDMA on PTSD, and psychedelics on grief and to some extent anxiety. So it really depends on what your friend is dealing with in their personal life.
- pcthrowaway 4y agoBy "psychedelics" do you mean psilocybin? As Ketamine and MDMA are also both psychedelic
- scythe 4y agoI mean "classical" psychedelics whose activity is primarily mediated through activation of the 5-ht2a receptor.
- MonkeyMalarky 4y agoIf their depression stems from isolation and the inability to relate to, trust, or connect with others then I'd recommend MDMA.
- cannaceo 4y agoAyahuasca, then MDMA.
- temp0826 4y agoWould not recommend ayahuasca to someone with suicidal thoughts or a history of self-harm. Especially if they have not done any prior work/therapy as to the cause. (Disclaimer, not a doctor or any kind of therapist, but have drank it myself 150+ times and worked at an ayahuasca retreat where I've seen this situation). Ketamine seems to be fast-acting for depression. A proper MDMA session with a therapist and follow up support is looking like a great way to work on things like this. (This is not advice: please don't take advice concerning illegal drugs from random people on the internet)
- cannaceo 4y agoWhat about ayahuasca do you see as risky for someone with suicidal thoughts or a history of self-harm? Why does that risk not apply to these other compounds?
- vorpalhex 4y agoPlease don't give your severely depressed friend random street drugs in hopes it will magically help them. You are not equipped to purity test them, severely depressed people can become more suicidal on rebounds, and you are almost certainly not equipped to care for them if they hit a major health issue.
- klyrs 4y agoMost people I've met who use ketamine at all are addicted to ketamine, and long-term heavy usage has severe negative consequences. It has therapeutic uses and can be used to treat otherwise untreatable depression, but the risks are severe if somebody seeks it out on their own. MDMA is a good trip, but damn the hangover: I wouldn't suggest your friend endure "suicide Tuesday." Shrooms and LSD can be effective, but a bad trip can aggravate depression and anxiety. There are no silver bullets. Therapeutic uses involve therapists. The only advice I can give is that your friend seek out a competent therapist.
- babyshake 4y agoAfter one "normal" dose of MDMA without doing a bunch of doses over a weekend or something, the hangover tends to not be any worse than a typical alcohol hangover.
- klyrs 4y agoSounds like best-case analysis to me. Speaking as somebody who experiences depression, anxiety and intrusive thoughts, it's a pretty bad idea to expect somebody to make rational choices while stuck in a pit.
- DJ-P 4y ago