In this post, we will discuss consciousness (local and non-local), followed by a brief overview of psychedelics.
Part 1: Consciousness
Non-local consciousness is a concept that has been floating in human history since ancient times. There have been many different terms to describe this phenomenon. All major religions talk about it. Many philosophers, psychiatrists/psychologists, writers, and artists have talked about it. So what is it?
Consciousness, in simple terms, is our awareness of how we experience the world around us. There are different level to this awareness. We are all familiar with localized consciousness, which is the first level. Localized consciousness is our perception of the world through the lens of the subjective self or 'I' (some people call this the ‘ego’). For example, I view the world from my own personal perspective, which is dependent on my own thoughts, feelings, behaviours, and events that I have experienced. Here, I see myself as separate from others. Each person has their own subjective perspective that is completely independent from mine. This type of consciousness is localized in the physical body. It is a product of electrochemical signals in our brain/nervous system. When we die, our subjective local consciousness dies with us and we stop thinking, feeling, and behaving.
The next level of consciousness is the ‘observer’. This is the part of us that is aware of our localized consciousness. ‘The observer’ sees us as a thinker/feeler/actor, and also notices how we are thinking. Since this part of our awareness can observe from a neutral stance, we can assume it is separate from localized consciousness of our subjective self. If that is the case, where is this observer coming from? Some believe that this type of consciousness is not an embodied phenomenon thus it is simply energy. Since this energy is separate from our physical bodies, even when the body dies, the energy does not. In other words, 'the observer’ is our non-local consciousness, and this awareness remains. This is what we call our spirit or soul.
Further up the ladder of consciousness is the bird’s eye view of the world where everything is connected. To explain this, let’s talk more about energy. Energy is the foundation of all matter in the world. It is conserved, meaning that it can be converted but it cannot be created or destroyed. Energy moves, flows, and transforms beyond the confines of our physical bodies i.e. it is not localized. In essence, all energy is one and connected. It logically follows that if our consciousness is energy, then we are linked to all energy within our system, even the force that creates all life. This creative force IS us, and we are the creative force. This is a difficult concept to explain in language. It is not meant to be understood intellectually but rather experientially.
This theory is in stark contrast to the conventional idea of dualism - that mind and body are separate. Instead, this theory of non-local consciousness suggests that the mind is just another part of the body; that our true essence lies outside of our physicality. To be human is to experience a lifetime in the embodied form of a human: to perceive the world through the constraints of our human senses (limited to time and space), to wander to the far edges of our human cognition, and to feel the incredible vastness and power of our human emotions. To quote the French philosopher, Teilhard de Chardin: “We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”
All around the world, people frequently reach this third state of awareness spontaneously. Common gateways to this higher level of consciousness include regular meditation, psychedelics, near-death experiences and even through tremendous pain and suffering (i.e. ‘hitting rock-bottom’). The process can be gradual or it can happen instantaneously. When it occurs suddenly, people often describe it as a ‘spiritual awakening’. However, access to non-local consciousness is not restricted to any one religion. Although different religions speak about it in their own unique ways, this is not a religious concept. It is a component of all living beings, regardless of race, religion, gender, status and all other socio-political constructs.
In recent years, the scientific community has taken interest and has increased its efforts to explain this concept. One area with clinical application that is rapidly emerging is psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Part 2: Psychedelics
*** Word of caution: information below pertains to the use of psychedelics in therapeutic settings, where they are administered by professionals. Recreational use of psychedelics remains illegal in Canada. In this post, I am discussing the benefits of psychedelics in conjunction with appropriate psychotherapy, and not on the use of psychedelics alone. Psychedelic drugs are not without serious risks.***
Psychedelics are a class of drugs that produce non-ordinary states of consciousness. They are often called ‘hallucinogens’ as some can cause distortion of our perceptions.
In appropriate settings, psychedelics can shift mental states from being stuck in old maladaptive patterns into states of reset. They can induce awareness of non-localized consciousness and bring about a new perspective on our lives that is more focused on connectedness and oneness. Patients often find meaning and purpose in their lives. With professional therapeutic guidance, psychedelics can assist in recognizing our traumas and processing them in new ways, leaving behind a sense of peace and understanding.
There are several types of psychedelics that are currently being studied in clinical trials. Here is a brief overview.
1) Ketamine
Ketamine is an anesthetic medication that causes dissociative states. It is currently the only psychedelic medication that is approved for psychiatric use in Canada. It is indicated for treatment-resistant depression and suicidality. It is not recommended for patients with significant anxiety as it can make it worse. The effect of ketamine usually lasts about 30 minutes to 1 hour. Ketamine is an old medication and is available in many forms including intravenous, intramuscular, sublingual and intranasal. Although intravenous is the most studied form of the medication, the nasal spray is currently the only form approved for depression outside of clinical trials. Although ketamine itself is an inexpensive medication, the new intranasal sprays produced by pharmaceutical companies are unfortunately very expensive and inaccessible to most people at present time.
2) Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally-occurring psychoactive ingredient in ‘magic mushrooms’. It is still a controlled substance in Canada but there are several approved clinical trials currently underway. Some exceptions for use have been granted to individuals by Health Canada for adjunctive use in psychotherapy. Most of these cases have been patients with cancer or other life-threatening illnesses. Psilocybin may have potential benefits in multiple psychiatric and medical disorders including depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease and even substance use disorders. It may also have a role in existential crises or with end-of-life anxiety as it often brings about ‘transcendental’ or spiritual states of consciousness. Psilocybin can be taken orally and its safety has long been established. The psychedelic effect usually peaks at around 90 minutes and can last several hours.
3) MDMA
MDMA (3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) is a synthetic drug that is classified as both a psychedelic and a stimulant. It is taken orally in a pill form. The street version is commonly known as Ecstasy or Molly and is usually laced with other harmful chemicals. The recreational use of MDMA has been associated with many adverse effects including death. Medical MDMA still has risks but it has been well studied for its safety in appropriate clinical settings. There is currently a large, multi-site study of MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Other potential indications for MDMA use include eating disorders, social anxiety in autism, and anxiety associated with life-threatening illnesses. The psychological effect of MDMA can last up to 8 hours and each therapy session generally lasts the entire duration. MDMA-assisted psychotherapy will likely become accessible to the general psychiatric population in the next few years.
4) Others (LSD, Ayahuasca, Cannabis, and more...)
There are several other psychedelic drugs that are consumed around the world for spiritual, medical or recreational purposes. LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), better known as ‘acid’, has a long and turbulent history. First discovered in 1938, it was used for many psychiatric disorders in the 1940s and 1950s. LSD grew in mainstream popularity during the youth counterculture movement of the 1960s. The drug became illegal shortly after. LSD has seen a resurgence of clinical interest in the past few years, and research for its medical use has once again started. One potential barrier for clinical application is its long duration of effect which can last up to 12-15 hours. Ayahuasca is a psychoactive brew made from natural plants found in South America. It is most commonly used during spiritual ceremonies but is also sometimes consumed in social context. Ayahuasca is a complex substance with potentially dangerous side effects and fatal drug interactions. Thus, its use is generally guided by skilled and experienced shamans during ceremonies. Medical Marijuana, although technically not a psychedelic, does have some hallucinogenic properties. It can alter perception and perspective. Since being legalized for medical use in 2001, cannabis continues to be investigated for clinical use in several areas, including its role in PTSD.
Why Psychotherapy?
Oftentimes during a psychedelic experience, content from our unconscious mind gets uncovered. When a psychedelic drug is used with appropriate psychotherapy, the ideas, memories, and emotions that come up during a session can be integrated and meaning can be applied. A skilled therapist can help give insight to the information and guide the patient to process it in ways that are therapeutic. Sometimes, stories that emerge are frightening and scary. They are often described as “bad trips”. However, negative psychedelic experiences do not mean that something has gone wrong. Rather, dark parts of our psyche, where our fears, painful emotions, and repressed personality reside, have been unveiled. Carl Jung coined the repressed part of our psyche ‘the shadow’. Visiting the shadow, when guided by a trustworthy and competent therapist, can be extremely fruitful to our healing. The environment and the context in which the psychedelic session takes place (‘set and setting’) can have a big impact on the type of content that emerges during a session. Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy is usually time-limited and is confined to a few sessions.
The Future of Psychedelics
Psychedelics will likely have a huge impact on psychiatric care in the near future. Undoubtedly, they have the potential to expand our knowledge of mental illness and even broaden our understanding of what it means to be human. However, psychedelic use remains a controversial topic in our society due to its association with recreational misuse. Its criminalization in the late 1960s serves as a harsh reminder of the caution that we must take in reviving its therapeutic role. In addition, psychedelics are not a medical panacea. Some people will benefit more from it than others. A sense of spirituality, psychological-mindedness, and traits like openness have been implicated as patient factors that may increase its effectiveness. Further research is required to determine the most appropriate and safe approach to entering this exciting new frontier of mental health and wellbeing.
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