Psychedelic Intimacy: Altered States of Consciousness in Romantic Relationships
August 25, 2023 J. Neubert, Katie Anderson, Natasha L. Mason preprint
Classic psychedelics can promote interactional intimacy in romantic couples through shared altered states of consciousness. Interviews with six couples aged 19 to 29 who had used psychedelics together revealed three main themes: navigating anxiety (including novelty, preparation, shifting environment, and calming presence), reshaping practices (excessive worrying, spirited discussions, and straight talking), and encountering bliss (meeting the unexpected, the beauty around us, leaving the everyday behind, and breaking through). These experiences align with criteria for interactional intimacy—self-exposure, positive involvement, and shared understanding—but their distinct nature suggests a novel definition of psychedelic intimacy that could inform psychedelic-assisted couple's therapy.