Strategies for resolving challenging psychedelic experiences: insights from a mixed-methods study.
Scientific reports November 21, 2024 Maximillian J. Wood, Rosalind G. McAlpine, Sunjeev K. Kamboj
People who have difficult experiences while using psychedelics can benefit from specific coping strategies. A mixed-methods study of psilocybin retreat participants and a larger online survey identified three main ways people navigate challenging psychedelic experiences: accepting and reinterpreting the experience, regulating through sensory and physical interaction, and seeking social support. Acceptance and reappraisal, along with social support and disclosure, were linked to greater emotional breakthrough. Fear-related challenges were associated with less emotional breakthrough and fewer adaptive coping strategies. These findings clarify how challenging experiences can lead to positive outcomes and suggest ways to improve therapeutic protocols and safety.