Using Altered States to Combat PTSD

As we continue to research new ways to fight Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD, we find that the more conventional methods are not doing enough. Currently, military veterans have a more than double probability of committing suicide than that of civilians.

Military veterans are also prone to PTSD either be that from the stressful situations provided by their daily jobs, or the more extreme events that take place during combat. Whatever the cause of their PTSD, medical doctors are reaching out to additional ways to treat PTSD.

Psychedelics and PTSD

During the late 60’s psychedelics were being administered to prisoners to see if they could produce empathy, and allow the prisoners to face past traumas in their lives. Things that they would not typically be willing to discuss became regular conversations under the influence of psilocybin.

The prisoners were even ready to consider reasons that they committed their crimes. Overall there were signs that these substances were helping them. LSD in other instances were being used in psychotherapy on a number of traumatized children who conventional methods were unsuccessful. These children were extremely traumatized by sexual abuse which made it so they would not speak.

The LSD, when administered to the children, allowed for them to open up, and start having a dialog about their alignments. Both of these methods would have been used for service members living with PTSD in the military, however soon after the government put a worldwide ban on the use of these substances for research.

Luckily for those who have PTSD, today scientists can use some psychedelics to help those who have PTSD in specific studies and have been showing great progress. Veterans are reporting that they are more likely to discuss their problems while on psychedelics and some have reported being able to deal with the trauma where before they could not. It would see that the movement to use psychedelics as possible medicine to help veterans has become more accepted.

Alternatives to Psychedelics

There are of course alternate routes to elevate the pain that is behind the PTSD. Many people who suffer from trauma have been exploring different ways to alter their consciousness. They have done so through holotropic breathwork as well as lucid dreaming. These alternative ways to change your consciousness lead to the brain releasing some control over consciousness and allow for alternative thinking. Though not as extreme as psychedelics, through practice these altered states of consciousness can lead to very profound realizations that can treat underlying causes for PTSD. They are also considered by many as more safe alternatives to psychedelics.

In holotropic breathwork, we find that through extreme breathing practices the mind alters itself into the same state that psychedelics produce. In fact, the same scientists that we were talking about before, Stanislav Grof, who used LSD to treat children, developed a system of breathwork to continue his work with children and adults specifically for PTSD. He found that it’s beneficial for this reason and continues his practice today.

Lucid dreaming is another way to treat PTSD by allowing someone to face their fears while in an altered state. Dreamwork has been known to be very successful in treating trauma and was encouraged by Carl Jung and even Sigmund Freud. You can read more about on Taileaters – a platform that tackles the questions of lucid dreaming and spirituality.

Whatever way scientist and therapists decide to help their patients, it seems that altered states are essential for helping someone overcome their deep aliments. Inside of these altered states of consciousness, we can find answers to problems that seem to allude to us when we are fully aware.

Words by Stephanie Bates, Navy Spouse

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Tags: PTSD, Stephanie Bates, The Hype Magazine, veterans, Veterans issues