Psychedelics: Hype or Hope?

There is no scientific evidence for the efficacy and effects imputed to psychedelics. Very few placebo-controlled clinical trials have been conducted and none of them showed promising results. Psychedelics may end up being another class of anti-depressants.
Can psychedelics cure Narcissistic Personality Disorder? This claim is unmitigated nonsense. Narcissism is an all-pervasive, complex psychological condition that permeates and comprises every facet of the personality and all cognitions and affects, as well as moods and self-regulation. Narcissism is reactive to the environment (fluctuations in narcissistic supply and challenges to grandiosity), not to internal alterations in neurobiochemistry: the condition is exogenous, not endogenous.
ARTICLE MENTIONED
Domínguez‐Clavé, Elisabet, et al. "Ayahuasca may help to improve self‐compassion and self‐criticism capacities." Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental 37.1 (2022): e2807)
LITERATURE
Narcissists, Medication, and Chemical Imbalances www.narcissisti...
NEW SCIENTIST ARTICLES
Psychedelic medicine: the potential, the people, the politics, HEALTH, 18 August 2017, By Sean O'Neill
Brain scanning studies are usually too small to find reliable results, MIND | ANALYSIS 16 March 2022, By Clare Wilson
Psychedelic frees up depressed brain, study shows, By Philippa Roxby, Health reporter, 11 April 2022
Mind menders: how psychedelic drugs rebuild broken brains HEALTH, 22 November 2017 , updated 22 November 2017, By Sam Wong
Nobody can agree about antidepressants. Here’s what you need to know, HEALTH, 2 October 2018, By Clare Wilson
BMJ JOURNAL
Esketamine for treatment resistant depression
BMJ 2019; 366 doi: doi.org/10.113... (Published 23 September 2019)Cite this as: BMJ 2019;366:l5572
Rupert McShane: A drug not a miracle-why we need a new system for monitoring ketamine, thebmjopinion, July 26, 2019 blogs.bmj.com/...
Find and Buy MOST of my BOOKS and eBOOKS in my Amazon Store: www.amazon.com...

[@novellla]

I had no idea that ketamine had a reputation for alleviating depression. But I was one of those people who went to a party and took some ketamine. It was made apparent to me that I was indeed depressed, as the relief from taking just a bit of ketamine was highly noticeable for weeks and weeks. And this was when I was in the middle of an abusive relationship with a narcissist. I believe it’s not just a placebo effect 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@johnathonhuson8734]

At 30 years old got involved with a borderline and then some. She introduced me to drugs all together. The relationship went the same way all narcissistic ones do, and during the discard phase I ate shrooms a few times and had 2 really bad trips. While scary, without these experiences I would not have confronted a reality I was burying. I came to some conclusions that saved my life. I was able to regain my footing, I understood the fundamental problems I was facing and while I had to ball my eyes on my living room floor for a couple hours, this moment turned my life back round the right way. I immediately knew what I had to do to fix the issues. I’d did not cure my depression, the strength I got from knowing what I knew, cured my depression. So while shrooms have the potential, I think there is a need for a will to truly be open to the wrong think that’s causing the issues.

[@business7155]

i had the same experience as well, everything in my life crushed while smoking marjuana but it gave me a new perspective, it took me out of the circular never ending pattern and showed me the reality, which shook me to my core to the point of not knowing what's real and what's fake and at the end i was left to deal with it.

[@johnathonhuson8734]

@@business7155 100 percent same thing happened to me. I still can’t find the right words to describe my awakening. I have shrooms to thank more than pot, a drug pushed on me as a control tactic ended up waking me up to the abuse, motivated me to learn about the dark tetrad of personality. My experience with my ex flipped my Life upside down but I am better prepared for the current world climate because of it. If not for my ex, I might be one of those mask holes running around thinking the government likes me. I did not drink the kool aid or fall for the bullshit, and I got my ex to thank despite the trauma.

[@business7155]

I think maybe the way to solve it is to voluntarily tramutaise your self, like putting yourself in situations that even though are not that tramutaising in reality seem like they are to you. Confronting your "ugly self" and seeing it for what it is.

[@johnathonhuson8734]

@@business7155 there is definitely some value in stepping outside your comfort zone, shielding oneself from the reality of the real world is dangerous, this is exactly narcissism. It’s a defence mechanism.

[@numbynumb]

For treating depression, I think psychedelics are akin to ECT. They can temporarily disrupt rigid patterns of cognition.

[@monicaLynn7]

Not always… it depends on the state of mind and numerous conditions. In some cases it makes a person more psychotic

[@numbynumb]

@@monicaLynn7 I would agree that it can be unpredictable in certain instances. But, generally speaking, I think theyre basically pattern disruptors. Ive definitely gained some lasting insights into my own psychology from taking psychedelic substances. At the same time, Im skeptical of their effectiveness as treatments for mental illness. I think they can helpful on a psychological level for people with relatively good mental health but that theyre too volatile to be recommended to mentally unstable or highly stressed individuals.

[@Brandon-yr3nj]

@@monicaLynn7 psychedelics inducing temporary psychotic symptoms is kind of the point

[@LisaRichards_123]

Ketamine is $300 per shot or dose in Los Angeles. Most of the doctors administering Ketamine tell you that you have to sign up for a series of seven shots. So we’re talking $2100 for this, with no medical coverage. That’s the going rate doctors are charging, and none of it is covered by health insurance, regardless of your plan. There is big money in this.

[@rosesandthorns47]

I discovered a new and epidemic diagnosis. - ODDD - Over Diagnosis Dysfunction Disorder

[@amberspicks547]

I had the misfortune of getting involved with and abused by 2 people with serious personality disorders who are still shitty people after taking shrooms.

[@robcazant5654]

Psychedelics definitely have potential to deal with mental health symptoms like anxiety and depression, but it doesn't do anything against personality pathology.

[@patrycja2696]

How do you know? What do you base it on apart your own projects?

[@StrohmaniasFlyingCircus]

When I was a teenager I saw an old guy at an Arby's at the mall. He was mostly bald with gray long hair and he was wearing a plastic crown that looked like was from some toy set for little girls. He was clutching a 4 foot long inflatable alligator. He was wearing a Grateful Dead t-shirt and had a big cloth bag with the all seeing eye on it. I decided that maybe psychedelics wasn't something I wanted to play with.

[@StrohmaniasFlyingCircus]

@Jupiter That he had chosen Arby's cinched it for me.

[@kristina.]

My ex diagnosed narc. (he rejecs his diagnosis, which is established in two different places) used pills like xanax, mixed with steroids, some hormone injections and alcohol. All mixed together. And viagra-type pills. And he proscribed it himself, because "what doctors know. "

[@David-co4fg]

I ate acid on 20-25 separate occasions of varying doses. I don't know how many ounces of mushrooms I ate. They were illuminating at the time. Very illuminating. But looking back 27 years later, not much has changed. I still have the same ideals and beliefs and hangup I had before I did it all.

[@David-co4fg]

I also didn't add that I feel it was a complete waste of time and if anything, long term, it has affected me detrimentally. Hppd and my concentration has never been the same since I stopped. And I may be a bit paranoid and they may have exacerbated any mental issues I may have had. Bottom line, I wouldn't recommend them. They're a miracle when you first do them but miracles aren't real. I'd never do them if I could go back

[@David-co4fg]

@John Hagler I did all this during a 7 month period in 1996. I was 24

[@numbynumb]

I think that I benefited from taking psychedelics in terms of my overall psychological health and it also made me markedly more intellectually curious but I didnt do them as often and the experiences were spread out over many years. I think it's a volatile force that can be harmful when not used carefully and with a congruent lifestyle.

[@jellybeanjedi2372]

If someone bumps into me at a rave while on MDMA I’ll give them a hug but same thing in the grocery store next week I’ll frown and move along…

[@food4thought213]

Well, DMT made me realize that being diagnosed with Autism (speaking for myself) was nothing more than a behavioral manifestation caused by my family environment. The following treatment only socially programmed me to think of myself as other, lessor and unsocialized. The combination of being placed in "special education" and the common presumptions of Autism only instilled me with a character that wasn't truly me. Essentially creating one hell of a shadow personality that DMT allowed me to incorporate. If one has autism themselves, and wishes to not feel so "other". DO NOT DO DMT, Unless in a very good community of people which takes far more than people pretending to care about you. This is of course something the modern day doesn't have much of, true environments that are more human than robotic.

[@sheilamc3420]

Thank You, Dr. Vaknin! I really enjoy your material and I always learn a lot, and I love being able to trust that you know the facts, you have actually read the research and that I can repeat what you say in confidence. Be happy and well.

[@matthewwong6107]

He’s on Instagram and Telegram as,..

[@matthewwong6107]

Tripwithlukas >>>>

[@LisaRichards_123]

The idea of psychedelics to “cure” NPD is an example of the psychological term “magic thinking.”

[@samvaknin]

Try "scam".

[@battenberg7111]

Self-medicating is a bad idea. I would like to know whether narcissists have a higher inclination to substance abuse for recreation or otherwise. I suspect so.

[@tjbarke6086]

I've mostly heard the psychedelics as being useful for conditions like PTSD, and depression. I've not heard it as being useful for narcissism...

[@bandumathithennakoon1683]

Even ptsd is narcissm sam says. Watch his other videos. Narcissm isn't one condition it is a by product of conditions.

[@phoebeschopp9314]

Thank you for your honesty.

[@numbynumb]

Having experimented with these drugs recreationally in my youth, I don't think ketamine can be properly described as a psychedelic substance. It's often described as a "dissociative" by users, though I'm not sure this term has a clinical definition. The effect is almost opposite to the psychedelic drugs, which are indeed quite similar to each other. Ketamine is numbing, while psychedelics are sensitizing. Ketamine is used as a anesthetic and, of course, no one would ever dream of using psychedelics as such. LSD, mushrooms, DMT, are quite similar in their effects and these are the true psychedelics in my opinion.

[@numbynumb]

@@Geezer_John I wouldn't describe it as psychedelic, personally. Almost every psychoactive drug has synaesthetic effects at sufficient doses. On the other hand, perhaps it would be more useful to classify drugs according to their particular use in a given situation, like ketamine could be regarded as an anaesthetic or as a psychedelic depending on the therapeutic context in which it's administered.

[@michellecherwak4194]

Professor Vaknin, have you attempted to train someone in your cold therapy techniques? And have you had that person treat you with your own therapy? If so, what were the results?

[@insanebrain213]

...This is all well and good, but never have i encountered claims or imagined that psychedelics were a magic pill. The way i understand them is that they open up/show a new view of thinking, lighten a new path of reasoning to be explored that would otherwise be shrouded in chaos. At the least they are a good kick in the ass. With the intention to explore weaknesses and seek new views, they are surely valuable. But you must be willing to put in the work and integrate what you've learned. Just like any therapist - they can dhow you things you maybe haven't seen before, but it comes down to you to put in the work...

[@iire2955]

A couple of years ago a trial in Berkeley was done to see the actual effects of psilocybin and lsd microdosing. Do you know anything about it?

[@business7155]

I think it does help you get out of the circular pattern thinking and see things from a big picture perspective, but it does require intention and awareness. i don't know if the changes are permanent though, i myself have undergone that experience and that's how i found out i am NPD to being with.

[@lunarissi6605]

I take about 300 milligrams of Psilocybe cubensis every three to five days, which is certainly not enough to make me high but it helps me overcome the resistance I used to feel regarding the accomplishment of any daily activity. However, no amount of mushrooms would've helped me a decade ago when I was a teen in the throes of depression and suicidal ideation due to living with my narc mother. Growing up, I actually tried every single type of ordinary depression medication with psychiatrists over the years, but nothing ever helped. I don't think mushrooms would help me today if I still had any contact with her.

[@numbynumb]

How do you make water that smells like vodka?

[@julisplett2748]

Potatoes

[@annamariagoldschmied2592]

Thank you!

[@MominMalikYT]

“Zero - where most people are any way” That was hilarious

[@tswnotebook]

I had a very curious experience with mushrooms. Just a twin copy of your lecture, before I’ve even discovered you, Professor . I can email the whole story to you, if it can have any value for your research.

[@doinsummindifferent]

I would love to see and hear your thoughts when/if you ever try a psychedelic (assuming you haven’t but who knows).

[@irmathecat7947]

great! Thank you

[@jensjewels9404]

A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down...lol. I thought I was hallucinating but it was just another commercial...your videos are awesome prof.sam. thanks a million

[@iire2955]

Science can say little about some substances, because cannabis for example is banned.

[@stephaniefernandes7735]

I can’t find the video he mentioned, the narcissist’s 3 depressions. Can anyone link it here please?

[@marisolvalez4719]

Drugs are not the answers to anything ....

[@irinakushnir8338]

Sam is #1

[@turtlezilla7]

The nature of hallucinations and state of delirium induced by Datura seeds puts the entire psychedelic culture/philosophy in question. The majority of people report negative "visions" and prolonged negative side effects.

[@amanita_ammita]

Datura is not a psychedelic lol

[@turtlezilla7]

@@amanita_ammita Hallucinogenic deleriant that consistently produces nightmarish visions

[@amanita_ammita]

@@turtlezilla7 yes

[@julisplett2748]

​@@turtlezilla7 Did you ever read the Erowid vaults? I'll never forget the story of this person on datura running down a dark highway in a sort of lycanthropic determination. 😮

[@theosilva7188]

Hi Sam. Totally agree with your expose. There's some people they cowboys really they need tube stop they couse more damages. In people's.

[@chiliart8056]

The worst expirience ever after narc parents😆