Self-Care Practices with Psychedelics - A Qualitative Study of Users' Perspectives

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Well-being studies

Background:

• Psychedelic substances are gaining attention for potential therapeutic applications.
• Self-care is a crucial aspect of overall health and well-being.
• Understanding user perspectives on psychedelics is vital in current research.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the psychedelic experience through the lens of self-care.
• To understand how psychedelic use relates to self-care practices in various settings.
• To contribute to the understanding of psychedelics beyond clinical contexts.

Main Methods:

• Phenomenological approach utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• 19 individuals who use psychedelic substances were interviewed.
• Inductive content analysis was applied to interview data.

Main Results:

• Most participants reported using psychedelics with self-care intentions across ceremonial, recreational, and private settings.
• Enhanced self-perception and existential meaningfulness were identified as key self-care mechanisms.
• Difficult experiences and adversities related to psychedelic use that can impair self-care were also reported.

Conclusions:

• Psychedelic use can be integrated into self-care processes for some individuals.
• Psychedelics may enhance self-care abilities in naturalistic settings.
• Further research is needed to explore the nuances of psychedelic use and self-care.