Psychedelic Ego-Death: What is it exactly? | Scientific and philosophical perspectives

The idea that psychedelics can induce 'ego death' or 'ego dissolution' has been getting more and more attention in the mainstream media these days. Especially after it was popularized in Michael Pollan's book 'How to Change Your Mind'.

Despite this, it is still unclear what exactly ego death is... Most descriptions are pretty vague and hand-wavy with respect to what exactly 'dies' or 'dissolves' in these experiences.

In this video I draw on the latest scientific and philosophical perspectives to give us a more precise understanding of what ego death experiences might actually consist of!

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More info about the host:

Manesh Girn is a Neuroscience PhD student at McGill University and has been lead or co-author on over a dozen scientific publications and book chapters on topics including psychedelics, meditation, daydreaming, and brain networks.

Manesh currently has ongoing collaborations with Robin Carhart-Harris and others at the Imperial College Center for Psychedelic Research and is investigating the brain changes underlying psilocybin, LSD, and DMT.

[rhqqnfjnnbbc]

I experienced this ego dissolution on Ayahuasca, i saw myself disappearing, all of my memories were getting erased, until i had no memories at all, i didn't know who i was or anything, I was just a consciousness existing in middle of the nothing, space and time were inexistent. I could recognize that i was there before, my true nature belonged there, I became one with the universe again. When i returned to my body i felt like a stranger in a new body with memories that wasn't mine. I was reborn.

[MDiry]

I had a psychedelic experience on Tuesday, 5gs of mushrooms with a shaman. I experienced this ego death and it was terrifying and enlightening at the same time. I was very happy when I returned to normal as I was extremely concerned that I would never come back to explain the story as my thoughts were no longer constructed in my language.

[anthonyiacobucci]

I think of ego death as the suspension of the false self, which exposes us to our real self. We build up false selves as a defense against early childhood pain. When this false self is cracked or threatened or stripped away, you have ego death.

[Soupersam]

Digging your channel! I’m a therapist specializing in psychedelic prep& integration work and I really appreciate your summaries and explanations of the research in this field. I’m always wanting to learn more to better help my clients. 🙏🏽

[theofficialgreenkane]

Ego is made up of 5 categories-

-Wealth
-Knowledge
-Validations
-Social Acceptance
-Morals & Beliefs

We base our own self worth off those 5 categories. Once you detach yourself from all 5, you realize were nothing more, nothing less than souls. You cannot be around sober people or handle "real life" scenarios when tripping. Even drunk or high friends still have their Ego's intact. Still aware of self worths, judgements & their social acceptance. You need to set aside 6-8 hours of free time & be around other ppl tripping if you want to have the best experience possible. 🌈🍄💯

[timothytikker]

Curiously, in my three psilocybin experiences, I didn't experience ego death or dissolution. Instead, I received strong, clear messages affirming my true identity, spiritually and in what purpose(s) I have in life.

[Tiger]

You did a pretty good job describing the EGO/ No EGO. BIG PICTURE = The Universe is experiencing itself THROUGH all that IS.

[johnnydub]

Excellent man, I've never really looked into a very proper description of ego-death but this was bang on. The way you described both types of dissolution in terms of internal and external unity is such a cool way of putting it because, depending on the experience or the psychedelic involved, that sense of unity can be very different yet at the same time so similar but just sort of focused in a different direction. And also nice thumbnail btw ;)

[blakerupert]

Learnt a lot from this. And felt it was snappy and accessible. Great intro!

[theonlyDB]

I'm in the afterglow stages now. Just experienced ego death. Took 2 tabs about 350ug total . It was the craziest thing I've ever experienced.

[zachhoy]

I find that it's easy to talk about ego dissolution with others who have experienced it, and basically impossible with those who have not

[JULALAINE]

I died... only to realize that I have no death after... I AM INFINITE.

[danegilnss]

My experience began as a beam of clarity and insight, penetrating and all-encompassing. I sat embraced by nature, surrounded by the majestic wisdom of the trees and the cool breeze gently brushing against my skin. For the first time in my life, I felt an overwhelming sense of truly understanding myself, as if my essence had been distilled into a single, clear, and undisturbed thought: "This is me."

As this realization struck me, the boundaries between myself and the world began to dissolve, like ice melting in the warmth of the spring sun. Colors and emotions exploded into a whirlpool of sensory impressions, and I could feel my identity starting to shift, rotate, and change. At first, I was just me, then I was everything but me. The line where I ended and the universe began vanished completely.

Panic gripped my heart like an iron claw. I was sucked into a kaleidoscope of alternate realities, continuously slipping in and out of countless versions of myself. Each version of "me" observed the next, like an infinite house of mirrors where the reflections just continued endlessly. I saw through the layers of my own existence, like a series of dolls, where each new doll was both the observer and the observed.

Just when I thought I would lose my grip on my sanity, my perspective zoomed out at a dizzying speed. I suddenly discovered that I was the observer, the one watching all this unfold. I was no longer trapped in the chaos but stood outside observing. But just as I thought I had found some kind of peace, new dimensions opened before me, a reminder that there will always be more layers of observation, more depths to explore.

Eventually, I reached a point of stillness, a quiet center where everything ceased. I vanished into an infinite void, a space of absolute nothingness. There, I encountered a figure, a presence that filled the empty space with an aura of power and a calmness deeper than anything I had ever known. "Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling with awe and a strange calm spreading through me.

"I am God, " the figure replied with a voice that was both powerful and gentle.

And in that moment, I became God. I was overwhelmed by a sense of complete unity with all that is, a profound understanding of every atom in the universe, and an unimaginable peace that can only come from being one with everything. When I returned to myself, it was with a deeper understanding of my own existence and my place in the cosmos.

[redvision]

I had an ego death from a THC vape. I thought I was just going to get really high. Instead I had the most terrifying experience. No trippy colors or hallucinations. Just slowly going paralyzed, losing my memory, sense of time and thoughts. Major panic attack, I really thought I was going to die and then I actually did. Felt my heart stop and lungs cease. Could not feel my body anymore and I just faded out into complete unconsciousness. Suddenly I felt this overwhelming feeling of calm and peace. Slowly I started to come back to reality piece by piece. I would go through it over and over again, not sure how many times I “died”. But after I the first I knew what was happening and understood I just had to let go and stop fighting. Each time less severe and was so thankful when I finally dipped back down into normal consciousness and that my brain wasn’t permanently fucked up. I am grateful for the experience.

[Alex.Yacoub]

Ego death is a very powerful and life changing experience and most people find the experience very positive in making a change in the users lives. A few people find the experience negative. This is because many people are afraid of letting their egos go, as it's everything that some individuals have. The positive things about hallucinogens overweight the negatives by a long shot. Positive factors are for example; They are anti-addictive, help you get rid of phobias, anxiety, depression, PTSD traumas and can be used to quit hard addictions that people have to mainly coke, heroin and meth. A single trip can make people come to the realization that they don't need these addictive drugs in their lives. I can honestly say that i know alot of people who tried psychedelics to battle different addictions and many actually quit these addictions completely after their trips.

[a.evansrn]

It was scary … I just had ego dissolution and fought it bc it is very scary. But it was beneficial looking back in some ways. I need to meditate to understand what was beneficial. Because a better definition for this process is to accept you are dead..you can’t remember who you are, if you are alive or dead or even who your children are… so it is a very scary feeling even if you think you are prepared. Nothing can prepare you for such an experience… I was unable to communicate and thought I was having a stroke.. I could barely move and couldn’t understand my surroundings or answer questions. It was very very scary

[onsightitify]

Ego dissolution is not unique to psychedelics, but happens in "natural" mystical experiences, as well. For example, a Christian having a "born again" experience describes a loss of sense of self and identification with the Divine. That would probably be the narrative self, but I suppose it could be the minimal self in extreme cases. The mushroom experience is very similar, but you are more likely to experience the dissolution of the narrative AND minimal self. I've only had one "natural" mystical experience in my life, but I keep going back to it for comparison to my psychedelic induced mystical experiences where I have realized Samadhi on multiple trips. I'm almost convinced that the mushroom is a sacrament that provides access to the Divine (The Holy Spirit) through "rebirth" in order to produce in us "the fruit of the Spirit" - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, self control, etc. P. Cubensis is rightly called "The Golden Teacher". ;) Enjoying your videos.

[mpulv]

2g of shrooms, wasn't too good of a trip. All I know is I came close to experiencing full dissolution. During the trip, it was pretty scary and intense, but after I realized the importance of that. Psychedelics brung me to face some of my deepest egotistical fears. So much baggage. I see a wider perspective on life now

[billymertz]

I just had ego death. I was just at a complete loss of reality and everything was super confusing. I knew I was on a trip but my god was it insane

[MissMyRanda]

Thank you so much for explaining this. I experienced this yesterday for the first time and it was nothing short of profound for me. I am grateful that you put it into words for me. I am definitely subscribing and cannot wait to learn more. I am truly excited for how this can help people in the future. ❤️