'Ayahuasca destroyed my nervous system.' #plantmedicine #nervoussystem #healingtrauma

MYTH: All shamans understand trauma and the nervous system, so I can trust them to lead me in ceremony.

Don’t get me wrong—I know plenty of folks who have had positive experiences with various plant medicines. AND I’m hearing more and more horror stories like this one from my student, Juan Pablo. If you’re considering getting involved with these plant medicines, ancient healing traditions, or other bigger cathartic practices, I hope you’ll take the time to watch this interview first. It could be a lifesaver.

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The statements on this YouTube channel or in videos are simply opinion. Content presented or posted on this channel is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment or a professional therapeutic relationship. Content presented or posted is intended to provide general health information for educational purposes only and you should contact the appropriate healthcare professional before relying on any such information.

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[caffowood]

I have used plant medicine/psychedelics on several occasions, including MDMA to treat life long ‘untreatable’ depression. What I was shown and had to process was truly horrifying, so I understand how the experience can be destabilising. But I have to also point out, that 3 years on, I don’t know myself. Actually, for the first time in my life, I do know myself. I have come home and it feels like a miracle to me. Before I took any medicines, there was a 3 month lead in time of inner child work, meditation, intention setting work with a guide on a weekly basis and on a daily basis by myself. The ceremonies were not in an insane group setting where you absorb the energy of others going through their own stuff, but in a peaceful, quiet almost reverent setting with just me and the guide. Afterwards, it has been 3 messy years of intense weekly work with a somatic practitioner who is beautifully skilled and well versed in other modalities for working with trauma eg IFS. I also used neurofeedback, yoga, meditation, tai chi, nootropics, etc to augment my healing. The now-cliched “it was like 10 years of therapy in 1 night” is bullshit. The medicine is the catalyst and it loosens the soil. YOU are the medicine. I’m not surprised people are having rough experiences that are overwhelming and destabilising. I’m not sure how people who are under prepared hold their minds together. Psychedelics are fearsome in their potential. Treated correctly, it can be life changing. Also, not everyone should use psychedelics. And I would certainly be wary of using them in a circle of strangers, some of whom almost certainly have unprocessed trauma.

[emmaphilo]

We live in a society who values extreme stuff. As if gentle was not good enough.

[alicehesselrode]

I have participated in ayahuasca experience 3 times. Twice in Peruvian jungle and once in jungle in Ecuador. Always with genuine indiginous shaman. I have no psychological problems. Didnt do it for that kind of healing. Three wonderful profound spiritual experiences. The first time heard everything singing and now I know everything sings beautiful sounds all the time but not in state of mind to hear it. 2nd time floating in embryonic fluid of universal love. 3rd time healing of relationship with my deceased parents who came into my being. I am a long time meditator. I have done a lot of spiritual work. I dropped acid back in the 70s. Possibly more prepared than a lot of people and really understood it is a very sacred ceremony. I carry what I experienced with me and would do it again. Research. Go with someone you trust and make sure you are physically and spiritually and mentally prepared. Peace

[dorinaelenidapodasca]

My first ceremony with Ayuhasca was the best experience ever even thou it was profoundly painful as it revealed a lot of the memories and emotions I’ve buried. For 6 intense hours I was taken constantly from a traumatic event to another. Once the traumatic event was elaborated, re-written and integrated, I was taken to another one. I can understand how this experience can be very triggering for someone that is not prepared to face their deepest traumas and don’t have the emotional capacity to integrate and elaborate what is happening during the ceremony. For me, Ayuhasca helped me solve in 1 night with a single dose, traumas that neither 10 years of psychotherapy would’ve been able to help me with.

[ritagordon]

What you experienced is called a spiritual emergency. I had this 8 years ago when my natural DMT releases from my 3rd eye and I thought I was loosing my mind and having night terrors and flash backs etc. yes I had severe trauma background. Please note that this happened naturally so without plant meds. The soul can decide it’s time to spiritually wake up. It took me 2 years to integrate but it was so worth it

[Mandance]

This can happen to you even without ayahuasca, it’s an awakening and can happen from loss, stress, breakups anything can trigger it and your entire life can fall apart because this is process of healing from the person you thought you were into your true self.

[karolyn]

Sometimes we are looking for healing in all the wrong places..thank you for sharing.

[sarahreavis]

I can deeply relate to Juan Pablo’s story, and I’m so grateful he shared. Every part of his story, from his childhood existentialism, to losing his senses and feeling as though he was dying, to his journey to healing resonates. That’s also how I found Irene. These stories aren’t talked about often, but they aren’t uncommon. Your bravery will help others ❤️

[juanitawatson]

Thank you for sharing. This was an amazing video. Plant medicine is big business now, and there are more unhealed healers holding ceremony, making tons of money and leaving people unresolved, thinking they had a healing, creating more trauma. It's like a rite of passage to go through all that intensity...peak experience....Plus there are so many healing centers that seem like cults....you really have to be SO discerning with where you are going to heal.

[MM-pxgy]

I had a really horrible Ayahuasca experience as well that left me really messed up, and the organizers say it's "just the healing taking place." I was in a constant triggered mode where I couldn't sleep, and I was so ungrounded I started to lose touch with reality and go psychotic and lose my mind. This was over 3 years ago and I'm doing so much better now, in fact the best I ever have before. I can't say I regret doing it because it really got me talking about my painful past and my beliefs but I compare my experience through this like botched surgery that I ended up recovering from. I feel bad for the people who don't have a support network or cooler heads in their life to help them with what happens after an experience like this because it was the hardest thing I've ever been through and I'm grateful I'm here today thriving. Use extreme caution before going to one of these retreats, please. Do not get swept away by their magical healing talk and how it's all "meant to be" and all sorts of asinine new age junk that's thrown in and easily confuses a person who isn't thinking straight from all the painful beliefs and memories they have and physical/emotional state they are in. There is a tremendous amount of risk when it comes to this stuff and they throw all caution into the wind cause "they can just feel and sense who is ready to drink the medicine." It's much safer to do a lot of research and do this in a modern therapeutic environment with people who have training and oversight, there is definitely need for some oversight and a more comprehensive and developed screening process and support system after taking stuff like this. Not some retreat in the middle of the jungle where they just send you on your way after.

[elisabethdana]

I wish I could share this conversation with everyone I know and their friends! I am a Somatic Experiencing practitioner and in the past year I am getting more and more requests from people who have had bad ayahuasca experiences. It has become so popular as people are seeking new avenues to explore their truths, which in itself is beautiful. But with more and more inexperienced spaceholders with hardly any awareness of the risks and dangers, this is a recipe for disaster for many. Thanks Irene and Juan Pablo for sketching this picture in so much detail, as well as the hopeful message for anyone who has gone through a similar experience!

[esrasees]

I think going to India, Bali or some exotic place to heal is an expansion of the idea that we are not enough and the answer is somewhere outside. We dont need to travel, we need to come home to ourselves.

[GutsAndGall]

Sometimes I have thought about doing ayahuasca, but I'm so sensitive. This solidifies that it's not for me.

[remmy]

I am another person who developed serious nervous system issues post Ayahuasca. It took me over two years to recover. I could not sleep for more than 4 hours for almost a whole year. This man almost had an identical navigation that I took. I spent close to $10, 000 trying to figure out how to heal, going all over the place seeking out people to help me. My doctor said I should write a book also. So I'm about 4 years out now. I was able to go back to work fortunately. But I still suffer from sensory overload and memory loss. I'm considering getting a $3, 000 assessment with neuropsychology because this issue. I don't advise anyone to take Ayahuasca if you are a highly sensitive individual, possibly have ADHD or on the neurodivergent spectrum. The rewiring of the system significant chaos. I'm thankful to be able to work again because at one point I thought I was going to be homeless. I'm a medical professional as well. It's been a really tumultuous past 4 years years. I'm glad to hear that this man healed.

[Nicholasjohnlorenzen]

The same thing happened to me. Overly intense experience went for 12 hours straight. Negligent and untrained people in charge. Matter of fact, The shaman left midway through. Left me scared for 2 years and to pick up the pieces. People don't understand this is not a toy or a weekend fix. Auyahuasca is like opening up pandoras box what you see, find out and realize are yours for life but what you sacrifice far out weighs its beauty.

[Inspiriments]

Very similar path brother. Thank you both for having the bravery to speak on such a topic and provide harm reduction wisdom to those concidering this means of healing. Blessings continue to follow you where ever you go!

[mthdm]

Being literally surrounded by psychedelics and mental health specialists, I am coming to the conclusion that a great portion of the people doing psychedelic treatment are looking for a shortcut to spiritual groundedness or healing.

[BigBenny]

Ayahuasca opens up your trauma. That is why it feels traumatic. That is what it does. It will be your responsibility how you work through that trauma. Sounds as if he was able to do that. This is a great conversation for him to share what helped him process that trauma. 1000% there needs to be more conversations and after retreat care for people to know how to process this trauma. I think there are a whole lot of people including myself that have had to deal with everything by ourselves that it doesn’t even cross our minds that other people might need help processing the trauma that comes up.

[emmabeyza]

Great video!!
Substances like psychedelics when administered temporarily and in the minimum and safe dose can save life (prevent suicide), yet..long term all of them are NOT the answer (solution to the problem). self honesty, emotional and spiritual healing (done correctly) produce safe and lasting results..health happiness, inner peace

[Mpiman]

I did Ayahuasca 15 years into my personal development and spiritual journey And I had a very good experience! I think the preparation is very important and also many other factors such as the space, the shaman and the community