Is MDMA the Solution to PTSD?

What if the treatment for one of the most daunting psychological conditions were a party drug? New research suggests that might be coming.

Hosted by: Savannah Geary
----------
----------
Huge thanks go to the following Patreon supporters for helping us keep SciShow free for everyone forever: Matt Curls, Alisa Sherbow, Dr. Melvin Sanicas, Harrison Mills, Adam Brainard, Chris Peters, charles george, Piya Shedden, Alex Hackman, Christopher R, Boucher, Jeffrey Mckishen, Ash, Silas Emrys, Eric Jensen, Kevin Bealer, Jason A Saslow, Tom Mosner, Tomás Lagos González, Jacob, Christoph Schwanke, Sam Lutfi, Bryan Cloer
----------
Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?

#SciShow #science #education #learning #complexly
----------
Sources:

Images

[patriaciasmith]

Psilocybin saved my life. I was addicted to heroin for 15 years and after Psilocybin treatment I will be 3 years clean in September. I have zero cravings. This is something that truly needs to be more broadly used in addiction treatment.

[OmicronVega]

HUGE props to actually explaining what goes into drug testing @2:37!
This needs to be repeated in every video for new medications. So many people don't understand how much actually goes into certifying a drug for public use!

[Darkflowerchyld]

MDMA is the only thing that's ever made my autistic self feel "normal". I can socialize and interact and actually WANT to join in with others. I also suffer deeply from both social and physical anhedonia, or a lack of experiencing "pleasure". You know that feeling you get when you hug your dog or see your favorite band or even just getting to hang out with your friends? I don't have that. Mostly all I feel is numb sometimes mixed in with sadness and anger but no joy, no happiness, no pleasure. On MDMA just looking up at the stars was enough to give a joyful, happy response.... But my party days are long behind me and street drugs are longer remotely considered safe so i exist in a state of quiet lonely numbness till science can catch up to what we actually need to help our differently formed brains.
Here's to MDMA research and the promises it holds for people with life debilitating problems. May it's clinical trials always end well and may the FDA eventually approve it for use in patients with PTSD so we can start getting it out to help people.
MDMA 2028 😂

[TheQuickSilver]

This isn't exactly new news. The studies and modern take are certainly new but MDMA was originally used in couples therapy decades ago to very positive effect. Then people started doing what they do when a drug has an enjoyable effect and it was banned. I'm happy to see that the thinking on this might be coming back around

[MagiciteHeart]

I'll just say this... I have extremely severe PTSD, and I have had more significant breakthroughs zonked out of my mind at raves and having intense emotional conversations with other verybhigh strangers than I ever have in decades of professional therapy. It's not science, but it's saved my life, so there must be something to it.

[CarterTheGinger]

The use of MDMA in a recreational setting relies on purity, environmental factors such as temperature, dosage, etc. Neurotoxicity is possible when the experience is not well maintained with supplements, safe water consumption, rest, & more.

Harm reduction stances are important, even when substances aren't legal outside of a medical setting.

[ananyaravikumar]

We always stan a placebo controlled, randomized, double blind study. Yay for good design and trustworthy outcomes 😎

[deereed]

Shrooms are the safest recreational drug to take, it should be made available every where.

[carissashley]

As a person with PTSD, this gives me hope 💓🥹

[Heisenberg-]

Psychedelics are just an amazing discovery. It's quite fascinating how effective they are for depression and stress..saved my life.

[Themis]

I've got severe complex PTSD and I've never been happier in my entire life than when I'm on MDMA or ecstasy. And the after glow on the following days is beautiful. I'm not talking about taking it with strangers or friends at a club or festival. That's a different kind of high because of the varying situations. I'm talking about taking it alone. At home. Safe. Secure. Your favourite music. With your dogs. Chilling. In that magical peaceful eternal sunshine of a spotless mind kinda vibe. It's incredible. Like no other feeling. If I could get hold of some and I knew it was safe and pure. I would probably take it in little doses a few times a week. Just so I can feel happy and forget everything that haunts me.

[DavidCruickshank]

Imagine how much better off we would be if we had studyed drugs instead of demonizing them.

[mariahpowell]

As a person with PTSD, I’m waiting on pins and needles for this to be available for everyone. Many of the medications have only made my symptoms worse, especially the anxiety and scary ideations. So many of us die every day while effective treatments are going through all the red tape- while I’m deeply grateful for thorough and careful research. The studies referenced in this video sound like the research I’ve heard about from MAPS, in treatment of veterans with PTSD. Gosh, I pray that those of us with PTSD without veteran status will soon get access to this treatment. I’ve done A LOT of therapy, EMDR, lifestyle changes, sobriety, medication, yoga, etc.. Trying to lessen the impact of my condition but 10 years into it I still feel so trapped. It would truly turn my life completely around to have my symptoms lessened so much as the participants in the study reported.

[stuartblevins]

Sci Show is really rolling out the hits lately.

[Ryukachoo]

3:25
It's kind of wild that the words "PTSD" and "cure" can be in the same sentence, everyone thought the effects were sticky and would ever truly go away
But here we are

[irunamuk]

If it means I stop getting night terrors and “flashbacks” I’m in 🙁

[DomyTheMad]

3:35 i can NOT overstate how INSANE this result is!
PTSD treatments tend to take years if not decades and still have horrible success rates.
I read the paper when it came out the numbers are INSANE!

[geraldmiller]

I can't find a source anywhere for any good psychedelics in my area, I suffer some pretty bad depression and i got a chance to try K and man it was a miracle substance, I felt free, the only high or euphoria was from the relief of my vices being released, that's exactly what it did

[PaulTheadra]

helped with my C- PTSD and my military PTSD, i cant wait for it to become mainstream treatment, great video ❤

[rearct]

I absolutely believe this. I got on an antidepressant years ago, but it wasn't until I took MDMA that I really showed a lot of improvement. I phrase it as- the antidepressant gave me the *ability* to be happy/content/positive, but I didn't know how to be; MDMA showed me *how* to be happy, and what it felt like.