Years ago when collecting hours for clinical licensure, my supervisor wrote a blogpost on his site in reference to psychedelics—substances which alter or enhance an individual’s sensory perception, cognitive and emotive processes, influence energy levels, and allegedly augment one’s metaphysical experience.
As a matter of full disclosure, I’ve never used psychedelics or other illicit substances. Although I used to attend raves with people who were high on various substances, I enjoyed electronic dance music (EDM) in a sober state.
All the same, I don’t take issue with people using various substances to achieve a psychedelic experience. After all, I’m a Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) practitioner and I don’t bother telling people how they should, must, or ought to live their lives.
I prefer the perspective of “High on Life,” featuring Bonn, from Martin Garrix’s 2019 album The Martin Garrix Experience. Lyrics of the chorus state, “High on life ‘til the day we die.” Nevertheless, I remain aware that many people choose to get high in life, not on life.
Consequently, when my former supervisor posted a blog advocating use of psychedelics for treatment of symptoms regarding mental, emotional, and behavior health (collectively “mental health”) – and when people mistook his advocacy as an advertisement for such services – he received many requests for psychedelic treatment.
I was eventually assigned as the point of contact responsible for letting prospective clients know that psychedelic treatment for mental health symptoms wasn’t something offered by the practice. In fact, these services weren’t even legal in Texas. As such, I spoke with many disappointed people.
Although not classified as a psychedelic substance, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) was recently said to begin the process of reclassifying marijuana. Perhaps an unpopular opinion, I don’t think it’s constitutional for the DEA to exist or to classify substances in the first place.
In any case, I discussed the potential reclassification with my close friend, “Jammies,” who tends to offer counterpoints to my preconceived notions. I stated that when being abused by my dad in childhood, he typically beat me when under the influence of alcohol though I don’t recall him doing so when high on weed.
A former hippie, he used to tell stories of psychedelic trips taken on LSD and psilocybin. Though I found it boring to listen as my dad carefully detailed experiences from his glory days of being a psychonaut, I preferred those times to that of alcohol-fueled beatings. According to one source:
Psychonautics refers both to a methodology for describing and explaining the subjective effects of altered states of consciousness, including those induced by meditation or mind-altering substances, and to a research cabal in which the researcher voluntarily immerses themselves into an altered mental state in order to explore the accompanying experiences.
I told Jammies my small-L libertarian perspective on the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana, psychedelics, and others substances. As well, I referenced subjective reports I’ve heard about how some of these substances have been used to treat and manage various mental health symptoms.
Also one to take a more progressive stance regarding the matter, Jammies expressed favoring an Eastern medicine perspective to augment Western medicine practice. Still, she voiced something that I’ve contemplated though haven’t expressed to many people.
Jammies discussed how use of popular psychedelics such as psilocybin, ayahuasca, iboga, and N,N-dimethyltryptamine may be considered beneficial to a number of people. However, she asked, “At what point is it just getting high?”
Having discussed this matter with clients who’ve reportedly taken expensive trips abroad to experience psychedelic trips initiated by so-called gurus, shamans, and others, I’ve noticed that one or two psychonautic trips seemingly weren’t enough. As such, these individuals report the belief that that must go multiple times.
Likewise, listening to podcast and video episodes featuring other psychonauts, some people report going on 60+ psychonautic trips (and counting). Similarly, my dad spoke of multiple hallucinogenic trips. Therefore, I consider Jammies’ question one worth considering.
At what point is it just getting high versus experiencing a spiritual, religious, metaphysical, or other ethereal endeavors? I can understand the allure of experiences which purportedly teach people about how to live a purpose-driven and meaningful life.
Still, I wonder at what point repeated psychedelic trips merely serve the function of escapism and avoidance regarding an otherwise boring, disappointing, and annoying existence with suffering inherently underlying one’s experience which is merely punctuated with moments of joy or pleasure.
I get high on life, meaning I alter consciousness through the use of the REBT techniques regarding the ABC model and unconditional acceptance. Of course, this has nothing to do with hedonic fulfillment (joy and pleasure) often associated with the effect of getting high on substances.
Rather, routine practice of REBT allows one to achieve a eudemonic outcome (contentment). Given the low state of mood I experienced for the majority of my life, prior to discovery of REBT, I consider any level above that as being high.
Ergo, as the chorus of “High on Life” suggests, I’m high on life ‘til the day I die! With my approach to wellness, I don’t need to spend an excessive amount of money on substances, take trips to meet with so-called gurus and shamans, or rely on other psychonautic practices.
Of course, for those who choose to pursue such endeavors, I’ve no desire to stop people from attaining what subjective measure of well-being they choose. Thus, I’ll leave it up to unconstitutional agencies like the DEA to interfere with wellness in that regard.
At any rate, years ago when collecting hours for clinical licensure, I offered people the opportunity to try REBT rather than psychedelics. Out of the many people with whom I spoke, only one took me up on the offer and then canceled mental health services after two sessions.
At some point, people merely just want to get high. As for everyone else who perhaps wants to know how to improve your level of functioning and quality of life, without need of a subjective woo-woo experience akin to little more than a dream state, I’m here to help you learn more about REBT.
If you’re looking for a provider who works to help you understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As the world’s original EDM-influenced REBT psychotherapist—promoting content related to EDM, I’m pleased to help people with an assortment of issues from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply helping you to feel better, I want to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
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Garrix, M. (2018, July 30). Martin Garrix feat. Bonn - High on Life (Official video) [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Lpjcm1F8tY8?si=aR4DFq-tJtVgR6W7
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