Conditions for a safe psilocybin ceremony
It is important to check whether the use of truffles is safe. A psilocybin experience is not for everyone. There are some criteria that increase the likelihood of a safe and transformative experience.
Of course, failure to meet one or more of these conditions does not necessarily mean you will immediately be unable to participate, but it does bring its own challenges. Please read these guidelines and use psilocybin safely and at your own risk.
Conditions:
You have a relatively stable living situation (housing, relationships, work).
You are comfortable with self-reflection and taking responsibility for issues that arise in your life.
A number of contraindications to this work are:
Use of antidepressants: if people have used antidepressants in the past 2 months, this is a strict contraindication to working with truffles. This is because many antidepressants work on the same receptors (5HT2A) as psilocybin, the active substance in truffles. This makes it unpredictable what the effect of the truffles will be if you combine both. *
Use of antipsychotics: This is not possible for psychological reasons, but also because of the chemical interaction with psilocybin. Antipsychotics also bind to 5HT2A receptors. As a result, psilocybin can often have little or no effect. Due to this unpredictability, the combination is not recommended.*
Certain mental health conditions: For people with serious mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or psychosis, working with truffles is a contraindication. This work can trigger intense emotional and psychological experiences and can further destabilize people with serious mental illnesses. Also, if these conditions occur in your family history, this is a contraindication
People with a significant history of trauma who have do not yet have enough resources in their system: Psychedelics can lead to reliving traumatic experiences and uncovering repressed traumatic memories that can have a destabilizing effect on these people.
Epilepsy: Individuals with epilepsy may be sensitive to changes in breathing patterns, which in some cases can trigger a seizure. And psilocybin can also induce a seizure.
Uncontrolled high blood pressure/hypertension: Both breathing work and truffle work are risky, because they can both cause increased blood pressure.
Cardiovascular disease: Both breath work and truffles can be risky for people with cardiovascular disease due to the risk of increased blood pressure.
Diabetes: During a session it can be dangerous if a client experiences a hypo and is unable to give himself insulin.
Active addiction to a substance: If you have been very dependent on drugs or alcohol in the past 2 months, it is not wise to start this process. The sessions can be too intense and further destabilize people.
Recent Surgery: Individuals who have recently undergone surgery, especially of the chest, should exercise caution and consult with their physician before participating in breathwork.
Acute physical health problems: Individuals with acute physical health problems, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or asthma attack, should wait until they have fully recovered before participating in breathwork.
Pregnant or lactating
Cushing's syndrome
Severe anxiety symptoms for which you take medication (such as benzodiazepines).
Neurological disorders: for example stroke, epilepsy, severe brain injury.
Anger management problems
Risk of self-harm or suicide
People who cannot fully understand the potential risks of treatment and give informed consent
People under 18 years old
Do not stop taking prescribed medications without first consulting your doctor.
It is always important to indicate any health or medical conditions on the intake form prior to breathwork sessions and truffle ceremonies and to discuss them during the online intake so that I can fully understand your situation and make adjustments to the session if necessary to ensure your safety . If you have any doubts about whether you meet the criteria, do not hesitate to send me an email: essa.bloem@gmail.com
If you want to explore further, you can schedule a free online intake to get acquainted. After this first informal conversation, I will send you the intake form where you can fill in all your details. I will discuss this with you in an online screening conversation. If we both feel that a session with psilocybin is appropriate for you at this time, we can continue to work together.
*You have not taken any of the following medications for at least 8 weeks: tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline, anafranil, asendin, aventyl, elavil, endep, norfranil, norpramin, pamelor, sinequan, surmontil, tipramine, tofranil, vivactil), antipsychotics (aripiprazole , asenapine, cariprazine, clozapine, haloperidol, lurasidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, risperidone, ziprasidone), lithium, SSRI/SNRIs, MAOIs, ritonavir/indinavir/efavirenz, lamictal (lamotrigine), 5-HTP, St. John's wort or other supplements that may affect serotonergic function.
