Psychedelics & Neuroplasticity
What is Neuroplasticity? And how do psychedelics help enhance it?
What we are discovering through clinical research is very encouraging. I'm excited to share some of what I know with you and advise you to seek out more information on your own. I have plenty of resources to share after our session.
First of all let's define neuroplasticity - which is basically the understanding that our brains are not "hard wired" from childhood or permanently damaged by traumas, in fact the brain has the ability for the brain to rewire and change every day. The term "plasticity" refers to the idea that the brain is made of pliable and Neuroscientists coined the term for neuroplasticity.
It works by understanding that the patterns that we "fire together, wire together," as Dr. Joe Dispenza would say. So what we think, feel or do becomes our "software", not hardware, and so if we want to upgrade or change that "software" then it requires us to form new habits (i.e. stop drinking alcohol, How we eat, awareness of our stress and lifestyle, etc.). It may be possible to repair or rebuild damaged and broken, but just as easily can continue to damage. It becomes one's choice and ability to exercise free-will based on what you now know and the actions you must take to achieve the outcomes you want. As your coach, my role is to educate you and help you understand your why and to provide a support system to motivate you to take the action steps to get you there.
Therefore, neuroplasticity is what it is - it can be great if you make it that way, it can provide the data for exactly WHY you're NOT getting what you want as well. So, to quote Dr. Joe Dispenza again, "it's not enough to just know anymore, now we know how to change". My personal take from this is that it really puts the responsibility on us now, as individuals to decide to, do it or not. There is no such thing as "trying" - all that is is an intermediate step of being in limbo where you're either doing or not doing. There is no trying to do this work, you either make the commitment, make the time and make the changes in your life now, or you don't. It's that simple. And whether we like it or not, we're in a different time and place now then our parents were. We have the understanding. The red pill has shown us the truth and all the traumas that we witnessed our parents hold themselves back from, are now 100% proven to be refutable. You do not have to be an alcoholic because your parents were. You don't have to hold onto trauma that changed you 20 years or 20 minutes ago. It's your choice. Choose which wolf you feed. Neuroplasticity can be summed up by the metaphor in the story of the Two Wolves. Decide which one you feed and your brain will evolve into a masterful machine to do exactly that.
One of the ways in which we can facilitate change is to use a “disruptive” neuroplastic method - like psychedelics - to break and/or repair an association, trauma and help require it.
Psychedelics help enhance Neuroplasticity because it effects the 5HT2-A receptor, which is 1 of 12 serotonins that are found in the brain and gut. Psychedelics promote the increased productivity of this receptor and it causes several beneficial effects that enhance neuroplasticity, specifically 1. The BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor) which promotes increased connectivity and opens the potential for healing; and 2. Glutamine which is also tied to an increase in learning. When we work with psychedelics both the brain and gut are activating the 5HT2-A receptor - this opens up the capacity to go “in” and heal as opposed to “numbing" which is what SSRI’s do. “Having the courage to go inward” as Paul Austin describes it; “transformation not transcendence.”
The Snowglobe Effect is another great way to think about Neuroplasticity - and that is that psychedelics give us the opportunity to blanket the mountain with fresh powder, and we can choose any line down we want. With proper intention and setting (i.e. clearing out all avalanche danger), this could be a safe and exhilarating way to heal yourself.
If this sounds intriguing to you, then I invite you to book a discovery session with me.
Kindly,
Chas