Breaking the Stigma: Real Stories of Healing with Psychedelics

The Growing Acceptance of Psychedelic Healing

Your banker, doctor, neighbor, and mailman are probably doing it. Maybe your accountant or your son’s school teacher. No, I’m not talking about a 5:00 PM vodka martini—I’m talking about microdosing and using psychedelics for healing. Although psychedelic use is largely kept underground due to its illegality, compelling evidence from university studies, scientific research, and clinical trials are revealing how these substances can change lives for the better.

For thousands of years, cultures worldwide have used plant medicines like San Pedro, Psilocybin, and Ayahuasca for mental and physical healing, relationship improvement, and conflict resolution. Today, researchers have extensively studied healing with psychedelics, showing benefits for anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, addiction, and even end-of-life distress. Research at top institutions like Johns Hopkins, UCLA, and NYU reveals that psychedelics can induce profound spiritual experiences, easing existential fears among terminal patients. Psychedelics promote neuroplasticity, fostering new neural pathways and hyper-connectivity in the brain. The default mode network (DMN), responsible for self-reflection and memory, becomes disorganized during a psychedelic experience, leading to ego dissolution and increased well-being.

Shifting Perceptions and Personal Stories

Since 2014, major universities have secured grants, and cities worldwide are beginning to relax their laws. In 2019, Columbia University documented a shift in public perception, estimating that over 5.5 million people had taken LSD. People have credited LSD with boosting creativity, with figures like Steve Jobs, Kary Mullis, and Francis Crick attributing major breakthroughs to its use. Similarly, Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, credited LSD for his sobriety.

Over the past two years, I have collected stories of healing with psychedelics from individuals worldwide. The stories feature six of the more well-known substances and microdosing. These accounts highlight healing from childhood trauma, PTSD, depression, addiction, chronic pain, and more.

“Those who shared their stories have embraced Timothy Leary’s call to ‘Turn on, tune in, and drop out’—what they didn’t do was detach from society but reconnect with their lives and communities.”

— Alisa Stone

My intention for doing this project is to reduce stigma. Psychedelic therapy, long confined to the shadows, deserves mainstream recognition. Just like the journey antidepressants and therapy underwent in past decades, it’s time for open conversations free of fear and judgment.

I am a 63-year-old woman, a wife, mother, friend, and nature lover. Though not a scientist or doctor, my hope is to inspire others through these stories. After exhausting every healing modality imaginable, I found relief and hope in healing with psychedelics. Those who shared their stories have embraced Timothy Leary’s call to ‘Turn on, tune in, and drop out’—what they didn’t do was detach from society but reconnect with their lives and communities.

Here are just a few of the stories told in their own words that I have collected from individuals who have healing experiences with psychedelics. These are from my book, Turn On, Tune In and Heal: Personal Stories of Healing with Psychedelics. I hope they inspire you.

Psilocybin Stories

MALE | 40 | TEXAS | RANCHER

“[I] smoked for 25 years. [It] got to be three packs a day. [The] doctor gave me a death sentence if I didn’t stop. [My] wife gave me an ultimatum. [My] son and friends used mushrooms occasionally for entertainment. They also knew if used in a therapeutic setting, it was supposed to stop addictions. [It’s] not really my style, but they helped find me a ‘guide’ to help with the therapeutic part.

We talked a couple of times before. Then we met on the day of the ‘event.’ I am a bit embarrassed to say, but I was scared as hell since I have never done anything other than a beer or two. Letting go was very hard for me. He said it would start hitting me in about 30 minutes, but it took almost 90 because I was resisting. Since nothing was happening with my resistance, I guess I relaxed, and it started working.

All I can say is that it was the most beautiful experience of my life. I had never felt so much love, compassion, and acceptance. By the next day, I had this sudden desire to take care of myself in so many ways. Not only did I feel valuable and blessed, I felt an urge to take care of what I had. Smoking turned my stomach when the automatic pilot set in to grab a cigarette and light it. I felt a sense to slow down and take in the beauty around me. The junk food I was also addicted to no longer called my name.

It’s been about five months now, and I haven’t had a smoke. For some reason, an apple or orange sounds so much better than Fritos or cupcakes. [I d]on’t really understand how it worked, but it did.”

FEMALE | 32 | SAN JOSE, CA | ACCOUNTANT

A Journey of Healing

“My healing journey these past couple of years has been with Ketamine with myself and my therapist. I recently had an amazing opportunity to participate in a psilocybin women’s weekend retreat with five other women who are also on this healing path.

Though I was nervous and didn’t know the other participants very well, I left the weekend experience with a newfound longing to expand my healing practice in an extroverted way. I left with a desire to search for more events where I can be with others in this special headspace, to volunteer and give back to the community, to help it continue to flourish, possibly through my career path and finance skills.

I had only consumed psilocybin a handful of times before, but the wisdom received from my dedicated Ketamine practice and the loving support I received from multiple systems allowed me to sink into and set an intention of ‘be open and allow’…”

Preparation and the Medicine Space

“…My journey began the moment I decided to participate in this retreat. I spent many weeks preparing, with a special focus [on] the two days before. My preparation included a healthy diet, yoga, meditation, a therapy session, taking a day off of work, and relying on my partner for support so I could focus on myself.

The medicine space on that day was very kind. I couldn’t stop smiling and feeling deep gratitude for so many things, including the women I was with, the space that was held for us, for being alive at this time in history, [and] for the generations before me who protected and passed on this wisdom. I also experienced a special connection with my inner goddess, which was reflected back to me by the facilitators in a beautiful way that caused an unexpected emotional reaction, which was very cathartic.

The integration has been deep and meaningful. I’m finding myself choosing healthier meals and habits, avoiding the news, and a general slowing down. I feel more connected to all [the] women I think of or come in contact with.

I would recommend group medicine healing for anyone and everyone on this path; I was reminded that many traditional healing experiences took place in group, tribal settings around a fire with multiple generations. There is something uniquely special and impactful about being vulnerable in a group, being a witness and being witnessed, and feeling seen and validated by a group of like-minded souls.”

Mescaline Stories

MALE | 67 | BOSTON, MA | SPORTS INDUSTRY

“After witnessing a few athletes successfully use this type of therapy, I decided to try it myself. Throughout my life, I struggled with severe negativity—especially towards myself, but also towards everything and everyone around me. As much as I hate to admit it, it was utterly exhausting. After studying how this therapy could fundamentally change the way the brain operates, I decided to give it a shot.

During the first ceremony I attended, I realized that we are all connected. I learned that by criticizing a stranger, I was ultimately hurting myself. In the second ceremony, I discovered that I am deeply loved and valuable. I understood that I am an important part of humanity and that what I say and think matters profoundly. The third ceremony was so complex that I can’t even begin to describe it in words, but I can tell you that I emerged as a changed human being. This transformation has positively affected not only me but also those around me.”

Ayahuasca Stories

MALE | 43 | CAIRNS, AUSTRALIA | STAY-AT-HOME FATHER

Living in a Constant State of Survival

“My life was a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze. No matter how much yoga, meditation, or deep breathing I did, I could never really escape it. I’m not sure what wired my brain to function that way, but changing it seemed impossible on my own.

One day, I was at a park with my kids when I struck up a conversation with a woman who was there with hers. She mentioned that she had been in the same boat a few years back. She had joined a women’s psychedelic group and learned about using ayahuasca for healing. If it helped her, why couldn’t it help me? I asked for a contact to explore this path further…”

The Ayahuasca Experience

“…Three months later, after several sessions with the shaman who led the healing ceremonies, I decided to take the plunge. The experience was an intense, cathartic meltdown. I can’t even begin to describe it without sounding mad, but whatever hidden trauma was released felt dense, solid, and deeply rooted. The ayahuasca brought it to the surface from deep within my subconscious and yanked it out. I cried harder than I thought possible for what felt like hours. There was also a fair amount of yelling, hitting a pillow, and some strange dancing that my body just needed to do. By the time it was over, I was utterly exhausted—and yet, I felt as light as a feather.

The shaman advised me to start each day by writing ‘morning pages’—three pages of whatever came into my head, without edits or distractions, until I hit the three-page mark. I got up an hour before the family, found a private spot, and wrote. She also suggested never reading it and possibly even burning it. I had about four follow-up sessions with her to debrief and integrate the experience.

Now, I’m a believer in the wisdom of these plants. I didn’t know what I needed, but the plant did. I hesitate to call it magical, but it certainly feels that way. The way my brain used to default to fight, flight, or freeze is gone. Occasionally, I catch a glimpse of that old self trying to re-emerge, but with my newfound awareness, I finally have the control I never had before. And YES, I would do it again.”

Essential Resources on Mescaline, Ayahuasca & More

• Find Out All About Mescaline in Our Mescaline Substance Guide
• Learn About Mother Ayahuasca in Our Ayahuasca Substance Guide
• Explore Why Synthetic Psychedelics Are Sometimes Preferable to Natural Ones
• Our Top 10 Psychedelic Support Articles About Ayahuasca Have You Covered

Embracing and Supporting a Healing Path

If someone you care about is exploring a different path for healing with psychedelics, you can show support by asking questions, seeking to understand, and reading more about this topic. Countless medical professionals and studies have highlighted how these substances impact the brain and why they work. I invite you to keep an open heart and mind and celebrate these individuals who are finding healing, even if their chosen path feels unfamiliar to you.

If you have enjoyed reading this article, you can read more in my book Turn On, Tune In and Heal: Personal Stories of Healing with Psychedelics.