At a professional training many years ago, I heard a therapist share this clinical wisdom:
Recovery is about living in reality.
As a dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) therapist, it’s something I think about often when I’ve met people who are hurting and desire quick and lasting relief from their emotional pain. Too often we want to run from that suffering. Alcohol, drugs, sex, gambling, and entertainment keep us far from the reality we so desperately need to heal.
Several years ago, I was contacted by someone with a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. She was interested in my opinion on using ayahuasca for healing her trauma. Was it something that worked? Would I recommend as a treatment that may help her get some relief from unwanted thoughts and emotions?
While I don't doubt that there are some people who benefit from microdosing hallucinogenics or psychedelics, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that this a beneficial treatment that extends much beyond the short-lived, temporary experience of the psychedelic session. Furthermore, we know that not every treatment is beneficial for every person. While some people may be helped by this type of intervention, others may be inadvertently harmed.
Because recovery from BPD often takes hard work over an extended period of time, my fear is that relying on these types of approaches often gives people the false hope that there must be a quick fix or another kind of treatment that provides instant relief. Enjoying the freedom that comes with emotional health almost always requires patience on the part of the person who is healing. Relying on alternative treatments for answers to complex problems may lead to disappointment.
If you are thinking about using alternative treatments to help reduce symptoms related to borderline personality disorder, ask yourself:
• Has this treatment been shown to help people who are experiencing similar problems?
• What are the pros and cons of this intervention?
• Does the potential reward outweigh the risks?
• Have I tried evidence-based treatments (like dialectical behavior therapy or mentalization-based treatment) first?
• Am I using this intervention to temporarily escape reality or absolve myself from adult responsibilities (parenting, work, school, other caregiving)?
Informed treatment decisions help you to stay in control of your emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
Interested in learning more about getting a diagnosis of borderline personality disorder or understanding your treatment options? Click here to learn more about my practice.
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