Navigating groundlessness: An interview study on dealing with ontological shock and existential distress following psychedelic experiences.

ABSTRACT: Psychedelic induced mystical experiences have been largely assumed to drive the therapeutic effects of these substances, which may in part be mediated by changes in metaphysical beliefs. However, there is growing evidence that psychedelic experiences can also trigger long lasting distress. Studies of persisting difficulties suggest a high prevalence of ontological challenges (related to the way people understand reality and existence). We conducted semi-structured interviews with 26 people who reported experiencing existential distress following psychedelic experiences. We explored the phenomenology of participants' difficulties and the ways they navigated them, including what they found helpful and unhelpful in their process. Thematic analysis revealed that participants experienced persis

SUBMITTER: Argyri EK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12052184 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature