Ayahuasca/iboga. why not?

[mumstheword]

I don't know that I could ever find a "shaman" that I could trust enough. Most of the people I know that are into promoting that sort of thing or offering it are completely coming from ego (IMO) and I don't think they are respectful enough of the power of something like that and opening up that can of worms is likely to take years and years to process and you would still need the right kind of therapeutic support to do that, anyway.

A connection with "Spirit" however you see that is necessary. Your own truth journey and how you intergrate your life's experiences is necessary inner work. Becoming aware of the kinds of beliefs you hold and taking charge of what you carry around about how you perceive reality and what helps and reflects a greater and less limiting view of reality is necessary work especially if you intend to use any shamanic plant teachers. They will always intensify what is going on in your subconscious, so if you hold negative beliefs about reality, or tend to dissociate, they will intensify that and that could pan out like the worst waking nightmare you ever had. Also people sometime die in an Ayahuasca ceremony, so far from perfectly safe. DMT is the same active component without the MAO inhibitor that keeps the trip going for 8 hours or so that you get in ayahuasca, but it only lasts 15 minutes. At least then if it's terrible, it's only been 15 minutes. Personally if your dealing with PTSD or any other almost-unbarable mental health condition, I don't think you'd want to risk having 8 hours of complete unbarability. 15 minutes would be enough. It's amazing how many life changing revelations you can have in 15 minutes. The good shamans would have you doing months of preparation with other preparatory shamanic plant teachers before they gave you Ayahuasca. Something to think about, maybe.

 

[Cyberluddite]

I don't know that I could ever find a "shaman" that I could trust enough. Most of the people I know...

That's a solid way of looking at the matter. Actual, real-deal shamans don't advertise or hang a shingle outside their door.

They know that if you need them, you'll already know where to find them. Nothing worthwhile is ever going to be easy.

Meditation is the best drug for the mind. No shaman needed, and you can do it anywhere.

 

[Lamou]

I tried Ayahuasca for depression - I was so desperate, and read some testimonies of people who recovered from depression thanks to the plant. However, my experience on aya was completely terrifying and made me struggle with severe anxiety and dissociation (something i never had before) for months after the ceremony. I ended up taking antidepressants, and was able to came off them 3 months ago thanks to body therapy which i recommend with all my heart. I do breathwork and somatic experiencing and it helps me tremendously. I think for the first time in my life I can feel something really changing, and life coming back again, and I've been suffering from depression/eating disorders/lack of motivation since i was a teenager.
I still think ayahuasca can help,but please,be very cautious with it. It gave me the most horrifying experience in my life, at the time when i was already exhausted with my day-to-day existence. For months after i felt myself on the verge of death or mental illness.
I learnt later that dmt plays with what's "on the surface" at the moment you take it, so it's important to feel safe and relaxed. Check the "shaman" who runs the ceremony, don't go with whoever.
Working with my mind and body without use of any substances gave me such intense experiences that now I wouldn't replace it with anything. it can be painful, as the difficult states and emotions need to find their 'way out' so you can release them. but for me,the very experience of getting in touch with my body again,and discovering it's tremendous wisdom and capacity to self-heal is beautiful and all-changing.
Oh, I wrote a lot, but maybe this will also be helpful for someone.
With love