Treatment for LSD Addiction

Officials define addiction as a chronic, relapsing condition. It’s characterized by compulsive drug use despite the consequences of that substance abuse. 

While addiction is chronic, therapy can help. LSD addiction treatment programs can help people understand why they started using drugs, why they might return to them, and how they can handle their drug triggers. 

Can Medications Treat LSD Addiction? 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tests and approves medications to help people recover from drug abuse. While researchers keep looking for solutions, there are no FDA-approved medications to address LSD addiction. 

Even so, some people benefit from medications during their LSD addiction treatment programs. Some people have mental health conditions like depression or anxiety that prompt them to experiment with drug use. If left untreated, these mental illnesses can work as powerful relapse triggers. 

Teams can perform detailed mental health assessments in treatment programs. If they find evidence of illness, they can craft treatment programs and medications that can help.

Can Therapy Treat LSD Addiction?

People with LSD addictions are often confronted by family members and friends, and those conversations prompt people to enter therapy. No matter how they get there, therapy can help people to dig deeper into their thoughts, feelings, and habits. 

Multiple types of therapy exist. The following types are typically used in addiction treatment programs, and they may be appropriate for you if you’ve been abusing LSD: 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

The form of therapy called CBT is one of the most commonly used methods in addiction treatment programs. People with LSD addiction may benefit from this type of therapy provided within their programs. 

In CBT, people learn to identify negative thoughts that could spark a return to drug use. Once people identify those thoughts, they can learn to change them. These lessons can stick with them for the rest of life.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT is a form of CBT. Therapy begins by identifying negative thoughts, but sessions focus on helping people build real-world skills they can use when those thoughts arise.

At the end of DBT therapy, people may learn to do the following:

• Manage their emotions
• Improve their relationships
• Resolve conflict 
• Handle stress

Motivational Interviewing 

While some people enter LSD treatment programs ready and willing to work, others feel overwhelmed with drug cravings and memories of the good times they had while high. Motivational interviewing may help.

In motivational interviewing sessions, doctors help people to identify how their lives will be both different and better without drugs. They may set goals, identify gaps in their care plan, and begin to envision a sober life.

Can Alternative Therapies Treat LSD Addiction

Many people use LSD out of a deep desire to tap into ancient practices and connect with the divine. People like this may appreciate using treatment methods that are slightly outside the mainstream. 

Alternative therapies are commonly used as complements to standard treatment tools. This approach is becoming popular among treatment professionals. 

An LSD treatment program might include the following alternative treatment tools:

Mindful Meditation

People learn to focus on their breath, setting aside any difficult thoughts, memories, or plans. By connecting with their breath, they can push past a difficult moment without reacting to it. Meditation can be a powerful tool for people to use when faced with a strong relapse trigger.

Yoga

People who struggle to meditate may appreciate adding movement to the process. Yoga classes vary from gentle (focused on stretching) to rigorous (focused on balanced movement). But every class involves matching movement to breath. Many people consider it a form of moving meditation.

Art & Music Therapy

Difficult memories are hard to discuss aloud, but art gives another expressive vehicle. Some organizations offer classes to help people dispel difficult emotions and memories through art rather than allowing them to fester within the mind. 

The same principle applies to music therapy. Participants might listen to music or create music as a means of processing challenging feelings.

Massage

Stress causes knotted muscles and sore tendons. People with addictions may also struggle with cravings for gentle touch from caring people. Massage can help people relax, unwind, and feel cared for at the same time. It can become an important part of a self-care practice.

How Can You Support Your Recovery?

LSD treatment programs rarely end abruptly. Instead, they tend to taper off slowly, allowing less therapeutic contact time as people get better. This slow taper allows people to build their independence and practice skills in real time. 

Supporting that recovery can mean different things to different people. But most people appreciate staying connected with recovery through support group meetings. 

Support groups in the 12-step model have the following three main goals:

• Accept that addiction is a disease.
• Surrender to a higher power.
• Remain actively involved with the group. 

People go to meetings weekly, connecting with others in recovery and sharing tools and techniques that work. Some groups also encourage mentoring, allowing one-on-one support during difficult times. 

Maintaining recovery also means staying tightly focused on the lessons learned in therapy. People who keep working on their thoughts, reactions, and triggers tend to stay sober for a lifetime, although the urge to return to LSD might always be with them.

If you’re struggling with LSD abuse, consider joining a treatment program. With the right support, you can get the help you need and achieve a more fulfilling life.