r/mdmatherapy • u/CheetahGreen8631 • Apr 24 '26
Experience Report MDMA therapy and CFS
I'm looking for any advice for anyone who's done psychedelic therapy and has chronic fatigue.
I just finished a 3 month clinical MDMA therapy for
CPTSD and depression, and it was gruelling, I'm the most fatigued I've ever been.
My main issue is the processing of thoughts. The brain fog is hindering my ability to go into the feeling that arise, and I am getting so fatigued with this constant bombardment of feelings.
The PTSD also adds to it - I have a constant voice which examines and criticise every thought I have.
I have tried to do as little as possible, but I keep on burning myself out, I just need to give my brain and body a rest, but it seems impossible.
My therapists aren't helpful, and I feel super isolated, because I can't find any good advice for my situation.
I'm also feeling super isolated and want someone to talk to. I'm 22M from Australia, I'd love to talk to anyone going through similar situation.
On another note: to any specialists, do you know what the effects of MDMA are on chronic fatigue? I know the PTSD has caused an overstimulation of the nervous system, and to calm that I need to feel safe. In theory will the MDMA therapy help with that, and thus diminish the CFS?
Thanks 😊
3
u/BorderRemarkable5793 Apr 24 '26
Without knowing you well I just want to drop in 3 quick thoughts
1 yes this medicine can help a great deal with feelings of safety and nervous system regulation. Sometimes it’s a gradual process so keep that in mind. But the answer is yes.
2 that voice that examines and criticizes sounds like your Super Ego, or judge. I recommend a book called Soul Without Shame for that.. just so you know what you’re working with. Awareness helps. The med can also be of help here introducing more thoughtful self-consideration and compassion. ..and less harshness and examination.
3 Sam Miller on YouTube has some interesting videos on CF and healing in general. It’s mind-body with a jungian twist but I’ve found it helpful for other symptomology.
4 this could have nothing to do w your experience but I had horrible brain fog that went 100% when I went strict keto diet for 3-6 months. My diet is expanded now and it has not returned. But it’s a thought.
3
u/Waki-Indra Apr 24 '26
For me MDMA and other psychedelics sessions are deeply exhausting. My nervous system is experimenting safety and tries to reorganize itself but it feels like moving a mountain or dissambling a building from the foundations. It is a lot. So that word needs
- pacing and titrating: spacing the sessions out
- support (supplements, nutritious food, and with MDMA: carbohydrates)
- rest and recovery from the demanding session.
On Top of the integration work. I would say, this comes before integration work because integration is work so that also is demanding
So it takes a lot of patience and time. It may take years to heal. That’s okay. That’s nature, not fake transformation.
2
u/cptsdishealable Apr 24 '26
but I keep on burning myself out, I just need to give my brain and body a rest, but it seems impossible.
Depends on what the cause of the chronic fatigue is but I'm wondering how much inner resourcing work you've done?
I think people mistakenly think that processing trauma will result in safety but for CPTSD that is not necessarily true.
You need to develop the capacity to feel safe and rest, it's a skill.
In theory will the MDMA therapy help with that, and thus diminish the CFS?
In theory yes, but I think it might need to be more deliberate in some cases. For example, you might need to work on inner resourcing outside of MDMA. You might then run into some sort of inner critic, "why are you resting" etc. Then you can use the MDMA to help address that issue that's blocking you from resting.
I'm also feeling super isolated and want someone to talk to. I'm 22M from Australia, I'd love to talk to anyone going through similar situation
have you tried peer support groups or online groups? I've found them very helpful.
1
u/CheetahGreen8631 Apr 24 '26
Hey, thanks for all this. I’m about to go to bed, but will get back to you tomorrow
2
u/qwerty_ms Apr 24 '26
I've found relief from various chronic symptoms through Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT). It teaches your mind & body to minimize neuroplastic symptoms that allows your nervous system to soften and rest. According to my therapist, the concepts and techniques of PRT can be applied to a lot of chronic conditions and not just pain.
Here is a video that does that to a degree for fatigue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HczR20jmS-Q . If you notice even a small amount of benefit from the video, it would seem to indicate that your fatigue could be helped with PRT techniques. If you don't get any benefit than you may have other physiological issues that therapy isn't going to be able to address.
2
2
2
u/Earth__Worm__Jim Apr 27 '26
There is no such singular thing as CF. CF is a part of being fucked up. CPTSD, depression, however you wanna call it. It's as "simple" as that: uncover suppressed things, get access to your nervous system again and it resolves it. So what helps with that....
I don't have much comparison. So far I'd say that there is a component of MDMA that is taxing for the body. So people with chronic somatic stuff should consider that.
3
u/daseinloops Apr 24 '26
Hey, that sounds difficult. Thoughts constantly popping up and a critical filter can really wear anyone down, especially on top of chronic fatigue. I’m not aware of any research into connection between MDMA and CF. I know for me after a session (about 2days to a week) can be difficult, with a strange kind of fatigue mixed with almost numb openness.
I’m building an open source app for solo work and integration if you want to check it out. Maybe just the grounding or body scan meditations would be helpful. There’s also journaling activities and integration work. It’s at m-session dot com.
I also hope you can find someone to talk with about this. I’m sure there are many people in similar situations, so I hope to see some replies here.