Psychedelic can improve intimacy, attraction and sexual expression

Summary: In the first study of this type, researchers found that psychedelic use can positively affect sexuality, romantic relationships and gender expression. Explaining almost 600 substance users such as Psilocybin, LSD and Ketamine, the study revealed that many participants reported a greater attraction of a couple, improved intimacy and improved sexual experiences.

About 10% also experienced changes in gender identity or expression, and some describe fluidity or changes in attraction. These findings suggest that psychedelics can influence the deeply personal aspects of human experience, which causes additional exploration as its therapeutic use becomes more widespread.

Key facts:

Boost of intimacy: 70% reported a better quality of sexuality or relationship after psychedelics. Gender fluidity observed: 10% experienced changes in gender identity or expression.

Source: University in Buffalo

The growing availability of legal psychedelic therapy programs, such as those of Colorado and Oregon, has led researchers to analyze the aspects of how people use these substances.

A team of researchers has just published the first article of its type of reports on the impact of psychedelics on sexuality and intimacy.

The article, published on Friday (March 28) at the Journal of Sex Research, found that psychedelic experiences improved the participants’ perceptions about the quality of their relationship, attraction for their current partner and sexual activities.

“People in clinical trials and people who carry out psychedelic retreats in other countries have talked about a wide range of positive effects, including greater badges and feeling more connected to other people. Could there be benefits for long -term intimate relationships?” Daniel Kruger says, PHD, associate research professor at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions and first author in the document.

And what about the benefits for people who experience gender dysphoria? There have been no studies in these areas, so Kruger and his colleagues at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Michigan, the University of Exeter and Salkehatchie of the University of South Carolina, as well as two psychedelic therapists, decided to explore this gap.

The researchers sent a survey to almost 600 people who have used psychedelic, consulting them on how their use of psychedelics affected several aspects of their sexuality, gender identity and romantic relationships.

The most common psychedelics that the participants reported that they used were psilocybin, LSD, ecstasy or molly fungi, and ketamine.

The results found that 70% of the participants reported perceived impacts of psychedelic experiences on their sexuality and/or sexual experiences, and 65% mentioned short -term effects and almost 53% reported long -term effects.

Approximately 10% said that psychedelic experiences influenced their identity and/or gender expression, and some describe experiences of gender fluidity and “waves” from feminine to male.

“I think that the biggest surprise for me was the increase in same sex attraction, reported by a quarter of women and approximately one in eight men,” says Kruger, a trained psychologist who studies medicinal cannabis, emerging cannabinoids and therapeutic use of psychedelics.

“A third of people with other gender identities also reported changes. Most people did not experience this, but the fact that many people did is surprising.”

So, why study how psychedelic users perceive the effects of this kind of drugs on their relationships and sexuality?

“Many people think that psychedelics will be the next generation of psychiatric medications,” says Kruger, and adds that there has been no important advance since selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) as Prozac in the 1980s, “and psychedelics seem to be much more effective.” But, they add, people should not simply “think of psychedelics like a magical pill that only makes everything better.”

There are also hundreds of clinical trials using psychedelic, as well as legal psychedelic therapy programs in multiple states, including Colorado and Oregon.

“The psychedelic use can be at its highest point among young adults, and many older adults try psychedelic for therapeutic benefits,” he says.

“There are huge implications for public health when so many people use psychedelic. We need to reduce risks and protect people from damage and educate people to know what they are getting into.”

As this was the first study of this type, it was destined to be broad and exploratory, according to Kruger, who plans to carry out more research to better understand what is happening. They have launched an updated version of the survey, which can be taken anonymously by adults who have used psychedelic.

On this research news of psychopharmacology and relationships

Author: David Hill
Source: University in Buffalo
Contact: David Hill – University in Buffalo
Image: The image is accredited to Neuroscience News

Original research: closed access.
“Perceived impact of psychedelics on sexual, gender and intimate relationship dynamics: an investigation of mixed methods” by Daniel Kruger et al. Sexual Research Magazine

Abstract

Perceived impact of psychedelics on sexual, gender and intimate relationship dynamics: an investigation of mixed methods

Systematic research on the impact of psychedelic use on sexuality and intimacy remains limited. This study investigated the informed effects of psychedelic use in various aspects of sexuality, gender and relationships through an online survey of people who had used psychedelic (n = 581).

The majority of the participants (70.2%) reported perceived impacts of psychedelic experiences on their sexuality and/or sexual experiences, with 65.4% observing short -term effects during psychedelic experiences and 52.8% informing long -term effects, although most participants supported any individual effect.

A greater proportion of participants indicated that psychedelic experiences improved the quality of the relationship, attraction for current couples and sexual activities.

Approximately 10% of the participants reported that psychedelic experiences influenced their identity and/or gender expression, informing greater authenticity, self -acceptance, openness and freedom in self -expression, as well as altered experiences of sexuality and gender.

A quarter of women and an eighth of men reported a greater attraction of the same sex after psychedelic use, and one third of those with other gender identities reported changes in sexual attraction.

The highest proportions of the participants reported that they went out with several people, were polyamorous or in an open relationship, or committed to a single person after their psychedelic experiences compared to before.

The regression models identified several perceived effects associated with the use of large psychedelic doses, a more frequent psychedelic use, a lower family income, identify as diverse genre, and especially the youngest age and identification as women.

Ps psychedelic can facilitate these changes through Autoinsight, a greater connection with others and increases in self -pity, although more research is needed.