Changes in the Experience of Eco-Anxiety Attributed to Intentional Work With Psychedelics: A Retrospective Reflexive Thematic Analysis Study

Abstract

Psychedelics have been studied extensively in recent years, with findings indicating a variety of potential mental health benefits. Additionally, studies have found the potential for increasing resilience, psychological flexibility, creativity, prosocial and pro-environmental behavior, eliciting spiritual experiences, a greater sense of meaning, and a connection to the divine. This study explored the relationship between the intentional use of psychedelics, the participants’ experience of eco-anxiety, and the resulting impact on their quality of life, beliefs, relationships, attitudes, and actions. Eco-anxiety is an umbrella term that refers to the mental health impacts caused by the intersectional issues of climate change and environmental disasters and their social, economic, political, and personal consequences.

This study interviewed individuals who had taken psychedelics multiple times and experienced a shift in their perception of eco-anxiety. In-depth, retrospective interviews were analyzed using a reflexive thematic analysis. Although the findings suggested that psychedelics did not necessarily reduce participants’ eco-anxiety, a greater sense of equanimity, enjoyment, and appreciation of life and more resourced coping mechanisms were observed in study participants. In addition, most participants reported a shift toward personal responsibility, individual direct action, and community pro-environmental actions instead of support for large-scale and institutional environmental efforts. This study highlights the need for additional research investigating the role psychedelics could play in increasing psychological flexibility and resilience to help humans engage creatively with the challenges of the current time.