MDMA, also known as molly or ecstasy, is often called the love drug, given its historical use in couple’s therapy before it was made illegal. It later became popular at parties and festivals where it is still often used. Today, MDMA is also known as a potential treatment for PTSD. FDA-approved trials are underway with the goal of making MDMA a prescription medication in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. Research findings indicate that there may be a number of conditions that may potentially benefit from MDMA-assisted therapy.
MDMA Benefits
Things to Know
- MDMA promotes empathy, love and emotional openness
- MDMA has been popular in party and festival culture for many years
- MDMA-assisted therapy may be beneficial for those with PTSD, social anxiety, addiction, and other conditions
- MDMA may be helpful in couple’s therapy
- MDMA can be fun, euphoric, and energizing
Benefits of MDMA
MDMA can enhance feelings of empathy, love and emotional openness, promoting a sense of connection with others and deep sensations. In a therapeutic context, this effect can be beneficial in overcoming barriers to communication in order to promote healing. MDMA can also promote increased introspection and self-reflection, putting the individual into a state of heightened awareness that enables them to explore their emotions, past injuries, and relationships from a place of love, compassion, and non judgment.
Moreover, MDMA can induce feelings of euphoria, spiritual experiences1 happiness, and well-being. In doing so, it may temporarily elevate feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress, while providing a reprieve from negative emotions and promoting a positive outlook. Some people report that MDMA can promote creativity and problem-solving abilities, leading to new perspectives, insights, ideas, and artistic pursuits.
Fundamentally, MDMA has the ability to be fun and energetic. For that reason, it has a longstanding history as a compound ingested by people for personal use, sometimes in party or club settings. In non clinical environments, MDMA has been found by many people to improve interpersonal relationships, enhance empathy and emotional openness and facilitate more profound and meaningful connections. It can also help facilitate communication, trust, understanding within relationships, including romantic partnerships, family relations, and friendships.
Another benefit is MDMA reduced rejections of unfair offers in the Ultimatum Game (UG) which is a game theory technique to look at altruism. Another way to look at this is MDMA increased the sociability of people
Therapeutic Benefits of MDMA
MDMA for PTSD
MDMA is being used primarily in clinical trials2 as a treatment for PTSD, in conjunction with psychotherapy before, during, and after the MDMA experience.
MDMA for Social Anxiety
In addition to treating PTSD, MDMA might also reduce social anxiety3 in some individuals, in the context of therapy. According to one study4 from the Oregon Research Institute Center for Evaluation Services, MAPS, and the Portland Psychotherapy Clinic, Research, and Training Center, the subjective effect of MDMA could enhance the therapeutic process toward the treatment of social anxiety and other anxiety disorders.
MDMA for Schizophrenia
In some cases, given MDMA’s ability to enhance social interactions, generate empathy, and render a state of metaplasticity in the brain, it could be used to treat the negative symptoms5 of schizophrenia.
MDMA for Alcoholism
Research suggests that MDMA, in conjunction with psychotherapy, might be able to help with the treatment of alcoholism.6 Because addiction is often rooted in underlying trauma, MDMA’s ability to treat trauma might also help in its ability to treat comorbid conditions with trauma.
MDMA Couples Therapy
In some cases, couples report underground MDMA therapy7 was a last resort in repairing their marriage, and sometimes the only thing that saved their marriage. By helping to promote openness, lowering defenses, and making it easier to communicate about difficult truths from a place of compassion rather than judgment, MDMA has shown success in current use, and also in the 1970s before it was outlawed, as a tool for couples looking to improve their relationships.
MDMA and Music Appreciation
Research findings have shown that using MDMA while listening to music activates the same neuronal reward pathways. Taking MDMA while listening to music may help users appreciate and increase the enjoyment of music. Music may also increase the enjoyment of the MDMA8 experience.
MDMA and Positive Mood/Well-Being
MDMA experiences are associated with positive moods and general well-being. While this was long expected to be the case for MDMA, a study9 from 2015 was the first to show that an acute dose of MDMA results in a “notably” positive mood. Decreased cerebral blood flow in the right amygdala and hippocampus was shown to correlate with the intensity of subjective effects of MDMA, which also is believed to be the source of this mood elevation. A general increase in positive moods can set off a cascade of other neurobiological processes that can lead to further persistent well-being.
