A post by Maria Fedorova

Classic psychedelics, such as LSD and psilocybin, are both mind-altering and mind-revealing agents. They sharpen one’s sensations, induce illusions and hallucinations, distort the perception of space and time, evoke intense emotions and cause changes to one’s sense of self. After a long hiatus, psychedelics are making a comeback. Part of the reason for this comeback is thanks to psychedelics’ potential to reduce symptoms of some mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety and addiction. One plausible explanation for psychedelics’ therapeutic benefits is that they can facilitate a dramatic shift of perspective on one’s life. During a psychedelic experience, one can discover alternative ways of thinking about oneself, as well as one’s actions, values and relations to others (Letheby, 2021). But how do psychedelics help one achieve this shift in perspective? I argue below that experiential imagination plays a key role.