Evelyn Co, MFT, [email protected]
EEG Institute
Ayahuasca Induced Trauma, A Story of Recovery with Neurofeedback
Patient SymptomsClinical Picture of Marty
Paranoid thoughts Intense Fears Distrustful Negative Thoughts Easily agitated Panic attacks Chest/stomach pains Headaches Distractibility Inability to organize thoughts/plans Denies past trauma Reports solid attachments Horrified by any trigger of memories associated
with the Ayahuasca experience Reports that she feels like she was “going crazy” Husband reports lack of empathy
Onset of Symptoms: 1 year
Goal: Reduce intense fear and panic attacks associated with Ayahuasca Experience.
Plan: 1x-2x Weekly Sessions
Clinical Diagnosis: F41.0 Panic Disorder, with panic attacksF43.12 Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Chronic
What is Ayahuasca ?Vine of the Soul
A psychedelic brew made from the vine, Banisteriopsis Caapi. Brew is prepared by mixing with another plant, Chacruna, and/or Chacropanga, contains DMT Ayahuasca is known as a Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor Ayahuasca increases the effects of substances that contain Dimethyltriptamine (DMT) Ayahuasca was first discovered in Peru, primarily used for healing and divinatory purposeWilliam Burroughs brought Ayahuasca to Western culture to relieve Opiate addictionsMcKenna Brothers, ethnopharmacologists were the first to publish on the Ayahuasca experience Preferably consumed in the presence of a Shaman
Effects:Begins 30min after consumption, peaking at 2hours.
Why it’s Popular:Unlocks creativity, Lower’s health risks, Potential Medicinal Value, Spiritual Awakening
Risks:Hallucinations, Altered Body States, Dependence, Psychosis or Possible Death
Resource: 2013 DVD, Ayahuasca: Vine of the Soul
Sessions Notes on Neurofeedback3/7/16 to 12/6/2017
• Session 1-10• Starting site T4P4• Began at .1 to .07 mhz• Mistakes• Outcomes – migraine headaches
accompanies PMS sx, dreams are more sexual, craving for alcohol is reduced
• End frequency at .01mhz
Challenges
• Difficulty with self report• Difficulty with trust• Difficulty with monitoring
changes• Difficulty being left alone with
therapist
Sessions Notes on Neurofeedback3/7/16 to 12/6/2017
• Session 10-20• Session 17, start of 2 channel ILF• Completed ReAssessment• Outcomes -- Vivid dreams,
marriage is better, able to apologize easier
• Remaining Concerns- ongoing nervousness leads to nail biting, wanting to eat sugar; trauma associated with Ayahuasca has not resolved
Challenges• Sticking with 1 channel versus 2
channel ILF• Went on vacation for 1month
New Goal – Resolve trauma memories associated with Ayahuasca experience
Symptom Tracked ChangesEnd of Session 20
• Difficulty organizing reduced from 6 to 2
• Distractibility reduced from 8 to 3
• Poor Short Term Memory improved from 1 to 7
• Flashbacks of Trauma improved from 6 to 1
• Fears improved from 8 to 0
• Panic Attacks improved from 8 to 0
• Headaches from PMS improved from 5 to 0
• Lack of Emotional Awareness –ongoing
Outcomes: panic attacks gone, thoughts improved, able to go places without intense fear
Sessions Notes on Neurofeedback3/7/16 to 12/6/2017
Session 20-30• Sites: T4P4, T4Fp2, T3T4, T3Fp1• Continued to do .01 on right, .02
on left• Added synchrony at Session 23 at
10hz• Session 28/29-thoughts about
Ayahuasca, dreams about Ayahuasca, added T4O2
• Session 31, no cravings for sugar, no anxiety, no nail biting
Challenges• Fearful of eyes closed
Cognitive Process• Greater understanding of truths
about her relationships• Understanding of how her
experienced pushed towards growth
Sessions Notes on Neurofeedback3/7/16 to 12/6/2017
Session 30-50• Added synchrony P3P4 at 40hz,
while continuing to work on ILF .01 on right, .02 on left
Session 50-60• #49 ILF .005 on right and .01 on
left• #52 -Added alpha theta P3P4• #55Added FzPz at #55
#57 reports happiness#65 – reports more confidence, not easily rattled by old issues
Outcomes – felt feelings deeper, felt sadness, increased boundaries, healthier perspective from self in relation to others
Sessions Notes on Neurofeedback3/7/16 to 12/6/2017
Maintenance Sessions• #69-#71 - 1x/month • Insight about willingness to be
comforted• Not struggling with intimacy• Appropriate practice of self
soothing skills• Gratitude• Ending at T4P4, T4fp2 at .009,
T3T4, T3Fp1 at .015
Additional Interventions:
Art TherapyAssigned ReadingsCBTReferrals