Most people's addictions are caused by traumas in early childhood.
Escape or self-medication is what an addiction is.
As a child, we had to bury the trauma in order to stay alive. Now, as an adult, we don't even remember the trauma was there. As an adult, being shown the scenes, the causes, the interconnections, allows you to rework those pathways crystallized as a child.
However, the problem with our (american) society is that we treat drugs whimsically, as entertainment, as a lark.
LSD, DMT, Ayahuasca are all much better after you have learned to meditate, gained some control over your mind and started working on your shadow self.
You got it exactly, @builderofcastles
Most of what our society calls 'mental illness' is likely just functional adaptation to trauma. And, like you say, addiction is often self-medication for trauma.
Also with you on the meditation. It's much easier to process material from the past when we have solid grounding in the present. Meditation is a great tool to enhance a psychedelic therapy experience.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences. You sound very awake.
definitely agree. most adults with traumatic pasts have never properly learned to deal with the lasting effects. Rather they seek to escape whether it be with psychedelics or drugs & alcohol. However the educated and balanced use of psychedelics I believe will lead our society to the mental elevation that we so need.