Abstract

In this presentation, I interpret why psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy effectively treats existential anxiety in terminally ill patients, using Heidegger’s philosophy and existential psychotherapy as a framework. Death is central to both systems and must be confronted for authentic living. Heidegger posits that awareness of death generates Angst, disconnecting us from the world, and we must experience it to overcome it. This anxiety, typically suppressed by life’s trivialities, can consume those with terminal diagnoses.

I propose that the psychedelic experience, particularly ego death, allows facing and accepting death, alleviating existential Angst. Near-death experiences (NDEs) share similarities, as those who experience them often come to terms with death and live more fully. Research by Martial et al. (2019) reveals that reports of psychedelic experiences resemble those of NDEs.

I connect ego death, NDEs, and psychedelics to Heidegger’s philosophy through his exploration of Zen Buddhism. Heidegger’s concept of “releasement” (Gelassenheit), inspired by Zen notions of death and Satori, is described as a “releasement onto being,” an equanimous state overcoming existential angst. I argue that psychedelic experiences’ effectiveness in addressing death can be understood through Heidegger’s concept of releasement, providing a way to process death anxiety and reach equanimity.

By incorporating insights from psychedelics into Heidegger and existential psychotherapy, we create a framework rooted in Western philosophical tradition. Recognizing the compatibility of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy with existential psychotherapy may inspire therapists, helping them contextualize the ineffable experience of ego death and guide the process of conscious living and dying. A holistic understanding of death anxiety could also alleviate it in healthy individuals who have suppressed their anxiety.