“Why do I feel sad post-breakthrough?”
It’s ok. This is common + a part of catching us up to our new edge of life.
Often, when I’m working with a client in ketamine-assisted therapy, they come to a massive breakthrough + change, only to realize that this change then brings with it a lot of grief.
We may no longer need to be a workaholic because we don’t need it as an act of protection from intimacy or managing big emotions. As a result, we aren’t as “productive” as we once were, + this can be frustrating.
We may no longer resonate with our friends, community, or partner because we no longer fit the role of “wounded” + need them to be our caretakers.
We may feel pain as we think about how much time we lost living our life in fear, pain, isolation, or seemingly unproductive ways.
We may feel sadness in letting go of the familiar yet painful patterns + beliefs about ourselves. Knowing they were helping us but needed to be more efficient. Yet, facing the world without them can leave us feeling vulnerable + exposed.
Grieve, cry, get angry.
Accept what may be hard to accept.
Let it up + let it out.
Remembering that grief is not linear, + may come around again.
I highly suggest not making drastic life changes right after any journey work—even if you feel the intense urgency + motivation to do so.
This is because information, our environment, and even our loved ones need time to settle.
We need time to settle.
Like a baby fawn taking its first steps—the ground doesn’t quite feel stable yet.
We need to learn what it’s like to have legs.
If you need help in integrating a psychedelic experience or want to explore what ketamine-assisted therapy could look like for you, contact me.
Dr. Cat Meyer, PsyD, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist specializing in sex, trauma, and psychedelics in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. She is also a ceremonialist, author, teacher of yoga, and international speaker dedicated to evolving the relationship surrounding sexuality and our bodies. Through her company, SexLoveYoga, she leads online workshops, sensual retreats, + ketamine-assisted retreats for couples. She is also the host of Sex Love Psychedelics podcast.