The Dark Side of Psychedelic Therapy

Psychedelics have gone from fringe culture to mainstream mental health conversation. But what if the discussion is missing the most important question?

Who should never be taking them?

In this episode of Decoded, Elisabeth McKay examines the growing normalization of psychedelics, ketamine therapy, medicine journeys, and modern psychedelic culture through the lens of brain patterns, psychological risk, emotional regulation, and personal responsibility.

This is not an anti-psychedelic episode.

It’s an examination of why certain people may benefit from psychedelic experiences while others may experience devastating psychological consequences—including psychosis, false memories, emotional destabilization, identity confusion, and long-term dysregulation.

This episode explores:

The normalization of psychedelic culture

Why most people are not ideal candidates for psychedelics

Ketamine therapy and psychological risk

The relationship between psychedelics and psychotic breaks

False memories and altered states of consciousness

Emotional dysregulation and vulnerability