**\#️⃣ Tags:** #Guide #Psychotherapy > [!info]- Disclaimer > This site, including myself, does not endorse the acquisition or use of MDMA outside of approved medical settings. The information contained in this page is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. ![[The Ultimate Guide to Solo MDMA Therapy.png]] - [[The Ultimate Guide to Solo MDMA Therapy#Introduction|Introduction]] - [[The Ultimate Guide to Solo MDMA Therapy#Safety|Safety]] - [[The Ultimate Guide to Solo MDMA Therapy#Preparation|Preparation]] - [[The Ultimate Guide to Solo MDMA Therapy#Processing|Processing]] - [[The Ultimate Guide to Solo MDMA Therapy#Integration|Integration]] - [[The Ultimate Guide to Solo MDMA Therapy#Resources|Resources]] --- # Introduction This guide was put together for those interested in self-guided or solo MDMA therapy as opposed to in a formal setting with a therapist in MDMA-Assisted Therapy. There aren't many guides or experience reports available, so this guide is an aggregation of content from the best resources I could find on the topic in an attempt to create a holistic, easy to read and well-rounded guide. # Safety 1. It is illegal to posses MDMA without a prescription in many countries. I don't endorse the acquisition and use of MDMA outside of approved medical settings. 2. MDMA can increase body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure temporarily so staying hydrated is important during an MDMA session. 3. Potential adverse side effects could be lack of appetite, insomnia, muscle tension, nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, and anxiety. 4. Individuals with heart conditions, liver problems, susceptibility to seizures, psychiatric disorders, and malignant hyperthermia should avoid MDMA. 5. MDMA should not be taken with MAOIs, SSRIs, certain antidepressants, HIV medications, CYP2D6 inhibitors, and stimulants. # Preparation ## Setting a date First, pick a date at that's least 1-2 weeks in advance so you have enough time to prepare. For the date you pick, make sure you can clear your schedule so you've got at least two full days completely free for the session itself and rest after the session. If you can clear a third day for more rest and integration, even better. ## Organising a sitter Depending on what helps you to feel most comfortable, you can do this alone or you can have a sitter with you. If you decide to have a sitter with you, choose someone you trust, feel safe with and if possible, someone who is trauma-informed or at the very least knows you, your situation and your background well. You could have your sitter involved in your session to varying degrees, for example: - Having someone who is available and on-call for you that day, but isn't with you physically. - Having someone stay in the same house or room as you to support you, with or without the expectation of any involvement. - Having someone actively involved and engaged in the session with you acting like a guide or pseudo-therapist. If you decide to do it alone, at the very least let someone you trust know what you're doing and make sure they're available during the time you plan to undertake your session in case you need to contact them for support. ## Choosing a location It's important you choose a location with an environment that helps you to feel safe, secure, calm and comfortable. Depending on your preferences and sitter arrangements, you might: - Have the entire house free to yourself. - Pick a specific room in your house. - Rent a hotel, AirBnB or similar. It'll help to make the environment around you as comfortable and inviting as possible. Depending on what you like, you could have: - Some nice plants to surround you. - Blankets and fluffy pillows with you. - Your favourite statues, pictures or ornaments. - Your favourite incense, essential oils or candles. - A place you can lay down or relax into like a bed, coach or beanbag. - Ambient lighting like dim lamps, LED strips or galaxy/star projectors. - A high-quality music system or pair of headphones for listening to music. Whatever you choose, ensure you have enough room to roam around freely, change positions or even go outside. For example you might want to engage in some Yoga, Meditation, stretching or grounding exercises. ## Supplementation Supplements are generally recommended before, during and after to reduce any potential neurotoxicity, aid in your recovery, and protect your overall health. They're relatively inexpensive, easy to get and require almost no effort to have with you and to take (or than knowing what you're going to take, and when). When it comes to a supplement stack, there's a few different options. You can: 1. Follow the recommendations and guidelines on [RollSafe.org](https://rollsafe.org/mdma-supplements/). 2. Purchase ready made kits such as [Rollkit](https://rollkit.net/) or [RaveRX](https://raverx.com/r/Rollsafe) (recommended by RollSafe). 3. Purchase the supplements yourself (DIY Supplements List below). ### DIY Supplementation Here's a few different options for a DIY supplement stack, pulled from various resources on the topic. Pick whichever level that helps you to feel safe and comfortable. #### Less [[MDMA Solo by Phoenix Kaspian]] doesn't recommend any supplements (except for suggesting a standard multivitamin for after the session), rather it recommends preparing 3 large glasses of fresh fruit smoothies and a light snack for during the session, with a well-rounded dinner for afterwards (p. 70). #### More [[A Dose of Hope by Dan Engle & Alex Young]] recommends (p. 114): 1. Melatonin. 2. Vitamin C for neuroprotection. 3. SAMe to help restore serotonin levels​​. 4. Magnesium L-threonate (Gylcinate is also fine) for jaw clenching and general relaxation. #### Even More You can have a look at the recommended list of supplements from [RollSafe](https://rollsafe.org/mdma-supplements/), though it may be a bit much for many. [[Self-Guided MDMA Therapy by Sigaraed Tek]] is pretty similar to RollSafe, but it goes even further with the supplement stack. ## Dosage There's a lot of conflicting advice/opinions on this and there's no official guidelines for dosages (obviously). Not to mention it is person-specific. Here's what the resources say: ### RollSafe More conservatively, 1.5 mg/kg (with a max of 120 mg even if you weigh more than 80 kg / 176 lbs) for the entire session including booster doses. More realistically as we know many people want more, try and keep to no more than your weight in kg, plus 50 = total dosage in milligrams for the session[^1]. ### MDMA Solo Typically recommends a first dose of 75-120mg, with a second dose of 50-60mg taken 60-90 minutes after the first dose[^2]. For "extreme trauma" they recommend starting with 120mg as a first dose, and then a tapered additional dose approach every 80 mins, with a maximum of 300mg total[^3]: - 120mg MDMA first-dose - 60mg MDMA 80 minutes after first-dose - 50mg MDMA 160 minutes after first-dose - 40mg MDMA 240 minutes after first-dose - 30mg MDMA 320 minutes after first-dose ### A Dose of Hope Recommends a first dose of 100-150mg, with a second dose of 50-75mg taken 60 - 90 minutes after the first dose.[^4] ### Self-Guided MDMA Therapy Recommends starting with 125 mg and a re-dose of 75 mg two hours after the first dose. For very wounded individuals, starting at 200 mg can be helpful, although higher doses may lead to less recall coherence and are not proven as effective long-term in MAPS studies.[^5] ## Setting an intention It is important to set a genuine intention before a session as it'll help to prepare your body and mind for what needs to come up. Journal about what the intention means to you and why it is important to you, and journal on your intention daily or at least every other day 1-2 weeks before a session. You can be as specific or non-specific as you like. **Some examples:** - From [[Self-Guided MDMA Therapy by Sigaraed Tek]]: "I want to revisit the memories and process the emotions in a safe way, integrating that the events have occurred but are now past, I am now free to be who I am, I am thankful for my coping mechanisms that helped me survive but I am asking the protectors within me to let go and let my whole self emerge". - "My intention is to connect deeply with my true self, fostering self-love and acceptance. I seek to embrace all parts of myself, including those I have previously judged or ignored, and to understand that I am worthy of love and compassion exactly as I am." - "I want to explore the areas of my life where I hold resentment and anger, and I want to cultivate forgiveness and compassion towards myself and others. It is okay for these emotions to be here, but it is okay for me to release them to create space for love, compassion and understanding." By the time the session comes around, the intention should be simplified into a succinct few words or sentence that resonates deeply within you while still encapsulating and representing the original intention. **For example:** - I want to be free. - I want to love and accept myself exactly as I am. - I want to let go, forgive and let be. > [!tip] > Writing the intention as if it has already happened may help with connecting to the intention more effectively. > > For example: > - I am free now, and I always have been. > - I love and accept myself exactly as I am. > - I let go, forgive and let be with grace. # Processing During the session, there will be a lot of processing going on. It's important to remain attuned to yourself and whatever is coming up in you. Here's a list of potential activities to consider while in session to help process these experiences. You might like to try these activities, you might like to do nothing, or you might think of your own. There's really no right or wrong—it's whatever feels best for you. ### Preparing a music playlist Music is powerful and is an emotional lubricant so its recommended to always have a playlist prepared for sessions. You can either have some evocative music playing in the background (there are MDMA Therapy playlists available on the major streaming platforms) or you can build your own playlist from scratch based on your preferences and what you'd like to achieve. For example perhaps you have some music which brings you back to certain moments and memories in your life, or there are certain tracks which evoke emotion within you. This is highly personal and will depend on you and your connection to music. Whichever you choose, try to keep away from music with a lot of vocals for risk of getting distracted. ### Preparing questions Pretend you are going to see the best oracle in the world who will be able to answer all of the questions you have been unable to answer yourself. Except you are going to be that oracle as you consult your inner world. You can write down any questions that come to mind in the weeks leading up to the session, or you can integrate these alongside your intention journalling. Have the questions with you during the session and keep a journal and pen nearby in case you'd like to write down the answers to those questions. ### Audio journalling Have a voice recording device with you during a session as you might like to record yourself in contemplation about your intention, your questions or quite literally anything at all during a session. You might also like to keep a sleep mask with you if it helps focus when speaking thoughts. ### Creativity and movement You might like to engage in some easy going creative or movement activities that aren't too cognitively demanding like drawing, painting, playing with lego, stretching, meditation or yoga. These type of activities help to bring you into a playful or relaxed state of being. ### Memories and photographs Looking at old photographs, videos or mementos from your past of yourself, friends and family can really help in processing. Other ideas could be meaningful birthday cards, letters and other sentimental or ornamental items. You can plan to keep any of these kind of things with you in the session in case you feel like you want to spend time with them. # Integration > [!info] > To do... # Resources Advice, tips and care suggestions from the following resources: 1. [RollSafe.org](https://rollsafe.org/) 2. [[A Dose of Hope by Dan Engle & Alex Young]] 3. [[MDMA Solo by Phoenix Kaspian]] 4. [[Self-Guided MDMA Therapy by Sigaraed Tek]] [^1]: [MDMA (Molly/Ecstasy) Dosage | RollSafe.org](https://rollsafe.org/mdma-dosage/) [^2]: [[MDMA Solo by Phoenix Kaspian]], p. 72. [^3]: [[MDMA Solo by Phoenix Kaspian]], p. 72-73. [^4]: [[A Dose of Hope by Dan Engle & Alex Young]], p. 115-116. [^5]: [[Self-Guided MDMA Therapy by Sigaraed Tek]] p. 2.