Catharsis

Catharsis (from the Greek katharsis) is precisely defined as a cleansing, with no substantial consensus in regards to its exact meaning.¹ Generally, this effect is a form of emotional insight.²³⁴⁵⁶ The process typically starts off being difficult to fully face and is sometimes accompanied by physically intense sensations which typically lead into pronounced emotion enhancement, deep introspection, and an analysis of one's character and past events.²⁴ During this experience many people describe reliving traumatic events, witnessing painful memories, having enhanced mental imagery, reliving of past experiences, painful feelings in general, and a release of previously repressed emotions.⁴⁶²⁴ This process of integrating manifestations of conflicts and traumas into long-term stable memories is often described as feeling very natural.

This effect can be helpful in aiding an individual overcome conditions such as addiction,⁴⁷ post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other personal afflictions relating to suffered past traumas.⁸ After this experience is over, most users report feelings of increased life satisfaction, rejuvenation, and spirituality enhancement which may last days, weeks, or even years after the event is over.⁶⁹

Catharsis is most commonly induced in therapeutic settings under the influence of moderate dosages of psychedelics compounds, such as LSD, psilocybin, and mescaline.^81011121314 However, it can also occur to a lesser extent under the influence of entactogens, dissociatives,⁸¹²¹³ and meditation.