The Promise and the Paradox: Exploring Eating Disorder Discourse in Psychedelic Reddit Communities

Abstract

Abstract Today, mental health is standing on a threshold of a new frontier—one that lies not just in the physical and neurobiological realms but also in the interflow of language and meaning making. While the current revival of psychedelic research is focused primarily on pilot and experimental studies to examine the potential therapeutic index of psychedelics, one cannot ignore how this opportunity also affords a wealth of linguistic data that could unearth profound insights into how the online community engages in psychedelic discourse and its therapeutic utility. This paper explored the intersection of language, the complexities of eating disorders (EDs), and the emerging role of psychedelics as a possible therapeutic praxis. Employing Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC), a computer software program based on the theory of natural language, the authors extracted and analyzed linguistic cues in psychedelic subreddit comments written by individuals discussing eating-related issues and psychedelics. Language contains clues and patterns that are helpful in understanding personal experiences and narratives. This research sought to detect these clues and patterns and what they reflect in insight, cognitive complexity, and social engagement. The researchers found a language with heightened emotional awareness, suggesting a deeper level of self-insight. Possible explanations for these results may be associated with psychedelics’ potential to facilitate experiences that relate to changing one’s perception of their struggles including eating-related ones. With greater consideration, these results remain centered and parallel to ongoing discourse regarding psychedelics’ potential support for well-being and mental health. Ultimately, this study raises the therapeutic possibilities that lie in the intersection of internal subjective states accessed by language interpretation, EDs, and psychedelic integration.