Does Psychedelic Use Reduce Fear of Death?

• A study found that psychedelic use is linked to lower fear of death due to the spiritual and psychological experiences it induces.
• Psilocybin, the main compound in magic mushrooms, has shown promise in reducing death anxiety, especially in terminally ill patients.
• Psychedelics do not inherently reduce death anxiety but act as catalysts for transformative experiences that shift one’s perception of mortality.
• Studies indicate that the mystical and religious transcendence induced by psychedelics is strongly associated with reduced fear of death.
• Psychedelic-assisted therapy is being explored in hospice and palliative care as a tool to help patients find peace with dying.

Death anxiety—the distress associated with mortality—is a fundamental human concern. It can manifest in many ways, such as fear of the unknown, loss of control, or avoidance of death-related discussions. Recent research suggests that psychedelic use, particularly psilocybin, could significantly alleviate this anxiety. A study published in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs explores how these substances promote psychological and spiritual experiences that potentially reduce the fear of death, offering insight into how psychedelics could serve as therapeutic tools for those struggling with death-related distress.

New Research Links Psychedelics to Lower Fear of Death

A study by researchers from the Federal University of Alfenas in Brazil examined how psychedelic use correlates with reduced death anxiety. The research involved 517 adult participants recruited via social media, who were assessed for their experiences with substances like psilocybin, LSD, ayahuasca, and DMT. The study found that individuals who frequently used psychedelics exhibited lower levels of fear surrounding death compared to non-users (Garcia et al., 2025).

Researchers quantified death anxiety using the Death Anxiety Scale while also evaluating beliefs in life beyond death with the Death Transcendence Scale. Their findings emphasize that psychedelic use doesn’t directly reduce fear of death but instead fosters a psychological state that shifts one's perception of mortality—particularly by facilitating transcendent experiences that reshape existential perspectives.

The Role of Transcendence in Easing Death Anxiety

One of the key takeaways from the study is that psychedelics do not merely dampen death anxiety chemically. Instead, they trigger profound experiences of "death transcendence," which refers to the sense that life extends beyond physical existence. This can occur in different ways

• Religious Transcendence: The belief in an afterlife or spiritual continuity—common among those with traditional religious backgrounds or faith-based psychedelic encounters.
• Mystical Transcendence: Experiences of ego dissolution, unity with the universe, and interconnectedness, leading to a diminished fear of death.
• Creative or Symbolic Transcendence: The idea that one's legacy—through artistic, scientific, or humanitarian contributions—continues beyond life itself.

Interestingly, the study found that participants who reported religious or mystical transcendence had significantly lower death anxiety. In contrast, those who relied mainly on symbolic transcendence had higher levels of death anxiety, likely because their awareness of mortality was heightened by their focus on legacy and impermanence.

How Psychedelics Induce Transcendence

Psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, profoundly alter cognition and perception. Users frequently describe mystical experiences characterized by

• Ego Dissolution: A loss of sense of personal identity, leading to feelings of unity with the world.
• Heightened Awareness of Interconnectedness: A deep realization that existence extends beyond bodily death.
• Timelessness: A sensation of being outside of conventional time structures, reducing the fear of an "end."

Brain Mechanisms Behind Psychedelic-Induced Transcendence

From a neurological standpoint, psychedelics disrupt the brain’s default mode network (DMN)—a system involved in self-referential thinking. Research using brain imaging shows that psilocybin significantly decreases activity in the DMN, allowing users to break free from rigid patterns of thought and embrace new existential perspectives (Roseman et al., 2018). This neurological shift allows individuals to experience a broader, often more spiritual understanding of mortality, reducing the existential distress that typically accompanies thoughts of death.

Psilocybin’s Potential in Reducing Death Anxiety

Several clinical studies indicate that psilocybin has profound therapeutic benefits, particularly for patients facing terminal illness.

Johns Hopkins University Study on Psilocybin and Death Anxiety

A groundbreaking study from Johns Hopkins University showed that a single guided psilocybin session significantly reduced anxiety and depression in patients with life-threatening cancer. Participants commonly reported transformative experiences that reshaped their perception of death, describing feelings of peace, interconnectedness, and spiritual acceptance (Griffiths et al., 2016).

Interestingly, the effects of this single psychedelic session lasted for months—highlighting its potential for long-term impact in alleviating death-related fears.

Why Psilocybin Works in Terminal Illness Contexts

• Enhances Emotional Acceptance: Patients report feeling a deep sense of peace with their diagnosis.
• Reframes Mortality: Instead of perceiving death as a fearful endpoint, participants often see it as a transition or natural part of existence.
• Long-Lasting Effects: Unlike traditional antidepressants, which require continuous use, psilocybin’s benefits persist well beyond the experience itself.

These findings strongly suggest that psilocybin-assisted therapy could improve the quality of life for individuals facing death, reducing fear while enhancing emotional and spiritual well-being.

Spirituality, Psychedelics, and Mortality

The Brazilian study underscores that psychedelics may tap into an innate human inclination toward spirituality. Regardless of religious affiliation, individuals who reported profound spiritual insights following psychedelic experiences exhibited lower death anxiety.

Psychedelics and Non-Religious Spirituality

Interestingly, these findings also apply to non-religious individuals. Psychedelics often induce mystical experiences that transcend conventional religious beliefs yet still provide a deep sense of meaning. Many users describe a newfound appreciation for life’s impermanence, helping them embrace mortality with greater ease.

Lead researcher Mesquita Garcia suggests that this evidence supports the idea that humans have a fundamental need for existential understanding, whether through religion, nature, or personal reflection. Psychedelics may act as a catalyst for fulfilling this need.

Psychedelics in Hospice and Palliative Care

Given these findings, the medical field is increasingly exploring psychedelics as a treatment for end-of-life distress. Some hospices and palliative care programs are considering integrating psilocybin therapy as a way to help patients manage existential dread.

Potential benefits of psychedelic therapy in hospice care include

• Enhancing emotional processing of fear and grief.
• Facilitating acceptance of death as a natural part of life.
• Encouraging patients to find meaning in their existence.

If widely adopted, psychedelics could revolutionize how medical practitioners address end-of-life anxiety, providing a holistic alternative to conventional psychological approaches.

Are Psychedelics Themselves Responsible for Death Anxiety Reduction?

A critical takeaway from the Brazilian study is that psychedelics themselves do not directly reduce death anxiety. Instead, they create experiences that lead to profound shifts in perception. This distinction has major implications for psychedelic therapy

• Simply taking a psychedelic substance is not enough—the user’s mindset, environment, and guidance during the experience play essential roles.
• Therapeutic integration after the experience is critical for long-lasting benefits.
• Psychedelic therapy should be structured, ensuring patients are adequately supported before, during, and after their sessions.

Understanding this key difference is crucial for optimizing psychedelic treatments for those seeking relief from death-related anxiety.

Limitations and Areas for Future Research