Altered States Psychedelics for Anorexia?
Nov 19, 2025
Francesca Rose Annenberg, an eating disorder recovery coach from Cape Town, shares her powerful journey from anorexia to recovery through psychedelics. She reveals how ayahuasca and psilocybin provided her vital insights and a sense of self-worth separate from her eating disorder. Marisa Raymond Flesch, a UCSF physician, discusses a groundbreaking clinical trial exploring psilocybin-assisted therapy for young adults with anorexia. Both highlight the urgent need for innovative treatments as traditional methods lag behind, emphasizing the potential for psychedelic therapies.
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Psychedelics Sparked Embodied Self‑Worth
- Francesca Rose Annenberg described an ayahuasca and later psilocybin experience that helped her feel embodied and worthy.
- The psilocybin session let her visualize her eating disorder as a box she could put down, creating distance and choice.
From Story To Clinical Trials
- Clinical trials provide repeatable data beyond individual stories like Francesca's recovery.
- Researchers are now testing whether psilocybin‑assisted therapy can generalize to people with anorexia.
Pair Medication With Therapy
- Marisa Raymond Flesch emphasized psilocybin must be combined with psychotherapy, not given alone.
- Trials require extensive prep, medical checks, and many therapy visits to support participants.