What is the Tuesday blues?
MDMA is a psychoactive drug known for its empathogenic and stimulating effects. Besides therapeutic sessions, it's used much more frequently and in higher doses at parties and clubs as a recreational drug. A common phenomenon after using large amounts of MDMA is the "Tuesday blues" or "Tuesday afternoon blues," where people feel tired and depressed on the Tuesday after the weekend, after using MDMA.
Serotonin
There are several reasons why the Tuesday blues can occur after MDMA use. First, MDMA use can lead to a depletion of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that plays a key role in regulating mood, sleep, and appetite. MDMA use can deplete serotonin stores in the brain, leaving less serotonin available to regulate these functions. This can lead to feelings of fatigue, sadness, and sleep problems, which are often associated with the Tuesday blues.
Lack of sleep
Another possible cause of the mid-week blues after MDMA use is the further disruption of sleep due to its stimulating effect on the central nervous system. As a result, people often have more difficulty falling asleep after using the drug. This can lead to sleep deprivation and fatigue, which contributes to the feelings of the mid-week blues. Furthermore, the sleep disruption can lead to a disruption of circadian rhythms, which play an important role in regulating mood and energy levels.
Dopamine
A third possible cause of the mid-week blues after MDMA use is the depletion of dopamine stores in the brain. MDMA increases dopamine release in the brain, which can cause a feeling of reward and euphoria. However, MDMA use can also deplete dopamine stores in the brain, causing people to feel down and depressed afterward. This can contribute to the feelings of the mid-week blues.
Better sleep against the Tuesday blues
Sleep problems and serotonin and dopamine depletion play a major role in the Tuesday blues. To minimize sleep problems, it's advisable not to use MDMA too late in the day. With a therapeutic dose of MDMA, most effects wear off after 6 hours. However, it can still be difficult to fall asleep for a few hours. We therefore recommend starting MDMA sessions before 5:00 PM, and even earlier if possible. Starting between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM is considered ideal to minimize sleep deprivation.
More serotonin to beat the Tuesday blues
The depletion of the body's own serotonin plays a major role in the mid-week blues. Serotonin stores can be replenished naturally with foods rich in tryptophan, such as turkey, chicken, eggs, cheese, nuts, seeds, tofu, and fish. Regular exercise can also boost serotonin production in the brain. Sunlight stimulates vitamin D production in the body, which in turn can increase serotonin production (15-30 minutes in the sun is enough).
Taking supplements to replenish serotonin is possible after an MDMA session, but not too soon. To prevent excessively high serotonin levels, the MDMA must first have fully worn off, and to be on the safe side, take an extra 24 hours as a buffer. In many cases, this means you can start taking 5HTP or tryptophan in combination with krill or algae oil on the second day after MDMA use.
Learn more about serotonin: Serotonin and How to Increase It
More dopamine to combat the Tuesday blues
During the MDMA sessions we organize at Triptherapie, we offer a legal MDMA analogue. The advantage of this analogue is that less dopamine is used. This keeps dopamine levels at a reasonable level, and these sessions contribute less to a chronic loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. The dopamine depletion that occurs to a lesser extent during our sessions can be supplemented with food and supplements, just as with the complete depletion that occurs with MDMA use. You can stimulate production through food with bananas, avocados, oily fish, nuts, seeds, and cocoa.
As with serotonin, supplement use is only recommended once the MDMA effect has fully worn off, and to be safe, with an additional 24 hours' notice. The following supplements help increase dopamine levels in the brain: Tyrsine or Mucuna puriens combined with turmeric and magnesium.
More tips for the increase dopamine
Using MDMA wisely
The risk of the mid-week blues is lower during MDMA sessions because, firstly, the therapeutic dose is 75-125mg, not the party doses of sometimes over 300mg, which cause greater neurotransmitter depletion. Often, taking more is pointless, and it's wise to stop using. More isn't always better. Even with doses of 75-125mg of MDMA used in MDMA therapy, it's wise to allow a recovery period of at least one month to prevent chronic loss of dopaminergic receptors in the brain.
Live healthy and feel better
Psychedelic therapy including MDMA therapy can make it easier to make healthy choices. With or without a dip, it's advisable to eat healthily, exercise, and engage in social interactions. So use this encouragement to do the right thing. For example, read one of our health blogs via the links below:
Healthy fats | Sugars and sweeteners | Amino acids and proteins | Anti-depression diet | The best diet
Our MDMA sessions
The MDMA sessions we facilitate at Triptherapie are less likely to cause the Tuesday blues, and we take neurochemistry into account during the preparation. Based on the intake, we advise you on which foods and supplements you can use to prepare for the MDMA session You can already achieve a better balance between dopamine, serotonin, acetylcholine, and GABA. This preparation contributes to better sessions and better results. Interested in an MDMA session with us? First, complete the intake form via the link below. We'll then immediately check if you have any contraindications.
Information MDMA therapy | Complete intake form | Contact Us