Mystical psychedelic experiences correlate with lower fear of death and greater acceptance of mortality, with ego dissolution and emotional intensity shaping the effect

Mystical psychedelic experiences are associated with reduced fear of death and greater acceptance of mortality. Survey data indicate that people who rated a past psychedelic experience as highly mystical also reported less death anxiety, with ego dissolution, emotional intensity, and a sense of connectedness appearing to strengthen that relationship. The findings draw on retrospective self-reports rather than controlled clinical dosing, so they do not show that psychedelics directly cause lasting changes in attitudes toward death. Even so, the pattern fits broader psychedelic research linking profound altered states to shifts in meaning, spirituality, and psychological flexibility. Death acceptance matters in palliative care, end-of-life distress, and existential mental health. The results suggest that specific qualities of psychedelic experiences, rather than drug exposure alone, may help explain why some people report lasting reductions in mortality-related fear.