Psychedelics : An Answer For The Mental Health Conundrum

Although prescribed use of psilocybin is rare nowadays for medicinal purposes; many tests have been done on its medicinal uses in patients with personality disorders. Some tests have shown a noticeable reduction in obsessive compulsive disorder as a result of psilocybin use. Psilocybin has also been tested and is sometimes administered to cancer patients and has been proven to ease mental stress and the emotional baggage caused by cancer by changing the patient’s perspective on his/her situation and life in general. This compound has also been proven to reduce the pain resulting from cluster headaches in 85 % of patients tested and distanced the frequency of the attacks in 96% of patients.

Throughout history the access to the metaphysical world has been of interest for a variety of cultures and religions across the world. Over the years, men have claimed to have travelled to or seen a of glimpse of the spirit world. It has been evident that in many cultures the use of herbs and other organic substance has assisted in this journey through the metaphysical world. The psychedelic experiences of many of these substances are what have been given these individuals experiences that are beyond reality, possible due to hallucinations. Most recently psychedelics have been strongly associated with the counter culture of the 60’s. However, the evidence of psychedelic use dates back to many ancient societies. The psychedelic compound, DMT,

In studies conducted with nearly 130,000 patients in the general population and in US military veterans, “lifetime use of psilocybin or mescaline and past-year use of LSD might be linked to lower rates of serious psychological distress... Lifetime use of LSD was linked to fewer psychiatric medicine prescriptions and lower frequency of outpatient treatment for issues of mental health” (LSD Could Improve). New information is coming to light that LSD may infact have a positive effect on your mental state, and there is now more information supporting the treatment of depression and social disorders with safe, regulated psychedelics. Furthermore, the hyper emotional and psychosomatic journey that acid takes users on has been noted to resolve deeper emotional trauma in the forms of memories and past experiences, making them easier to deal with. The fact of the matter is, tightly restricted laws created nearly 50 years ago by the Nixon administration with inadequate knowledge about how hallucinogens work through improper research is what is preventing more studies in the field. Therefore those suffering from non-physical illnesses may have more relatively new and safer options as opposed to suicide or violence which we have seen in countless school and public shootings as a result

Throughout the evolution of mankind, psychedelic plants have played a significant role in shaping and influencing the different cultures and traditions around the world. In society today psychedelics have a very negative connotation, they aren’t see as something that can further society. They are viewed as more of a detriment. Children are taught that psychedelic plants are something that can inhibit their growth as a human in society. Most parents put these plants in the same category of drugs such as methamphetamines, heroine, and cocaine. During the 1960s the drug culture engulfed psychedelics and turned them into what some people in society see today as a monster. The rave scene that we see today currently is an offshoot of this, with part goers recreationally using psychedelics to get high or trip for music and art festivals.

The first study concerning the application of LSD in psychotherapy was conducted by Dr. med. Gasser, and this was the first worldwide study after more than four decades without a legal research (Barrau-Alonso et al.). This paper’s main aim is to shed light on the effects of LSD assisted psychotherapy in daily life. This paper examines the effectiveness LSD assisted psychotherapy from the client’s view point. Due to limitations in methodology, it is difficult to establish whether the actions and changes taken on seen here will prove to be true on a larger scale. Whether LSD therapy affect daily life more so personal relationships can be confirmed and will be discussed within the paper. The long term triggers that are associated with this psychotherapy will also be examined in depth. Data was obtained from qualitative interviews held between a participant and the spouse in the study conducted by Dr. med. Gasser in Switzerland (Winkelman and Roberts). We take an overview look at the data from the therapy sessions with more inclusion from the State Trait Anxiety Inventory and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire the results that were found prove that the use of LSD in psychotherapy assistance leads to changes in the attitude and behavior of the patient and they are also reflected in the daily life (Griffiths et al.). These long-term changes in most cases are not noticeable even by the closes family members, though after a

Scientist Professor David Nutt who has dedicated his career to researching the confusion about psychedelics and mental and physical health benefits that users say it has. The professor has accomplished throughout his lifetime 27 books, 400 pages of original work discussing the topic, and 8 government reports. Throughout all the research based on psychedelics show that there are many beneficial effects that can occur such as triggering the creative part of the brain. Psychedelics seem to change all perception of reality; the track of time, or change all kinds of different dimensions in the brain. Aspects that tend to influence the user visually, spiritually and whatever helps you make sense of your life. However, of course, it’s not like these substances will save your life or make the superior to others but what they can offer is a helping hand in your personal life and realize things that you didn’t know before. Studies show that if people began being treated for addiction or depression with the use of psychedelics then the effect of say, a single dose therapy can offer a psychological change lasting for

There are many issues and complications with the current legal system in place that prevent many substances and their chemical makeup to be considered illegal under the Schedules of Controlled Substance Act. With no known medical use under Schedule One, they cannot be utilized in the medicinal field for treatment of many mental disorders. In specific to psychoactive mushrooms and their active chemicals psilocybin and psilocin, there are many misconceptions about the effects of the drug mostly in part because of the counter-culture of the 1960s and 1970s commonly associated with them. A laboratory produced prescription drug with the intended effect of acting as a serotonin analogue can be mimicked instead with the chemical psilocybin. Psilocybin

Hallucinogens are a class of drugs that is currently undergoing extensive research and sometimes used in psychotherapy (Pennock, 2014). Studies have shown that hallucinogens in human subjects resulted in heightened creative thinking abilities; increased mental and physical stimulation; life changing spiritual experiences; and decreased levels of anxiety, which is an incentive for therapeutic/health psychology (Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, 2008; Pennock,

As we know, hallucinogens are a type of drug that specialize in distorting the way a user perceives time, motion, colors, sounds, and self, or simply, causing psychological consequences onto their victims (Volkow 2015). However, the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW) prefers to link the term “hallucinations”, or psychological experiences in seeing images, hearing sounds and feeling sensations that seem very real but do not exist, to hallucinogens as a better and summarized definition replacement (2016). True to some level, the two categories that make up hallucinogens, classical psychedelics and dissociative drugs, each specialize into specific psychological harm, which correspondingly, simplifies our broad description in what hallucinogens commonly cause. Once a classical hallucinogen, like LSD, psilocybin, and DMT, is taken and ingested, psychological effects consisting of psychotic-like episodes that can occur long after a person has taken the drug, massive mood swings, emotions to swing wildly and unpredictably, real-world sensations to appear unreal, and ultimately intense modifications in the sensorium, the sense of “self,” and the experience of reality, are all experienced throughout the phase up until the presence of the hallucinogen is no longer present in the body (Volkow 2016, Alonso 2015). A very similar process that happens when a dissociative drug is ingested, like PCP, ketamine, dextromethorphan, but instead, events of respiratory depression, heart rate

The most common physical effects were pupil dilation, changes in heart rate, changes in blood pressure, and increase in stretch reflex (Quentin 1960). The changes in heart rate and blood pressure were assigned the “adverse” categorization, while pupil dilation, and stretch increase were given the “neutral” categorization. The most common psychological effects of psilocybin are anxiety and paranoia, which were assigned the “adverse” categorization (Amsterdam, Opperhuizen, and van den Brink 2010). Additionally, further common psychological effects include hallucinations, increased sensitivity, intensified mood state, and distorted perceptions (Hasler, Grimberg, Benz, Huber, Vollenweider 2004). These effects were assigned the “neutral” category. Lastly, single trials of psilocybin use have been proven to completely lift symptoms of depression, and induce euphoria. (Carhart-Harris, Bolstridge, Rucker, Day, Erritzoe, Kaelen, Bloomfield, Rickard, Forbes, Feilding, Taylor, Pilling, Curran, Nutt 2016). These psychological effects were assigned the beneficial

Psychedelic drugs affect more then creativity, they are also known to have the ability to increase the users sense of spirituality and religion. In the academic journal, “Voice of The Psychonauts,” author Levente Moro explores the correlation between spirituality, and psychedelic drug use. He claims that when psychedelic drugs are taken in a “supportive” environment they have the ability to induce “deeply meaningful religious revelations and spiritual awakenings” (Moro et al. 190). Psychedelic drug use in hopes of spiritual revelations is not new, and has actually been going on for hundreds of years. The Native American Church has been known to traditionally use psychedelic drugs for spiritual experiences (Moro et al. 190). Some

In the 1950s and 60s research into the potential of psychedelic drugs to treat illnesses began but was unfortunately stopped in the 70s due to legal opposition from governments and regulatory bodies. It has only been in very recent years that laws and attitudes regarding psychedelics have changed enough to allow for research to resume. During this time, evidence has been found to suggest that there is an unlocked potential of psychedelics to lower rates of mental illness in many sufferers; treating depression, PTSD, OCD and several anxiety disorders. Dimethyltryptamine (DMT), psilocybin and mescaline are all naturally occurring psychedelics that act on the human serotonin system and have been found to significantly reduce rates of

Research of Psychedelic studies have been around the 60’s and have been tested in the medical field with individuals that have had negative psychological issues, ranging from addiction solving to patients with the anxiety of mortality by facilitating a spiritual experience. According to Dr. Stanislav Grof, “they initially gave LSD to alcoholic patients with the intention of deterring them further drinking by the horrors of a simulated delirium tremens. Paradoxically, however, it seemed to be the profound positive experiences in LSD sessions that were correlated with good therapeutic results.” (Grof 32). To elaborate, research shows that Lysergic Acid-25 had a positive influence on individuals with addiction to alcohol. This shows that individuals with Addiction to alcohol and other substances have a potential for better wellbeing with the use of Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, in a therapeutic environment. As for the spiritual aspect of Psychedelic substances, “They speak about cosmic unity, unio mystica, mysterium, tremendum, cosmic consciousness, union with God, Atman-Braham union, Samadhi, satori, moksha, or the harmony of the spheres. Occasionally, patients even receive direct advice and guidance as to how they can

Psychedelic treatments on the sick and dying provides many benefits than it does disadvantages. For one, the treatment is being studied on patients who find themselves at the lowest point in their lives. Two, our healthcare system needs to focus more on the patients comfort level and less on the methods used. Three, anyone experiencing anxiety of dying from cancer and their loved ones would make the process easier to cope with and would benefit the grief process of the people they leave behind. At the age of twenty-seven I have experienced four people in my lifetime who suffered from cancer and in the end lost the battle. When you see someone you’ve considered a mother fear the inevitable end of their life every moment they come out of their

Although there has been great progress in the treatment of depression, many still struggle to find effective solutions. SSRIs commonly prescribed require taking daily medication, and unresponsiveness to the drugs is not uncommon. The style and quality of counseling often vary from therapist to therapist, making it hard for people to find someone fit to their needs. It’s possible that the solution for those with treatment-resistant depression, and other chronic mental illnesses may be where many do not expect: the DEAs list of schedule one controlled substances. LSD, Psilocybin, and MDMA have all shown promise in treating one or more mental illnesses, yet the U.S is tentative to acknowledge their potential. Approving the medicinal use of psychedelic