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Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

medicalxpress.com

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Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#131

Post by tokenadult »

It's regrettable that the HN submission about this that reached the front page for sustained discussion is based on a press release rather than on follow-up by independent journalists. Suffice it to say that this is an interesting preliminary study finding, but it needs a lot of refinement and quite a bit of replication before serving as a basis for self-medication by HN readers.

Earlier HN submissions based on journalistic reports of same study:

from yesterday:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3053068

from 105 days ago:

http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2664252

In general, press release services are just a guide to look for independent accounts of someone's newly announced study finding. The researcher will always be enthusiastic about his or her new finding, but a good journalist (a rarity, I acknowledge, when it comes to science reporting) will provide perspective and lessen the gee-whiz factor in the researcher's announcement via press release.

Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#133

Post by tokenadult »

WA wrote: post #33
bherms wrote: post #9

Psilocybin use definitely changed me for the better. The first time I did it was one of the most eye-opening and impacting experiences in my life. Since my first trip, I've tried to work it into my life at least 1-2 times a year. Every time I feel like I learn something new and/or come out a better person by seeing certain aspects of life in a new light. It's something you only want to try in controlled environments…

The emphasis is on: done right, with the right people. There is a reason why drugs are prohibited in many countries. People don't use them "correctly" and can become messed up pretty heavily. I took shrooms when I was 18. After an initial phase of a lot of hardly controllable laughter, I experienced the strongest fear that I ever had in my life. Basically, the fear to remain stuck on this trip - nothing unusual by th…

There is a reason why drugs are prohibited in many countries.

I used to think that all educated adults had read the same books about history I had, but I was surprised when I was in law school that my professor of criminal law and criminal procedure had never heard about why drug laws in east Asia and southeast Asia are very harsh. The painful experience of China after defeat in the Opium Wars means that several countries of Asia view promotion of drug use among their populace as an instrument of foreign colonialist oppression. The zero-tolerance policies (including the death penalty for possession of quite small amounts of prohibited drugs) in those countries flow directly from a historical experience in which a drugged population became easier rather than harder to oppress. On historical grounds, and on observation of the Grass Roots Party (a political party in my state supporting legalization of marijuana), I'm not at all sure that easier access to drugs makes a populace happier or more free.

Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#134

Post by kstenerud »

edtechre wrote: post #61
swombat wrote: post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You sound like exactly the kind of close-minded person who would benefit from a hallucinogenic trip. The reality is, you have no idea what a trip is like. You're building an image of what it might be like based on your own actual experiences, and it seems pretty lame, but that image is just that: an image; a picture; not the real thing. And, much like life cannot be experienced just by looking at pictures, drugs cann…

Flawless logic here. I guess I should try crack, heroine, or maybe downing some motor oil before coming to the conclusion they're not for me?

Why do you have such a strong negative reaction to this?

Seriously, your comments sound childish and insecure.

Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#135

Post by headbiznatch »

edtechre wrote: post #63
pyre wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You know what actually makes a difference in life? Taking action makes a difference in life. People don't take action just for its own sake. They have motivations. Where do this motivations come from? Ultimately the mind. The mind can be influenced by books and general knowledge, as well as experiences. Do you contest that if one did the same thing twice (once on drugs, the other not) that those experiences would d…

You could claim the same about getting high off of glue since that affects the mind too. Seriously, what every day experience /doesn't/ affect your mind? My point stands on its own. Taking action makes a difference, dropping acid does nothing for anyone. End.

Taking actions to alter one's self can easily improve the ability to take actions that affect others. A simple example: lifting weights so you can be a more effective fire fighter. There are many others, including the ingestion of chemicals to alter mind state. Oh, I don't know: like drinking that cup of coffee in the morning, the one that gets you through your emails and keeps you from being a grumpy asshole all day?

Posting to a forum with your self-righteous, unapproachable attitude is the DEFINITION of masturbatory. You clearly cannot politely engage others on this topic, so why bother commenting here to simply tell the druggies how you feel about their petty dalliances? To make yourself feel better?

Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#136

Post by tryitnow »

lusr wrote: post #74
astrofinch wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What book do you estimate has the greatest probability of causing lasting personality change?

"Feeling Good" by David Burns. Sounds like a pop-psych title, but it is not. At 28 years of age, I am fairly certain this is the most important book I have ever and will ever read in my entire life (but then I desperately needed it - it is the user's manual to my brain that has allowed me to debug so much of my problematic thought processes).

I third this. I highly recommend this book, especially to people who are analytically oriented.

Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#138

Post by cbs »

icebraining wrote: post #116
r0s wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Obviously not, but the original Controlled Substances Act, the beginning of our modern War on Drugs, can be reasonably inferred as direct response to the anti-war movement.

That Act is only in effect in the US, though, while drugs are forbidden in many countries.

That doesn't mean it wasn't a contributing factor. Also, the US foreign policy has exported our nation's legislative opinion of drugs for decades.

Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#139

Post by dreamdu5t »

tokenadult wrote: post #133
WA wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The emphasis is on: done right, with the right people. There is a reason why drugs are prohibited in many countries. People don't use them "correctly" and can become messed up pretty heavily. I took shrooms when I was 18. After an initial phase of a lot of hardly controllable laughter, I experienced the strongest fear that I ever had in my life. Basically, the fear to remain stuck on this trip - nothing unusual by th…

There is a reason why drugs are prohibited in many countries. I used to think that all educated adults had read the same books about history I had, but I was surprised when I was in law school that my professor of criminal law and criminal procedure had never heard about why drug laws in east Asia and southeast Asia are very harsh. The painful experience of China after defeat in the Opium Wars means that several coun…

I disagree. Most drug laws have little basis in any kind of rational motivation, in the East or West. Though I know about the historical events you're referring to, I don't think they're as connected as you imply.

Re: Single psilocybin dose may make lasting personality change

#140

Post by Radix »

khafra wrote: post #92
puredemo wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, that is definitely the wrong sort of environment to do them in. Camping with best friends is a better environment.

Those of us who feel a bit uncomfortable and nervous when camping with friends should just stick with the minds we have, then?

No, the two implications are that 1. You should be somewhere you feel safe. Preferably with someone you feel safe. and 2. It is better to be outside in nature. (1) is always spoken of as being crucial and (2) is something that is oft repeated. I don't have any experience myself to say why (2) is so often suggested.
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