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Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

nature.com

201–210 of 276 posts

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#201

Lots of people have a lot of negative stuff to say, but my take is: if you do psychedelics, you need to do the work and you need a firm ground before that. We have research that it might help with PTSD, depression, etc. but it's not like you just take it and you're done. It's a powerful substance and with power comes responsibility. I like to think of it more as an enhancer as to what's inside your head anyways. If t…

You're right. There are a lot of misconceptions because the majority of people has never tried strong psychedelic drugs like psilocybin or LSD, so their information is based entirely on hearsay. Both in the negative sense ("you can permanently 'fry' your brain", "you'll jump out of the window", etc), as well as positive myths like that it's going to solve all your mental issues.

I'm not fully sure regarding the last sentence though. The important thing to know for those who have never experienced it and who have issues that could come out during the trip is that you need to care A LOT about set and setting. You should have an experienced person whom you fully trust and who can guide you through the experience. Don't do it on your own when you're in a bad state, that's pretty much the worst way to take psychedelics and basically asking for the trip to go wrong. And you'll want to avoid strangers as well unless you're super extroverted maybe.

Also, and that's my personal take, don't sign up to questionable retreats or scientific studies/therapies conducted by self-proclaimed experts who have never taken it themselves. Just because someone has a degree in psychology - a questionable science to begin with when you look at all the failed attempts to replicate the findings - it doesn't mean they understand how it feels to be on a psychedelic trip.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've had similar experiences on mushrooms (and high doses of marijuana too, to a lesser extent). It feels like a mix of intense awe and the the satisfactory "click" of finally understanding something to me. I'm quite sure it's more of an emotional state than "fundamental truth", or anything like that, but it sure is powerful. Very easy to understand how mythology can build around the stuff.

> It feels like a mix of intense awe and the the satisfactory "click" of finally understanding something to me. I almost wonder if all of this is simply because drugs can produce a strong anti-anxiety / euphoric effect, providing a powerful sense of confidence in one's convictions.

I think it's a different phenomenon, personally - on drugs like MDMA I get the same euphoric effect but without the accompanying sense that I've learned anything about the universe.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#203

Lots of people have a lot of negative stuff to say, but my take is: if you do psychedelics, you need to do the work and you need a firm ground before that. We have research that it might help with PTSD, depression, etc. but it's not like you just take it and you're done. It's a powerful substance and with power comes responsibility. I like to think of it more as an enhancer as to what's inside your head anyways. If t…

Psychedelics weaken your emotional associations. Which can be helpful and/or unhelpful.

It's not a matter of more work.

Whatever feeling you had about this chair has changed. It use to represent a memory or a feeling from childhood. That's changed or is gone for better or worse.

That's how to perceive how it works.

If you are 'fucked' because you can't move on it will help. If you feel a lack of connections to things/people it could help form new ones or reduce what you currently have.

Removing emotional memories can be scary. Removing PTSD memories can be freeing.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My brother has this permanently, though whether a delayed reaction to the booster or from when he got COVID itself (a relatively mild case) not long after, there's no way to know. It has been a major detriment to his day to day life though. Any physically involved hobbies are impossible; just walking up a flight or two of stairs now leaves him completely winded for several minutes, as his heart rate also takes longer…

That sounds like a relatively common Covid side effect.

[flagged]

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#206
post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That doctor of yours should have their license revoked.

Thankfully in this country, we don't revoke licenses for telling people to submit health data.

I don’t know or care which country you’re in, but advising patients against vaccines is a license-losing offense in most of the civilized world.

And that’s only the mildest of consequences, you’d be facing criminal charges as well in most countries.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#207

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Part of the lesson of this story is the danger of having a gun in the home at all. He could have been sober and depressed and did the same just as easily thanks to having access to a gun. There's a lot of statistical evidence for how dangerous situations like depression or domestic violence can become once a gun is nearby.

Your first statement is not supported by the second. Yes, in a DV situation or a situation where someone has severe mental illness, it's probably not a good idea to have easy access to a firearm. But if you actually look at the numbers, the average firearm is not used in self-defense, nor is it used to endanger a family member. The vast majority just . . . sit there. They're machines which must be used respectfully a…

> The vast majority just . . . sit there

> They're machines which must be used [...] not magic evil talismans

I feel like there's a straw man in there. No one is worried about guns sitting around literally unused, and I don't think anyone cares too much about the used/unused ratio. Obviously the thing people are worried about is how they are used when they are used.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#208
post #204

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That sounds like a relatively common Covid side effect.

[flagged]

The amount of antivax shit that floats around in a supposedly well informed community such as this is nauseating.

Makes me lose my faith in humanity a bit every time I read it.

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#209
post #203

Lots of people have a lot of negative stuff to say, but my take is: if you do psychedelics, you need to do the work and you need a firm ground before that. We have research that it might help with PTSD, depression, etc. but it's not like you just take it and you're done. It's a powerful substance and with power comes responsibility. I like to think of it more as an enhancer as to what's inside your head anyways. If t…

Psychedelics weaken your emotional associations. Which can be helpful and/or unhelpful. It's not a matter of more work. Whatever feeling you had about this chair has changed. It use to represent a memory or a feeling from childhood. That's changed or is gone for better or worse. That's how to perceive how it works. If you are 'fucked' because you can't move on it will help. If you feel a lack of connections to things…

with 'work' I mean integration work afterwards and preparation beforehand. you just gotta be able to handle what's coming imho

Re: Psilocybin desynchronizes the human brain

#210
post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I took a Pfizer COVID booster vaccine and saw my heart rate go up to resting above 100 Temporarily or permanently?

Temporary, but it wasn't clear at the time

Do you mind if I ask how long it took to clear up?
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