Psychedelic drugs also referred to as Hallucinogens, are known to alter people’s perceptions, moods, and thought processes. These psychedelic drugs are emerging in the field of psychiatry for the treatment of mental health concerns, even though they have been prohibited in many societies. Numerous clinical trials have been conducted to examine how these medications affect conditions like OCD, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and more.
According to Gabor Mate, psilocybin, a form of psychedelic drug often known as “magic mushrooms”, allows people to have a great spiritual experience while still being conscious and accessing areas of their brain that are normally inaccessible. Additionally, using psychedelics unsupervised or unguided has a danger, and some of these drugs should not be used by those who suffer from several medical issues, including unstable cardiac conditions, specific cancers, and severe kidney or liver difficulties.
When used with therapy, psychedelic drugs can reset the brain and temporarily change a person’s perspective and thought process, allowing them to heal themselves of their illnesses.
Additionally, psilocybin-assisted therapy was linked to enhanced optimism, a higher quality of life, and a reduced sense of danger. Six months later, almost 80% of individuals continued to improve.
Another study surveyed visitors to music festivals to examine the impact of realistic psychedelic use. The use of Psilocybin and LSD, according to the participants, helped them feel happier and more socially engaged. Additionally, they stated that even after the effects of the drugs decreased, these effects lasted.
Researchers discovered a 60–70% success rate for the treatment of severe depression when using the drug Ketamine.
It’s also crucial to keep in mind that, even though psychedelic therapy has shown potential in treating a variety of medical conditions, scientists are still trying to pinpoint how exactly it works. With the current clinical trials being conducted, it is still extremely early for researchers and scientists to say whether these treatments can reach the underlying problem. They are also still trying to determine how well these drugs work as a form of therapy. Future studies will help us understand this better.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
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About the Author.
Ankita Khandelwal is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.