If you’re feeling depressed, chances are that you’ve felt this way for a while. Maybe as long as you can remember. And, let’s face it, most of us aren’t super optimistic about the future. But have you thought about what might be causing your depression? Lots of things can and do trigger depressive episodes in some people. Some of the most common culprits include chronic stress, loss, family conflict or problems at work. Fortunately, there is a lot that we don’t know about depression yet. Which means that we also have lots of opportunity to find solutions. One promising avenue is the use of psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin (also known as “magic mushrooms”), LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), and Ketamine. Research suggests that these drugs could be a healthy tool for some people to cope with their depression. 

What Is Depression?

Depression is a serious illness characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in things that you used to enjoy. It can be treated with medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. There are many types of depression, but all are characterized by a low mood and impaired thoughts and behaviors. While some types of depression may result from external factors, such as abuse or problems at work, many people experience it because of something that happens internally, such as a genetic predisposition, hormonal changes, or an illness. A diagnosis of depression is made when a person experiences reduced interest or pleasure in daily activities, as well as a change in sleeping habits, appetite, concentration, or energy. Mild depression might be caused by hormonal shifts, while severe depression is often caused by an underlying condition, such as a health condition, relationship problems, or abuse. Extra tips for improving mental health today.

What Are Psychedelic Drugs?

Psychedelic drugs are any drugs that alter your state of mind, causing hallucinations. Since they alter your brain’s function, they could be called “mind-altering” or “mind-expanding” drugs. Psychedelic mushrooms, coffee, LSD, psilocybin, Salvia divinorum, and Ketamine are all mind-expanding substances. Hallucinogens are substances that alter your perception of reality, making you see and hear things that are not there. When you take a psychedelic substance, visual hallucinations—things that look like they’re from a dream or from another place—are the most common thing that you notice. LSD, psilocybin, and ketamine are synthetic (man-made) psychedelics. They are also called “research” drugs, and they’re used in research to help scientists understand how the human brain works.

How Do Psychedelics Work?

Psychedelics affect serotonin and dopamine neurotransmitters in your brain. Serotonin is the brain chemical that regulates mood, while dopamine is the “motivation” chemical that motivates your brain to do what you want it to do. When you ingest these drugs, they attach to receptors in your brain called serotonin receptors. These receptors are what your brain uses to regulate mood, so when you take psychedelics, your brain experiences a significant decrease in serotonin. That might sound bad, but it’s also good. The serotonin reduction that comes with psychedelics can lead to a decrease in feelings of anxiety, loneliness, and boredom that people often experience when they’re depressed.

How Effective Are Psychedelics For Treating Depression?

The antidepressant properties of psychedelics have been well documented for more than 60 years. Evidence suggests that psilocybin, LSD, and Ketamine may be a safe and effective treatment for certain types of depression. A 2018 review looked at the results of 26 studies that administered psilocybin to people experiencing depression. The researchers found that a single dose of psilocybin was generally safe and effective for treating depression. The review also found that people experienced a good response to psilocybin, with a large majority of them seeing improvements in depression symptoms within 3 months. The quality of these studies varied, making it hard to draw a definitive conclusion about the long-term safety and effectiveness of psilocybin for treating depression. Still, given the growing popularity of supervised uses of psilocybin and the growing evidence that it has antidepressant properties, it’s likely that psilocybin will be given to people experiencing depression in the near future.

Future Research Needs To Be Done

One of the biggest problems with doing psychedelics on your own is that they aren’t regulated in the same way as medications. This means that you can’t be sure of what you’re getting, who made it, or how it was made. You also can’t be sure of the purity (the amount of active ingredient) of what you’re taking. This means that it’s hard to figure out the best dose, and it’s difficult to know if your treatment is working. Researchers are trying to solve these problems by studying people who are taking psychedelic drugs “seriously.” These people are volunteering to take the drugs in a medically supervised setting, often for the purpose of treating mental health problems. As of right now, the FDA has approved Ketamine for the use of mental health disorders in clinics in the United States. Psilocybin and LSD are not far behind. Some states have already approved the use of and decriminalization of Psilocybin. 

Should You Take Psychedelics To Treat Your Depression?

Based on the current research, psilocybin, LSD, and ketamine are safe and could be a useful tool for some people experiencing depression. You should always talk to your doctor before taking any type of drug or supplement, but if you’re feeling depressed and want to try psychedelics, you should probably look into it. The most important thing is to do your research, know what you’re getting into, and be prepared for whatever you might experience. Keep in mind that any changes brought on by taking psychedelics might feel strange and might not make sense to you at first. It is strongly recommended to find a clinic near you to do this safely and legally. 

They’re Not A Magic Bullet

These drugs show significant improvements in some mental illnesses, especially treatment resistant depression and PTSD. But…you still have to do the work. These are not a magical cure that will make all your problems disappear, but with the help of a qualified therapist and doing your own self-work this can be the missing tool to catapult you to where you want to be.

Don’t Attempt This On Your Own

Depression is a serious illness that affects millions of people around the world. If you’re experiencing depression, you will want to talk to your doctor about medications they could prescribe, therapy, or a combination of the two. If you’re interested in trying psychedelics, you should research them first and talk to a doctor to make sure that these drugs are right for you. Before trying them, you should be aware of how they work and what they could do to your brain. The drugs alter your brain’s function and could cause changes in your behavior, thoughts, emotions, and feelings. Now that you know a little more about psilocybin and LSD, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to try them. More clinics are popping up every day as the approval becomes more widespread. Find a qualified clinic for your psychedelic journey and don’t buy them from a guy in an alley 😅 !