Psychedelics - The panacea for depression and a highly potent smart drug? | How do they work? / Microdosing / My personal experience

Let's start with a bit of history.

People have been using psychedelics since the very beginning of humanity—starting with the first spontaneous consumption of psilocybin mushrooms, subsequently ancient rituals, and ending with modern psychedelic parties. The exciting fact is that many recent studies suggest that the consumption of psychedelics (such as psilocybin mushrooms) was very important, if not even essential, in the development of the human race, supporting the famous "Stoned Ape Hypothesis" formulated by Terence McKenna. It is estimated that 200.000 years ago, suddenly, the brain volume of our ancestors raised threefold in no time, transforming itself "out of the animal mind and into the world of articulated speech and imagination," beginning to form what we today comprehend as consciousness and spirituality. Psychedelics may have played a major role in this bizarre phenomenon.

The word psychedelics is derived from the Greek words ψυχή psychḗ meaning "soul, mind" and δηλείν dēleín "to manifest." In literal translation it means "mind-manifesting."

In 1938, Albert Hofmann, a Swiss researcher, first isolated lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). Soon this extraordinary substance, which revealed enormous potential in the treatment of depression and PTSD, emerged from lab-controlled research and spread across cultures.

Although it is almost impossible to physically overdose on LSD as a chemical substance, a few years later the first person died in an accident while under the influence of a severe LSD dose. Nevertheless, the primary concern of governments was the steady development of more open-minded cultures whose worldviews incompatible with money and power cults. Soon the US government began spreading misinformation about psychedelics, telling the public that LSD caused autism and deformities in newborn babies. Since the masses have always blindly believed the newspapers and TV news, it turned a large part of society against the psychedelic society. Eventually, in the 1970s, the use of LSD, and all akin psychoactive compounds, was banned in the US and Europe. Nonetheless, Albert Hofmann continued self-examinations of the influence of LSD on the human organism for the rest of his life (he died in 2008, and lived over 98 years).

The next golden age of psychedelics

I can safely assume that psychedelics, which have been strictly banned for over 50 years, with baby steps, are now entering their next golden age. Even though we still won't acquire them legally in many countries, scientists are finally allowed to examine their influence on the brain and body.

LSD, DMT, and psilocybin are undergoing detailed examinations; what turned out in no time? Psychedelics can effectively cure depression and post-traumatic stress disorders, relieve pain, counteract burnout, promote creativity and pro-social behavior, and replace harmful anti-depressants. Their production/cultivation is cheap; thus, LSD or mushrooms could be available to people almost for free.

Psychedelics, according to Drug Harm Rankings, are one of the safest compounds, rated safer than cannabis, ecstasy, or anabolic steroids.

Well, since they can't be monetized like regular drugs, the shrieking from the medical companies is going to be unbearable.

How do psychedelics work?

It is intriguing that although the pathways by which psychedelics affect the brain are fairly well-known, the exact cascade of processes that are triggered right after taking a psychedelic is still not fully understood. Furthermore, why EEG brain activity decreases when people are experiencing "reality" as "more real than real" continues to puzzle scientists around the world.

We know that psychedelics such as LSD or Psilocybin acts by binding to, i.a., the serotonin 2A receptor (5HT2A receptor) and altering the activity of the temporal lobe in a unique way. Moreover, they have the potential to stimulate, suppress, and modulate the activity of diverse neurotransmitters, leading to a rapid improvement in neuronal communication, making the brain extremely neuroplastic and able to communicate between its parts much more efficiently than usual - including the parts that typically don't interact.

Recently, it's been discovered that psychedelics can reopen the critical learning window of social behavior, creativity, and sports abilities. In a specific environment, moderate doses of psychedelics can directly rewire brain connections, lifting mental blockages and changing the behavior of a user drastically and indefinitely.

Microdosing. What is it? Is it worth trying?

Microdosing is the practice of taking shallow doses of drugs whose effects are consciously imperceptible. It makes it possible to let the active substances affect the organism without inducing severe hallucinogenic effects. For this purpose are commonly used psilocybin mushrooms or LSD. The regular microdose is about 5-10x smaller than a dose that would cause mild hallucinations.

There is no such thing as a "universal microdose", which means that you should always adjust it for yourself, starting with very low doses and gradually increasing until you find your "sweet spot".

(50mg of dried psilocybin mushrooms [Psilocybe Cubensis] (dose strictly depends upon its species. Some mushrooms may contain more active substance per mg than others), or 5mcg of LSD)

Benefits

improved:
- neurogenesis
- neuroplasticity
- cognitive functions
- productivity
- well-being
- proprioception
- sleep quality
- ability to visualize

reduced:
- anxiety
- fatique
- brain fog
- negative thinking
- depression & PTSD
- the so-called subconscious blockages

vast potential potential to:
- process trauma and repressed emotions
- shift ego-based perspective
- promote emotional intelligence
- maximize learning
- optimize physical performance
- induce the state of mindfulness

My personal experience (following a journal)

I have been microdosing psilocybin mushrooms for over three months. Throughout this period, I didn't use any smart drugs. I was also "off-cycle" for over eight months, so anabolic-androgenic steroids were no longer actively affecting my brain.

I started my adventure with 50mg of psilocybin mushrooms, taken on an empty stomach according to Dr. Paul Stament's method (1 dose e4d, followed by a two-day break). Then, since I did not notice any significant changes in my perception, I increased the dose to 300mg (gradually by 50mg with each subsequent dose).

The outcome exceeded my expectations.

The vast majority of the benefits mentioned above associated with psilocybin microdosing have been proven true. In addition, even though it took me 1 month to get the dose right, and I've been factually microdosing for 2 months, the non-placebo effects from the 200mg dose were significant.

First month:

*Lightheaded" feelings one hour after ingestion lasting 4-5 hours. Flow state. I take advantage of and create a few new and updated other couple old training and diet plans - effortlessly, without experiencing the slightest symptom of mental fatigue.

*I became more talkative and intrigued by other people's points of view, including those of strangers.

*Stimulants (such as caffeine) taken the day after affect the system much stronger.

*A tendency to irritability arises when someone asks "stupid questions" or is "slow-witted."

*Sleep is deeper and more rejuvenating.

Second month:

*After two months, I noticed a noteworthy difference in proprioception while squatting and deadlifting.

*Well-being improved significantly.

*I became much more mindful of my surroundings and aware of my mental processes, emotions and feelings.

*Effects from the first month escalated a little more.

Third month:

*From this month on, my cognitive functions increased significantly, comparable to the regular use of a perfectly composed stack of nootropic drugs with an enormously long lifetime: greatly improved creativity, memory, visualization and critical thinking.

*I didn't notice any further improvement (compared to month 2) in mood, behavior, or productivity

Due to a lack of psilocybin mushrooms, I discontinued microdosing after 80 days.

Conclusion

Based on the latest research, my own experience and clients', and the feedback of many people who have microdosed psychedelics, I can clearly ascertain that psychedelic microdosing is a great way to improve overall brain function and well-being, and counteract various mental illnesses. I expect that more research will be completed very soon, and psychedelics will finally find their use in a field in which they should have been used a long time ago - by psychiatrists in clinical treatment, replacing the abuse of SSRI drugs.