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Mental Slavery
Eternally Confused


Registered: 08/03/14
Posts: 828
Last seen: 1 hour, 20 minutes
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Tetrasage] 1
#28327821 - 05/20/23 05:12 PM (8 months, 4 days ago) |
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@Tetrasage
You talk about drinking large amounts of caffeine. Do you often do this? Anecdotally speaking, it seems that caffeine causes many people to experience increased background anxiety, neurosis etc. They often dont realize this until they stop drinking caffeine. If you drink a lot, it might be useful to taper off. Just something to think about
@Mycodemus
Cacti are also legal and growable, if you ever find yourself interested in mescaline. That is better for tripping than microdosing though
Edited by Mental Slavery (05/20/23 05:18 PM)
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Mycodemus
wrong way down a one way street



Registered: 01/27/23
Posts: 416
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mental Slavery]
#28328292 - 05/21/23 04:15 AM (8 months, 4 days ago) |
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Quote:
Mental Slavery said: @Tetrasage
You talk about drinking large amounts of caffeine. Do you often do this? Anecdotally speaking, it seems that caffeine causes many people to experience increased background anxiety, neurosis etc. They often dont realize this until they stop drinking caffeine. If you drink a lot, it might be useful to taper off. Just something to think about
@Mycodemus
Cacti are also legal and growable, if you ever find yourself interested in mescaline. That is better for tripping than microdosing though
I actually tried this with San Pedro, I grew it maybe 12 years or so ago. Prepared it according to some tek I found online (don’t remember where), and drank the whole nasty sludge but… nothing happened. Since then I haven’t been too eager to try again. Not sure if the seller sold me weak stock, or if I did the tek wrong, or whatever, but it was disappointing.
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An hour and a half later, I was beginning to feel definite effects
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epilectric
tea sipping


Registered: 06/28/06
Posts: 1,023
Loc: Vienna
Last seen: 4 hours, 4 minutes
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 1
#28328409 - 05/21/23 07:17 AM (8 months, 4 days ago) |
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psilocybin reduces my need for weed and i think it has to do with the serotonin system outpowering the dopamine circuits in the brain... this is also one of the reasons why paranoia and critical selfreflection are more common with mushrooms than with lsd. the latter sometimes increases my weed and caffeine consumption in the following days, but not always. i think mushrooms generally make me less neurotic and more humble/content.
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Mental Slavery
Eternally Confused


Registered: 08/03/14
Posts: 828
Last seen: 1 hour, 20 minutes
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 1
#28328958 - 05/21/23 03:41 PM (8 months, 4 days ago) |
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Certain strains of San Pedro can be fairly weak. I am growing more bridgesii cacti which is on average stronger. I personally enjoy it. We have a good growing thread on the shroomery for cati, but I am probably getting ahead of myself, as you should experiment with the mushrooms and see if you actually find them meaningful before engaging in a whole other pursuit
Interested to see how it goes for you
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Avalon_Fancy
Stranger


Registered: 06/18/23
Posts: 6
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 1
#28364042 - 06/18/23 05:41 AM (7 months, 7 days ago) |
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Good luck on your journey. I tried microdosing after talking it over with an experienced friend. I came at the experience mostly to start building a relationship between mushrooms and me. The first couple of goes I tried one day on and then a few off. I felt lovely while on but more sad while off. When I tried 4 days on 2 off that worked for me.
I generally took them in the morning on an empty stomach in some lemon juice and soda water. I saw an improvement in my mood right away and noticed negative thoughts that I might normally get stuck on were less loopy and sticky. I kept a journal for about the first week but once I'd found the right rhythm for me I stopped journalling.
The most significant effect I have felt (and this might sound a bit unusual) was that I felt less lonely. With PTSD I have had times I felt afraid to be alone. When I micro-dose I am very intentional about it and talk to the mushrooms, treating the dose as a sacrament. I feel they hold me and gently guide me.
I hope you have good effects also.
Edit: Original post said macrodosing as a typo!
Edited by Avalon_Fancy (06/19/23 04:48 PM)
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Mycodemus
wrong way down a one way street



Registered: 01/27/23
Posts: 416
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Avalon_Fancy]
#28364057 - 06/18/23 06:06 AM (7 months, 7 days ago) |
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Quote:
Avalon_Fancy said: Good luck on your journey. I tried macrodosing after talking it over with an experienced friend. I came at the experience mostly to start building a relationship between mushrooms and me. The first couple of goes I tried one day on and then a few off. I felt lovely while on but more sad while off. When I tried 4 days on 2 off that worked for me.
I generally took them in the morning on an empty stomach in some lemon juice and soda water. I saw an improvement in my mood right away and noticed negative thoughts that I might normally get stuck on were less loopy and sticky. I kept a journal for about the first week but once I'd found the right rhythm for me I stopped journalling.
The most significant effect I have felt (and this might sound a bit unusual) was that I felt less lonely. With PTSD I have had times I felt afraid to be alone. When I micro-dose I am very intentional about it and talk to the mushrooms, treating the dose as a sacrament. I feel they hold me and gently guide me.
I hope you have good effects also.
Thanks for your input. I’m glad it’s working for you. I try to have the same attitude as you described. I also started a journal post here with my notes and observations with micro/minidosing. https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28356482#28356482
Lemon juice and soda water sounds great, I’m going to try that
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An hour and a half later, I was beginning to feel definite effects
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Avalon_Fancy
Stranger


Registered: 06/18/23
Posts: 6
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 1
#28365882 - 06/19/23 04:50 PM (7 months, 6 days ago) |
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Nice! ☺️
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KeyMaker
Urban Wizard

Registered: 01/03/22
Posts: 518
Loc: in a van down by the river
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Avalon_Fancy] 1
#28366541 - 06/20/23 02:04 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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I'll share my background on this subject. Cannabis was the first drug I tried, besides alcohol. I didn't smoke weed til I was 18, but I remember being disappointed(this was "mids" from the early 2000's). I really wanted to try mushrooms after that. I think from the start, I was interested because people said shrooms take you to different worlds. I was unhappy with the world I saw at the time. I had issues with depression, was diagnosed with ADHD around age 11, was prescribed meds off and on through high school. I was kind of done with all that. My brain was still maturing, maybe slower than some of my peers, and I was really looking for answers. I wasn't satisfied with what I had been told in school and church, on tv, ect.
The first time I did(finally found) shrooms was a chocolate bar, and to this day, I'm impressed with how much shit they got in that little chocolate for it to taste so smooth. It supposedly had some cannabis butter in it as well. I remember I had a bic pen and a paper tablet with me, and I started drawing, a lot, for the first time in years. It really set me off on making art. Drawing has been an interest of mine since I was little, but I'd just forgotten about it. So yeah I started drawing a lot after that, and as I tripped other times, I was sure to have drawing supplies on hand. Less than a year later, I ate 7 grams, which is the most I've taken to date. It was really amazing, and I thought I had life all figured out. Well, that was years ago, and I still don't have much figured out. But I don't really worry about figuring things out anymore.
I would not advise a large dose to "fix" yourself. This has been discussed in other threads, as it's become popular for people, especially young men, to take these "heroic doses". I did that once like I said, and while there was no harm done, it probably wasn't necessary. I've never felt much effect from micro-dosing, but others would disagree, results may vary. My standard dose is anywhere from 1.5 to 3g. I usually don't even do a full 8th anymore. Each trip is different. Often times, things will click in my head, I will have little "ah-ha!" moments. It can be helpful to write those thoughts down, and assess them the next day. Sometimes there's some really good stuff that can help me improve the way I think, if I keep at it.
A good support system is really important. If you have people in your life who know you trip, and don't judge you for it one bit, those are great friends. It's nice to have at least someone you can talk to during and after the trip, someone who knows the issues you deal with. Best of luck to you!
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newaccounts
Stranger


Registered: 06/08/23
Posts: 53
Last seen: 4 months, 17 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 1
#28366735 - 06/20/23 07:31 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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Severe depression since february 2022 because of a deep loss in my life. Tried ECT, was commited to psych ward, tried medication CBT, exercise. I think I am better now than at my worst, but it is so difficult to evaluate progress. I am still not well at all
Tried 3 grams of psilocybin mushrooms in a group therapy session earlier this month. Overall I was dissapointed by the weak effect. I had quit all medications one month prior, maybe I should have been off them longer.
Anyways. Dissapointed in the weakness of the trip but it did let me experience a brief moment of total acceptance and compassion towards myself, life and others. Today a couple of weeks after the trip I am still depressed but I guess the trip did plant a seed that I will try to cultivate. I no longer feel the acceptance and compassion but at least I can remember what it felt like.
Currently considering a second and much stronger trip to see if that would rattlw my brain more and pull me out of this depression.
I wish you the best of luck with your journey
Edit: after one trip I am not qualified to make any judgment but my initial impression is that psychedelics can be a very valuable tool in recovert from depression, but it seems unlikely to be a quick easy fix.
Edited by newaccounts (06/20/23 07:37 AM)
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TerdleMountain
Stranger



Registered: 02/06/21
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 2
#28366881 - 06/20/23 09:39 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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I've not posted on here in a while. I've read through this post before and thought about responding, so I might as well do this now.
For what it's worth, I just consumed some mushroom tea so my shit might start falling off before I get done writing, bear with me.
I'm in the same boat, diagnosed with PTSD, medication resistant major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, OCD and DID. Tried a bunch of different meds that only made me worse, been in and out of therapy for 30 years with very little to show for it.
Three years ago I hit what I thought was the absolute bottom, I went from being passively suicidal to active suicidality. The only time I found peace was when I was thinking about how to end things for good. Wound up calling the suicide hotline, getting back into therapy and just trying to power my way through, like I had always done. The suicidal thoughts were still there, I had never been able to escape them but I was trying to just live with them. Then about two years ago I had an experience that I still struggle to find words for. I was sitting in the living room, feeling a bit down, but no worse than normal when all of the sudden it was like my soul drained away from my body and I just wanted to die. I physically grabbed the sofa and dug in, fearing that if I let go I'd do something stupid like follow through with my ideations.
Afterwards I knew I had to find a way out of the mess that I was in, I didn't want to die, but I wanted to end the suffering. It didn't take too long to land on mushrooms as a possible way through itn all. Cutting to the chase, I did two grams, had a wonderful trip and lost most of the depression and anxiety. I tripped regularly for about a year and have wound up feeling better than I ever knew was possible.
The thing is, it has been hard work. The tripping part has almost always been fantastic, even the really challenging/distressful trips just had this effect on me where I come out the other side feeling connected to both myself and the universe around me. That is the thing that has led me down a path of healing. Before I tripped, I suffered without understanding. I hurt but I could find no reason for it. Once I tripped I gained the ability to see inside and experience my own emotions, I could see the way in which I viewed myself and I could trace my self concepts back through time and into my early childhood. I found my self hatred, my shame, my guilt and self doubt. All the ugly things I kept buried away because I felt that I just could not bear to face them. But facing them has been an absolute neccessity because those are the things that drive me to self destruction. My desire to live was strengthened by tripping to the point of becomeing stronger than my fear of facing my fears.
The past two years since I first tripped have been both the hardest and the most rewarding time of my life, and I'm an old man who has most of the major life events long under his belt. I have hurt more, cried more, felt more than I ever though possible. But through it all I have discovered a deep sense of peace and grattitude--- and belonging, that's the really odd one for me, I have always felt like an innappropriate misfit in life, now I accept myself and all of my oddities. I know that I'm an idividual comprised of thousands of thoughts and experiences that come together in a unique way. I am amazed by my own existance in this slow motion, cascading eplosion that we call out universe. I belong here.
Welp, the shrooms have kicked in. Fuck this, done talking! Love you fuckers, even if I don't know ya.
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Mycodemus
wrong way down a one way street



Registered: 01/27/23
Posts: 416
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: TerdleMountain]
#28366944 - 06/20/23 10:47 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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Keymaker, I agree on the large dose thing, so far at least. I wrote in my journal about what was really a mini or low dose and it was properly mind blowing without being scary or overwhelming. I’ve been sticking to very low doses, sub perceptual or barely perceptual most of the time.
Newaccounts, I’ve been following your thread and I hope you can figure out what works for you.
Terdle, you brought tears to my eyes. I’m really happy to hear that you’ve found something to help you get to the roots of your trauma. Research says that going to the root is the only way to truly cure trauma, everything else is essentially a bandaid. Apparently this is why MDMA is so helpful, because you can examine your past without the danger of retraumatisation, which a lot of trauma-uninformed therapies can’t offer.
I’m still at the beginning stages of my own journey with healing via mushrooms, but I’m really happy that people are sharing their stories. I’m sure there are a lot of lurkers for whom these posts are giving a lot of hope and maybe a hint of what path to take next.
Hugs to you all ❤️
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An hour and a half later, I was beginning to feel definite effects
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Anonymous #2
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 2
#28366965 - 06/20/23 11:09 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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I am actually a therapist and the reason I am here is because of mental health and shrooms connection. The way I got into shrooms was a friend of mine was constantly being diagnosed when under the influence, or going through withdrawals and she believed that she had all these serious mental health disorders. In reality she has experienced severe trauma and has been in active addiction for a very very long time, up to 20 years, I am guessing. I started research macrodosing to assist her. it is how I found this site, etc I had it all set up for her to use, I grew them, ground them up, made capsules, etc and gave them to her. I was so happy and looking forward to her telling me how it affected her. She took them all at once. Lesson was her Sud issues overwhelmed the mh issues. Her biggest coping skill was to use to deal with issues . I was hurt. I am not her counselor I am her friend. I would like to try again but I am not in a position to allow anyone to know what I am doing. I hide it. And I have yet to be able to get mycelium growth again. I cant make my own stuff like everyone suggests, I cant allow anyone to know what I am doing. I 100000000% believe it helps others. I hope I am able to help her help herself some day.
side noe No one on here other than one person I became friends with knows about my occupation, etc. I keep it to myself and would probably never admit it. I have learned a LOT.. I mean A LOT about life in general since being on here
Edited by Anonymous (06/20/23 11:11 AM)
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Prolific Koi
CheeseHead



Registered: 12/26/22
Posts: 556
Loc: Lakeshore, MN
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Anonymous #2]
#28366973 - 06/20/23 11:20 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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Is he or she open to the possibility that she might be an addict/alcoholic? And that all those symptoms could simply be a manifestation of the disease? This one struck a cord. Mushrooms made me aware of my addiction. I’m not saying everyone’s an addict, all I’m saying is that mushrooms might also give that realization to others who are open to change, giving themself up to God and others. Shit works and it’s free to anyone. I think we try and complicate all these little issues when they stem from one main traumatic issue. It may be addiction, ptsd or whatever. It’s a simple way of living buts it not easy and having faith is trusting in that process. Without that faith, I lose my mind, I’m only human, let god control the things I cannot and let me trust in that. If I can’t do that, imo I’m fucked, and I’ve proven that to myself and others lmao.
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Anonymous #2
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Prolific Koi] 1
#28366991 - 06/20/23 11:30 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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She is aware. I have helped her go to detox and inpatient on two different occasions. Currently she accepts it and just gives herself rules, etc. For example: Not going over 2 days with no sleep, etc. Drug of choice is meth What I am the most concerned about is she is homeless, has 4 kids, and sells to provide an income for herself. She has a camper trailer she lives in, kids are with dad who only provides a roof over their head, and cops are watching her. Her bf is so so so abusive and uses her for drugs. That will only change when she realizes it. I really like her alot. I consider he my friend, genuinely. I struggle because she creates a lot of her own issues.. like we ALL do. I see kids in school and At the school her children attend I often hear about them because they miss a lot of school, and teacher are concerned about their home life, etc I thought addressing her mh was the best way. Since she does not want to address her sud issues.
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TerdleMountain
Stranger



Registered: 02/06/21
Posts: 264
Last seen: 12 days, 4 hours
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Anonymous #2] 3
#28367004 - 06/20/23 11:36 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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Quote:
Anonymous #2 said: I am actually a therapist and the reason I am here is because of mental health and shrooms connection. ......
I heard everything you said.
Currently I'm studying to become a Peer Recovery Specialist with an eye towards becoming an LCSW or a licensed community counselor. I have found and can see the immense healing potential of these drugs, but I also recognize the potential for misuse (using them to hide from the pain rather than embracing it). I have found a surprising amount of acceptance for my use of psychoactive substances among mental health practitioners, but an equal or greater amount of resistance from those in positions of higher "authority". Hopefully things will change for the better.
I empathize with your pain from attempting to help your friend, but I hope you gained some wisdom from it. People don't want to suffer, but they don't understand how to end it. They don't see that healing comes from the inside so they look towards external sources to make them feel better. Trauma is a factor in about 80% of all addictions, you can't just hand someone drugs and hope for the best, it takes educations and skill building (meditation, grounding and orienting) along with tons of personal support along with support from a community that understands. Healing takes work, often more than one person alone can put into it.
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Prolific Koi
CheeseHead



Registered: 12/26/22
Posts: 556
Loc: Lakeshore, MN
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Anonymous #2]
#28367007 - 06/20/23 11:38 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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Let’s get you an account!
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Anonymous #2
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: TerdleMountain]
#28367026 - 06/20/23 11:44 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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Quote:
TerdleMountain said:
Quote:
Anonymous #2 said: I am actually a therapist and the reason I am here is because of mental health and shrooms connection. ......
I heard everything you said.
Currently I'm studying to become a Peer Recovery Specialist with an eye towards becoming an LCSW or a licensed community counselor. I have found and can see the immense healing potential of these drugs, but I also recognize the potential for misuse (using them to hide from the pain rather than embracing it). I have found a surprising amount of acceptance for my use of psychoactive substances among mental health practitioners, but an equal or greater amount of resistance from those in positions of higher "authority". Hopefully things will change for the better.
I empathize with your pain from attempting to help your friend, but I hope you gained some wisdom from it. People don't want to suffer, but they don't understand how to end it. They don't see that healing comes from the inside so they look towards external sources to make them feel better. Trauma is a factor in about 80% of all addictions, you can't just hand someone drugs and hope for the best, it takes educations and skill building (meditation, grounding and orienting) along with tons of personal support along with support from a community that understands. Healing takes work, often more than one person alone can put into it.
Completely agree
Congrats on peer recovery specialist. They are huge assets to my work. HUGE Where I live they just changed the laws and developed new laws to assist in getting ppl into recovery faster. Now recovery navigators can do assessments to get people into detox and IIP faster. They are able to take people to detox the same day they ask for help. I love it LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE treatment over jail/prison. I love that people are allowing themselves to be educated and see that treatment works, sometimes it takes 20 times.. but addiction is real and debilitating. I have learned so much here. I will quietly return to my shadow position. Judgment is harsh here. And I really enjoy being here
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Mycodemus
wrong way down a one way street



Registered: 01/27/23
Posts: 416
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Anonymous #2]
#28367045 - 06/20/23 11:55 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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After doing a lot of research on trauma, I strongly believe that in the majority of cases, addiction is a symptom of trauma. Dr. Gabor Mate has a lot of interesting things to say about this.
Anon, I hope you make an account, seems to me you have things to contribute on this subject. also, you seem like an incredible friend and an empathetic person. I hope you don’t dim your shine because of this friend, who seems like she isn’t ready to deal with her core traumas. Everyone has their own timeline, and I know it’s painful, but you’ve gone above and beyond so I hope you don’t blame yourself for what’s out of your control or responsibility.
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An hour and a half later, I was beginning to feel definite effects
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Anonymous #2
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 1
#28367050 - 06/20/23 11:58 AM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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Dr Gabor Mate is one of my favorites. I have listened and read everything he has put out. I really like him alot. I have a tremendous amount of respect for his work. I am kind of close to Vancouver BC and know first hand what he discusses. I like him a lot.
I have been on here for a few years. I have an account. If I am going to talk about this I'll remain anon. People judge harshly on here.
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Mycodemus
wrong way down a one way street



Registered: 01/27/23
Posts: 416
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Anonymous #2]
#28367053 - 06/20/23 12:01 PM (7 months, 5 days ago) |
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One of my best friends is a therapist, but she’s on her way out of the profession due to burnout. I wish I could encourage her to explore psychedelics irt therapy but it’s not legal here. I’ve sent her links, but she is so burnt out that she doesn’t seem to want to learn about anything mental health related. Understandable, but I wish I could talk with her about it.
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An hour and a half later, I was beginning to feel definite effects
Edited by Mycodemus (06/20/23 12:02 PM)
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