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rocky_raccoon
Not a number


Registered: 12/12/22
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: newaccounts] 3
#28409926 - 07/27/23 06:16 AM (5 months, 30 days ago) |
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Just remember that healing takes time. The brain has to unlearn negative patterns and replace them with healthy ones. For me it took a couple of months experimenting, using rather low and medium doses, sometimes a bit more. Nothing like ego death and meeting entities. That was not what I needed.
If shrooms are nice to you then take your time to get to know them better. Use their support whenever you need it, be patient with yourself and find out what works best for you. Crying is wonderful, it means you're connecting with your emotions instead of shutting them off. After each trip, a little bit of magic will stay with you and you'll start to see the beauty of life again.
Also remember, recommendations from others can be helpful but are always subjective. You are the true expert for your own health and well-being.
-------------------- Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. -Marie Curie
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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: rocky_raccoon] 1
#28444935 - 08/24/23 10:33 AM (5 months, 2 days ago) |
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Quote:
rocky_raccoon said: Just remember that healing takes time. The brain has to unlearn negative patterns and replace them with healthy ones. For me it took a couple of months experimenting, using rather low and medium doses, sometimes a bit more. Nothing like ego death and meeting entities. That was not what I needed.
If shrooms are nice to you then take your time to get to know them better. Use their support whenever you need it, be patient with yourself and find out what works best for you. Crying is wonderful, it means you're connecting with your emotions instead of shutting them off. After each trip, a little bit of magic will stay with you and you'll start to see the beauty of life again.
Also remember, recommendations from others can be helpful but are always subjective. You are the true expert for your own health and well-being.
Yep, it takes time, that's for sure! It's not just changing the way you think either, you have to do that and keep being mindful of "wrong thinking".. but you do that in order to give your brain time to literally rewire it's neurons to support the new way of thinking. That's another area where shrooms are "magic".. they cause new neuronal growth and increase neural connections be an insane amount.
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Sid Shroom
Mr



Registered: 10/17/19
Posts: 88
Loc: Kent, UK
Last seen: 2 months, 16 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus] 1
#28451295 - 08/29/23 03:31 PM (4 months, 28 days ago) |
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Sadly my experience completely sucked!
I've had depression since injuring my back at age 19 (I'm 48 now). I've been on-and-off (but mostly on) anti-depressants since age 25.
In 2021 I tried microdosing Liberty Caps (I live in the UK). I picked them myself (a process which I absolutely loved and found to be therapeutic in itself). A few 'verified' users on The Shroomery confirmed for me that they were indeed Liberty Caps.
A brief history - I had done LSD between the ages of 16 and 18 years old, 11 times in total - this had been among some of the best and the worst experiences of my life. I smoked weed for about 15 years and I took Ecstasy / MDMA 15 times during my 20s and 30s, so I had a fair bit of psychedelic experience under my belt. This stuff was many years ago however.
This was actually the first time that I'd ever tried shrooms though. So, I gradually tapered off of my meds and then I went meds-free for about 2 months before finally working up the courage to start microdosing.
On day 1, I ate literally just 1 single Liberty Cap (a VERY micro dose) just to be as safe as possible. I went out walking in nature and I listened to The Shamen on headphones. The only thing that I really noticed was a slightly increased level of detail to the music. I was noticing things in the music that I'd never noticed before, despite having listened to these songs probably hundreds of times over the years. Subtle noises in the background, that sort of thing. Anyway, I came home and felt fine and went about my business.
On day 2, I had gotten into a foul mood in the morning because of some chores which had irritated my back, but I had calmed down by lunchtime. I took 2 Liberty Caps this time and once again went out walking in nature. This time, the effect was still subtle, but I definitely felt a shift in perception. When I looked at the ground, I could see every single, individual blade of grass and the green colour was especially vibrant. When I looked out across the meadow, a subtle, pleasant "wave" pattern was moving through the long, dry grass. Still listening to The Shamen on headphones, the music sounded very clear and once again I noticed elements that I never had before. I wasn't expecting to really feel any perceptual shift on such a tiny dose, so this was kind of surprising to me but not unpleasant.
The problems began when I got home a couple of hours later and started to feel a wave of anxiety slowly but surely creeping over me. I guess the 'trip' - if you could call it that - was now wearing off. I sat in the garden for a bit, trying to calm down, but the anxiety intensified. That evening I had a couple of cans of beer, which at best took the edge off of the anxiety for a while. After a couple of days of this continuous anxiety, I decided to go back on my meds.
To cut a long story short, it took about a year for me to get back to my base-level of happiness or calmness or whatever you might like to call it. The generalised anxiety would sometimes dissipate for a time here and there, but overall it hung around for about a year, maybe 15 months. I remained on the meds and I also had individual counselling and EMDR therapy (highly recommended) during this period. I kept myself very busy and active and just generally carried on with my day to day life, but it was extremely unpleasant - especially for the first few weeks after the trip where I had occasional panic attacks. Exercise and meditation were both very helpful as was socialising as much as possible.
I will point out that the exact same thing happened to me - only worse - way back in 2013 after a night when I took too much MDMA. It left me in a state of anxiety which took about 15 months to fully recover from. The first few months were so bad that I felt suicidal, it was absolute hell. I didn't touch any drugs for 6 years after that experience.
I have no intention to dabble again as my psyche clearly can't handle even a very mild psychedelic dose any more. Which is a hell of a shame as I had such high hopes after reading so much over the last few years about the benefits of microdosing and the benefits of psychedelics in general. It amazes me that I used to love taking really strong acid in the early 90s and yet I was recently completely floored by just 2 Liberty Caps.
I had really hoped that the experience would help me to develop into a calmer, happier, more accepting and understanding person. I had hoped it might allow me to get free of anti-depressants once and for all. I had hoped that it would help me to be a better husband (although my wife was INCREDIBLY against the whole idea of me trying to microdose and we argued about it a lot. This may well have been a reason for the bad outcome, perhaps it was in the back of my mind?).
If anyone can shed any light on this at all, I would be extremely grateful. I just want to try and understand WHY my mind cannot deal with such a light dose. I have heard Terence McKenna say that light doses can cause anxiety, but I'm pretty sure that he was referring to anxiety lasting for the duration of the trip, rather than many months or even a year of generalised anxiety afterwards.
I'm fine now (whatever fine is these days ) but I would still love to hear any thoughts or theories on this. It actually annoys me that I am not suited to pursuing this avenue of treatment / exploration. Am I just being a lightweight? Am I too old for this type of experience now? Did I just not take a high enough dose? I've never heard of anyone having such a bad reaction to 2 liberty caps.
I've procrastinated about posting about this for over 2 years, it's actually a little bit embarrassing to be honest.
Many thanks people
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Capt. Ramius
Submarine commander

Registered: 11/22/22
Posts: 107
Loc: Bottom of tea sea
Last seen: 12 days, 8 hours
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Sid Shroom] 1
#28463967 - 09/10/23 03:09 AM (4 months, 16 days ago) |
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Hi and thanks for sharing your experiences 
When you microdose you shouldn't be feeling the effects of shrooms. Or maybe just barely feel them. Granted that 2 liberty caps isn't much, but maybe it was too much for that particular moment?
You are not too old for experiencing the effects of psilocybin! I don't believe anyone ever is.
Some people have good results doing "regular size" dosages from time to time instead of microdosing. General consensus for "regular size" seems to be around 1 to 1,5 grams dried. I've never taken more that about 0,6g and that seems to work for me.
Quote:
Sid Shroom said: Sadly my experience completely sucked!
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Blue Cthulhu
Undefined


Registered: 05/27/19
Posts: 495
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Last seen: 2 hours, 23 minutes
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Sid Shroom] 2
#28466909 - 09/12/23 07:49 PM (4 months, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Sid Shroom said: I had hoped that it would help me to be a better husband (although my wife was INCREDIBLY against the whole idea of me trying to microdose and we argued about it a lot. This may well have been a reason for the bad outcome, perhaps it was in the back of my mind?).
If your wife is someone you would consider your life partner, then I would venture that her being opposed to this experimentation automatically taints the psychedelic space for you, makes it an unsafe space to really explore and learn more about yourself, and let your mind do weird things. It's not uncommon. Many spouses/partners feel threatened by the idea of their partner going somewhere that they don't understand, especially if that somewhere has all the stigma that psychedelics acquired by being labelled "drugs" that can ruin your mind.
Just to emphasize, I don't want to make your wife out to be the bad guy, here. I'm sure there's more context, and her opposition very well is coming from a place of anxiety. Our relationships are very powerful forces in our lives. Psychedelic experiences often bring this reality home to us in surprising and vivid ways.
Your anxiety is not a "bad" experience. Fear is an emotion, something to be felt into and ultimately looked under/behind, just like looking in the closet for the feared monster, only to find there's nothing there but the shadows of clothes. Tripping later in life can be a radically different experience for many compared to when you're young and more naive, carefree. We acquire a lot of psychic heaviness over the years from our burdens and responsibilities, the weight of adulthood and the loss of curiosity, magic, sense of wonder. Sometimes we have to confront the burden and heaviness before we recover the wonder.
In any case, I wish you compassion - don't be so hard on yourself, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I am floored by low doses these days, and I require a lot of help for working through my own fears. We can't do it alone.
-------------------- "Things are true that I forget, but no one taught that to me yet." A disembodied-re-embodied consciousness be-ing (With all the accoutrements.)
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JFlowMan
Stranger

Registered: 08/02/09
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Blue Cthulhu] 1
#28467788 - 09/13/23 04:13 PM (4 months, 13 days ago) |
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A good friend of mine got off SSRI's (after only a year though) and credits it to tripping. Not in a clinical setting, and I don't think he's ever talked to a therapist.
When you speak of PTSD, from the research i've done that falls outside the scope of mushrooms. There are some great new studies for PTSD and MDMA though. Really amazing results you should look into.
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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]
#28470768 - 09/16/23 07:08 AM (4 months, 10 days ago) |
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ketamine and ptsd work well together.
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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]
#28470769 - 09/16/23 07:08 AM (4 months, 10 days ago) |
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With a therapist as a guide.
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Sid Shroom
Mr



Registered: 10/17/19
Posts: 88
Loc: Kent, UK
Last seen: 2 months, 16 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Capt. Ramius]
#28471835 - 09/17/23 03:06 AM (4 months, 9 days ago) |
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Hi Capt. Ramius
Thank you very much for your kind reply and thank you for sharing your own personal experiences, that is really helpful.
Just to clarify, are the dosages that you refer to for Liberty Caps or Cubes?
I did wonder whether I should have experienced any effects on such a low dose. It was subtle for sure, but it was undeniable that there was a shift in my visual perception.
A friend of mine has recently quit alcohol after many years of abuse (rehab had previously failed to work for him) by using 2 drops of "shroom juice" under the tongue daily. He's been alcohol-free for about 6 weeks now, since starting the drops. He says that he feels no noticeable change in consciousness at this dose, but that nevertheless he has quit the booze since taking it.
Many, many thanks. There are some very kind and understanding people on this forum. Much love ❤
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Sid Shroom
Mr



Registered: 10/17/19
Posts: 88
Loc: Kent, UK
Last seen: 2 months, 16 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Blue Cthulhu] 1
#28471840 - 09/17/23 03:16 AM (4 months, 9 days ago) |
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Hi Blue Cthulhu
Thank you very much indeed for your kind words, compassion and understanding.
Ironically, my wife actually moved out a month ago and told me just yesterday when she came to visit that we are now "separated".
Yes, I completely agree with you that her anxiety towards me taking shrooms almost certainly affected my experience. We'd actually had an argument that morning too (not about the shrooms though), so I probably should've left the shrooms for another day when I felt calmer.
By the way, I absolutely love this - "just like looking in the closet for the feared monster, only to find there's nothing there but the shadows of clothes"! That has made me smile, but there is some serious wisdom in your words too.
Much love❤
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Sid Shroom
Mr



Registered: 10/17/19
Posts: 88
Loc: Kent, UK
Last seen: 2 months, 16 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: JFlowMan]
#28471843 - 09/17/23 03:24 AM (4 months, 9 days ago) |
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Hi JFlowMan
Thank you so much for your reply, it's really appreciated. It's great to hear that your friend managed to quit the SSRIs through psychedelics. SSRIs have always been immensely helpful to me, but I don't really like the idea of being dependant on them long-term.
Do you happen to know if your friend started using shrooms etc whilst they were still on SSRIs and then gradually tapered off the SSRIs?
Part of me wonders if I had started microdosing whilst still on SSRIs and then gradually tapering off, that the SSRIs might've provided me with a kind of buffer which might have protected me from freaking out.
However, the general advice that I read online (not on The Shroomery) was to completely get the SSRIs out of my system before starting to microdose.
Yes you're absolutely right - MDMA seems to be the drug which is having the biggest impact for treating PTSD.
Much love ❤
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Sid Shroom
Mr



Registered: 10/17/19
Posts: 88
Loc: Kent, UK
Last seen: 2 months, 16 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Anonymous #2]
#28471845 - 09/17/23 03:29 AM (4 months, 9 days ago) |
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Hi Anonymous #2
Thanks for your replies.
Yes, I have also heard great things about ketamine. If any trials become available in the UK then I will certainly try and get involved.
Who knows, perhaps 10 years from now all of these guided counselling therapies using drugs such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, DMT etc will be freely available to the general population. But I suspect that "big pharma" will try to prevent it for financial reasons! We can only hope I suppose......
Much love ❤
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Blue Cthulhu
Undefined


Registered: 05/27/19
Posts: 495
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Last seen: 2 hours, 23 minutes
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Sid Shroom]
#28472992 - 09/17/23 07:44 PM (4 months, 8 days ago) |
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Love and strength to you! Sounds like life has been shaken up for you, a good time to open to new experiences...
-------------------- "Things are true that I forget, but no one taught that to me yet." A disembodied-re-embodied consciousness be-ing (With all the accoutrements.)
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Capt. Ramius
Submarine commander

Registered: 11/22/22
Posts: 107
Loc: Bottom of tea sea
Last seen: 12 days, 8 hours
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Sid Shroom]
#28473593 - 09/18/23 10:38 AM (4 months, 8 days ago) |
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Quote:
Sid Shroom said: Just to clarify, are the dosages that you refer to for Liberty Caps or Cubes?
Cubes. Sorry for not being more clear.
If you decide to grow your own for microdosing, be aware that shrooms from the same grow can have different potencies. It's best to dry them and grind them into a powder. That way the potencies are evened out.
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TerdleMountain
Stranger



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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Sid Shroom]
#28475413 - 09/19/23 06:04 PM (4 months, 6 days ago) |
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Quote:
Sid Shroom said: Hi Anonymous #2
Thanks for your replies.
Yes, I have also heard great things about ketamine. If any trials become available in the UK then I will certainly try and get involved.
Who knows, perhaps 10 years from now all of these guided counselling therapies using drugs such as MDMA, psilocybin, ketamine, LSD, DMT etc will be freely available to the general population. But I suspect that "big pharma" will try to prevent it for financial reasons! We can only hope I suppose......
Much love ❤
Ketamine! I didn't like it the one time I had it... full on K-hole, greatest high I've ever had. And, man was I happy for about six weeks after. But it faded too fast and I went right back to the same old same old. Some of my friends are on it through mental health services, daily pills. They say it helps, but it's more like being on an SSRI than some marvelous cure. Everyone is different! I've also talked to some folk that swear by it.
I hate to repeat the same old shit, but mindfulness and being open to what you experience is the way out of depression. It's not an easy road but it's worth it. Gotta stop being afraid of your own demons, I guess.
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JFlowMan
Stranger

Registered: 08/02/09
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Sid Shroom]
#28476148 - 09/20/23 09:38 AM (4 months, 6 days ago) |
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Quote:
Sid Shroom said: Hi JFlowMan
Thank you so much for your reply, it's really appreciated. It's great to hear that your friend managed to quit the SSRIs through psychedelics. SSRIs have always been immensely helpful to me, but I don't really like the idea of being dependant on them long-term.
Do you happen to know if your friend started using shrooms etc whilst they were still on SSRIs and then gradually tapered off the SSRIs?
Part of me wonders if I had started microdosing whilst still on SSRIs and then gradually tapering off, that the SSRIs might've provided me with a kind of buffer which might have protected me from freaking out.
However, the general advice that I read online (not on The Shroomery) was to completely get the SSRIs out of my system before starting to microdose.
Yes you're absolutely right - MDMA seems to be the drug which is having the biggest impact for treating PTSD.
Much love ❤
I believe he started while on SSRI's and gradually tapered off. I imagine dropping SSRI's, and being in a terrible mood before trying would be very counterproductive to a meaningful trip unless you were with a therapist. I'm no doctor, but have never heard or seen people have an issue with mushrooms and SSRI's.
You shouldn't do MDMA while on SSRI's though if you didn't know that.
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ft116
The one



Registered: 05/22/17
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Mycodemus]
#28480858 - 09/24/23 11:11 AM (4 months, 2 days ago) |
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I have depression and what works well For me is fly agaric.
They chill me out.
If I could get hold of magics then my depression Goes. But I am always been re-located. So my usual spots go.
--------------------
The mushrooms are great. The mushrooms are fine. Give me them with lashings of wine.
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HappyHigh
Stranger

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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: ft116]
#28485460 - 09/28/23 05:15 AM (3 months, 29 days ago) |
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The only way I don't see cops killing me over and over, all day in my head is if i take a good .3, 3 times a day every 6 hrs. I've been out for over a year doo too housing issues... been rough.
-------------------- Had I the heavens' embroidered cloths, Enwrought with golden and silver light, The blue and the dim and the dark cloths Of night and light and the half light, I would spread the cloths under your feet: But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
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Sid Shroom
Mr



Registered: 10/17/19
Posts: 88
Loc: Kent, UK
Last seen: 2 months, 16 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Blue Cthulhu]
#28526638 - 11/02/23 01:53 PM (2 months, 25 days ago) |
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Cheers for the kind words Blue Cthulhu, and yes I hope that you're right!
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Sid Shroom
Mr



Registered: 10/17/19
Posts: 88
Loc: Kent, UK
Last seen: 2 months, 16 days
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Re: Tell me about your experiences with using psilocybin to treat mental health issues [Re: Capt. Ramius]
#28526640 - 11/02/23 01:55 PM (2 months, 25 days ago) |
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Cheers Capt. Ramius
Yeah I think you're right, grinding them up is probably the most reliable way to measure the dose
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