Can Psychedelic Drugs Go Beyond Recreation?
By: Michelle Richards
Psychedelic drugs like ayahuasca, peyote, and mushrooms have long been recognized as the drugs that defined America in the 1960s (most notably, the Woodstock Festival). Psychedelics have been around much longer than the past 50 years in fact; their history dates as early as the late 1400s and 1500s throughout many different cultures and religions. With increasing research on their effects, these drugs are no longer only utilized for recreational use but have expanded to help treat mental health disorders like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. Despite all of the advancements in modern medicine, scientists and mental health professionals still have more research to do in order to understand how to safely use these drugs in relation to mental health.
Psychedelics, also known as hallucinogens, are a class of psychoactive substances that produce changes in perception, mood, and cognitive processes, altering a person’s thinking, sense of time, and emotions. They often cause a person to hallucinate, seeing or hearing objects and sounds that are distorted or do not exist.
The effects of psychedelics can last several hours and vary in intensity, depending on the specific type of psychedelic. The following may be experienced during a “trip”:
Feelings of euphoria
Sense of relaxation and wellbeing
Seeing and hearing phenomena that aren’t there
Confusion and trouble concentrating
Dizziness
Blurred vision
Clumsiness
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Breathing quickly
Vomiting
Sweating and chills
Numbness.
Photography Credits: Michael Askew
These psychoactive drugs can vary in their effects ultimately depending on two factors: a person’s state of mind, and the environment they “trip” in—whether it’s known or familiar—which is often referred to as ‘the ‘setting.’ Settling into a good state of mind, with trusted friends and a safe environment, before taking psychedelics reduces the risk of having a “bad trip,” or negative experience while under the influence of these types of drugs.
Emerging research in this field investigates the use of psychedelics for the treatment of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and more. In the field of psychiatry, this typically involves microdosing, or administrating very small amounts of the psychedelic substance, by a trained mental health professional in a clinical setting. Microdosing intends to produce benefits without causing a “bad trip” by triggering intense hallucinatory effects. Because these substances are used to enhance psychotherapy, this practice is referred to as drug-assisted therapy. However, those studies also point to potential downsides related to the improper use of mind-altering substances, which is why using these substances outside a clinical setting is not recommended. It may be helpful to explore both the pros and cons of microdosing psychedelics before deciding if it will be beneficial, or even possible. Additionally, the potential benefits and downsides to microdosing are highly subjective and vary from person to person.
Pros of Microdosing:
Increased feelings of well-being
Some people report feeling more in touch with the universe and their inner selves. People have also reported feeling more aware of the good in their lives as well as feelings of gratitude for the (previously overlooked) simple pleasures. In one survey, the improved mood was reported as the number one benefit while microdosing.
Improved workflow and productivity
While microdosing with LSD or psilocybin, many users report an easier time focusing on tasks at hand, increased concentration, and improved productivity overall. Some days can feel overwhelming and difficult because of an intense workload; many microdosers report that they are aware of their workloads, but thankfully do not feel overburdened when microdosing.
Increased creativity
Some people report that microdosing has helped with creativity, and their minds feel open to new ideas or solutions for problems (either in the workplace or at home). Young professionals looking for ways to stand out from their peers have turned to microdosing to give them a competitive edge in the workplace.
It May help people overcome anxiety and depression
When it comes to depression and anxiety, there is no solid scientific evidence that can definitively assure the beneficial effects of microdosing, but emerging research indicates that it is a possibility. Microdosing appears as an effective treatment for depression by reducing the tendency towards rumination, which is common in people with depression and anxiety.
Cons of Microdosing:
Psychedelics are still illegal in the U. S and most other countries.
Purchasing and consuming psychedelic drugs is not legal in the United States, which can make it difficult to source or buy LSD or psilocybin mushrooms for the purpose of microdosing.
There are also concerns surrounding the purity of these substances. Because these drugs are not regulated, purchasing psychedelics can be expensive and dangerous if they are purchased from a nontrusted dealer. Without a proper testing kit, there is no way to know what buyers are getting when purchasing illegal drugs; it’s possible that the drug could contain other harmful substances. If a person purchases psychedelics for the purpose of microdosing or recreational use, it should always be from a trusted source and the substances should always be tested for purity before consumption.
Possible physiological discomfort.
Some psychedelic users report negative physical symptoms, including stomachaches, headaches, and fatigue. Others reported insomnia and temperature dysregulation. While these symptoms can be unpleasant, they were only reported in 18% of people who participated in this particular survey.
Possibly increased anxiety, impaired energy, and focus.
7% of respondents reported feeling increased anxiety and 7% reported feeling lower levels of energy. Additionally, 8% reported that they were unable to focus on microdose days. These are relatively low percentages, but for some, these negative effects could outweigh the positives.
It is interesting to note that many of the reported effects of microdosing fall into both the pros and cons categories, indicating that setting is a major factor in microdosing. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to consider the pros and cons of microdosing, and whether it is a good idea for them. Scientific research on this process is only in the beginning stages, so each person’s journey is an individual experiment on the effectiveness of microdosing.
Psychedelic drugs are among the most promising treatments for people with conditions like PTSD and severe depression, such as those who have served in our military. A new center at The University of Texas at Austin aims to unravel how psychedelics work for these individuals. One story worth sharing about a patient’s experience with psychedelic drugs is from the perspective of West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Ranger and officer, Devon Thomas. Thomas found himself in a 15-year period of anxiety and depression so severe that he was unable to hold a stable job, and was regularly self-medicating with alcohol and marijuana.
Thomas tried conventional treatments such as medication and cognitive behavioral therapy, but quickly became frustrated and lost his motivation when the treatments proved little success for him. In January 2021, Thomas hit a breaking point and reached out to an acquaintance — a former Navy SEAL — who had tried something Thomas hadn’t: psychedelic therapy. Thomas decided to go ahead with this unconventional therapy, after feeling like he didn’t have much to lose.
He has completed two rounds of psychedelic-assisted therapy, including an intensive pre-work period where he acknowledged problems and set goals for recovery. This was followed by an “integration” phase, which focused on processing and applying insights gained during a dosing session. Although it was difficult for him to put into words all that the treatment has meant to him, Thomas was able to describe it as “a mental and emotional reset.”
Groups like the nonprofit Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies have advanced early psychedelic research, which has shown these drugs’ promise in improving the lives of people with anxiety, depression, and PTSD. There is still limited understanding of the science behind psychedelics, including such basic questions as predictors of response and dosing — something the center strives to solve. However, one thing that appears clear is that they diminish activity in one very important brain network called the default mode network. That network is very involved with operations having to do with our sense of self, particularly how we integrate what’s happening to us in any given moment, with our abiding sense of who we are.
“We know that there are changes in the way the brain is functioning after people go through this treatment,” says Greg Fonzo, Ph.D. who co-directs the center. The nature of those changes and how they relate to improvements are still very open questions. One well-known effect is that there appears to be an improvement in the brain’s ability to ‘rewire’ itself afterward and adapt to new experiences, something referred to as neural plasticity. The impression among many scientists is that these chemicals allow us to ‘reboot’ the brain. If the brain is stuck in these narrow grooves of thought, whether it’s an obsession or a fear, all those deep grooves that lock us into patterns of both thought and behavior are dissolved and temporarily suspended through psychedelics in a way that allows users to rewire those patterns.
Photography Credits: Michael Askew
When it comes to psychedelics, both LSD and psilocybin (the ingredient in ‘magic’ mushrooms), are the sensation of ego-dissolution: one’s sense of self is evaporating or dissolving. That seems to lead to forming new connections in the brain which could produce new insights, new perspectives, and new ways of looking at the world.
There are two drugs that show the most potential and are likely to soon be legalized for medical use. One of these is a drug that isn’t always considered a psychedelic: MDMA, also known as Ecstasy or Molly, which has been shown to be incredibly useful in the treatment of trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in soldiers or in victims of sexual assault and rape. The second drug is psilocybin, which according to research, helps the treatment of anxiety, depression, and addiction to both smoking and alcohol.
It is important to remember that psilocybin used in a medical and healing context is very different from recreational use. Some may wonder what the process of medically approved administration looks like, and how patients are cared for after consuming the pill. For a period of four or five hours, the patient spends time in a room that is meant to mimic a comfortable space in their home. Oftentimes, the patient lies down on a couch, with eye shades on and headphones playing a carefully curated playlist. There are two guides present at all times, who are there looking out for the subject’s state of mind. It is made to be an incredibly safe environment in which a person is able to let down their defenses.
We have a long way to go in truly understanding the role psychedelics play in mental health, but constant research is helping us to better understand. Many scientists are discovering the benefits of this type of treatment, and garnering interest, while also destigmatizing drugs that have long been seen as controversial. Time will tell what is next in determining its role in treatment, but it looks like this new treatment is here to stay. □
Photography Credits: Michael Askew
About the Writer
Michelle Richards lives in Wilmington, Delaware with her husband and two daughters. When she isn’t writing for H3R, Michelle works as a Care Counselor with Cerebral. She believes that access to quality, affordable Mental Health services is essential and wants to help to break the stigma of asking for support. Michelle loves the beach, reading, writing, true crime, exercising outside, watching movies with her daughters, and date nights with her husband.
Article Credits
Michelle’s LinkTree: @Shelldez | Linktree
Photography by: Michael Askew// Website: MICHAEL ASKEW
Sources
For Trauma Survivors, New Hope: Psychedelics | Dell Medical School (utexas.edu)
Michael Pollan: This Will Change Your Mind About Psychedelic Drugs | Time
Psychedelics - Alcohol and Drug Foundation (adf.org.au)
The Pros and Cons of Microdosing (psychable.com)
The History of Psychedelics: A Timeline of Psychedelic Drugs (retreat.guru)
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