Depression can be a debilitating mental health issue that affects millions of people around the world. It can manifest itself in many ways, and in some cases cannot be treated by traditional medicine, behavior changes, or alternative therapies. However, some studies have shown that magic mushrooms may help treat the symptoms of depression, which would make it a lifeline for many people who suffer every day.
What About Magic Mushrooms Helps For Depression?
Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin and psilocin. They are both controlled substances in the U.K. and in much of the U.S., but are legal in many countries and jurisdictions around the world. Recently, some countries have approved psilocybin as a treatment for depression. It’s not unreasonable to say that magic mushrooms could be the best way to administer psilocybin into your body.
Psilocybin works to “reset” the brain when it is depressed. What this means is that if someone is suffering from symptoms of depression, the brain can then interrupt the depressive feelings so that symptoms will recede or disappear completely. This will lift them from a depressive state, at least temporarily. It does not cure depression, but it can hold it at bay.
Long-Lasting Depression Relief
One of the things about medications for depression is that they have to be taken every day to work. You can feel better while on your medication, but if you miss a dose or two, you may start to have problems. In some cases, the benefits are not seen over time, but you have to “build up” to the full effect. However, with psilocybin, the effects can last up to five weeks with 2 doses. That’s a much longer period than any other treatments, and does not require supplemental actions or medications to be taken.
It Acts Fast
The fact that many treatments for depression do not take effect right away can be dangerous. If a patient is having self-harm or suicidal thoughts, the time from starting medication to feeling relief can be harrowing. However, with psilocybin, the results can come quickly. In some cases, it may take less than a week. This means that patients can come down from those destructive feelings faster and be in less danger than with traditional medications. When it comes to depression, time can be of the essence, since the consequences can be deadly.
You Can Grow it Yourself
One of the best benefits is that you can grow your own magic mushrooms. That way it’s possible to affordably and easily try out different strains and potencies to find what’s right for you. Grow kits make it simple. All you need to do is choose one and follow the instructions. This may not be a legal option where you live, but it is very convenient. It’s also safe to use grow kits, since they are specifically developed with certain potencies so that you can always be comfortable.
They Don’t Dull Your Emotions
Many antidepressant medications work by dulling the emotions that a patient feels. Instead of boosting more positive emotions, they dampen the depressive feelings. This makes patients feel more numb than happier. In fact, most of those medications also mute positive emotions as well. Many patients have difficulty keeping up with their medication regimen for this reason. They do not feel like “themselves.” Magic mushrooms help patients connect with their emotions. By resetting the brain, the patient has access to the more positive emotions that had been eluding them while they were in a depressive state.
You May Not Have to Feel “High”
Many people avoid using psychedelics, even for medicinal purposes. They may not like the sensation of being under the influence, or they may have had a bad experience in the past. However, with psilocybin, they may be able to take it in small enough amounts that they don’t feel anything unusual. Many believe that microdosing a small amount over time can provide the benefits of the treatment, although over a longer period. Microdosing involves taking very small amounts of the drug over several days or weeks, as opposed to one larger dose. A micro-dose is not enough to get high, but is enough to get other benefits.
There Are No Common Side Effects
Along with a feeling of numbness or emptiness, antidepressant medications come with many side effects that can be difficult to deal with. These can include symptoms such as increases or losses of appetite and the resultant weight fluctuations, for example. Fatigue, dry mouth, drowsiness, and blurred vision are also common. Many patients who take antidepressants suffer from sexual dysfunction issues. All of these must be weighed when deciding if a patient should be prescribed certain medications, and these side effects are also why many patients do not stick with them. With magic mushrooms, there are no side effects to speak of. The only effect is the euphoric feeling you might get, and the emotional and mental health benefits.
Are There Any Drawbacks?
Of course, there are some drawbacks, and it would be up to you to decide if they are worth the risk. For one, magic mushrooms are illegal in many jurisdictions, and the penalties can be severe. On top of that, while there are no side effects, some people may find the feeling of taking magic mushrooms to be unsettling. They may feel paranoid while under the influence, or even frightened in some cases. These feelings do go away pretty quickly, and they can be negated by microdosing.
Since magic mushrooms are illegal in many places, you may find it difficult to obtain some where you live. Or, you may find that your options are limited. In countries where it is currently illegal, you may be able to enroll in trials and experiments that will help you get the treatment you need. However, those experiments won’t necessarily be for long-term, and they are difficult to join.
If you are finding that your depression is damaging your life and is not getting better with medication or other therapies, then magic mushrooms just might be your answer.
