Reddit reviews How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
We found 52 Reddit comments about How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
My husband and I have recently realized that LSD is now our favorite drug. We're amazed that something so tiny have such a crazy profound effect on your mind.
We've started reading "How to change your mind" by Michael Pollan and it's fascinating. He talks about the history of LSD in clinical studies in the 50-70s and that the drug influenced a lot of organizations, including the beginning of Alcoholics Anonymous.
If you're interested in learning more about the drug, it's definitely an interesting read, it would be even better on audio book.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zn-KBbYB9Z16H
Psychedelics get you into a head-space where you can sort of feel the connectedness of everything, and also think beyond the rigid thoughts your mind normally operates on (so as to see things in a different way than you always have). That's one of the reasons so many people have such a profound experience with it. That's why Leary was considering dosing an entire towns water supply, to spur real revolutionary change. I do think there is a case to be made that psychedelics could lead to a real leftward shift in popular imagination, but, then again, theres a Nazi that took acid and came up with the idea of a White Nationalist form of Twitter or something recently, so results vary.
A real good book on the subject of rethinking psychedelics (sorry abt the Amazon link): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594204225/ref=oh_aui_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Op-ed by former guest Michael Pollan and author of How to Change Your Mind.
TL;DR:
>I look forward to the day when psychedelic medicines like psilocybin, having proven their safety and efficacy in F.D.A.-approved trials, will take their legal place in society, not only in mental health care but in the lives of people dealing with garden-variety unhappiness or interested in spiritual exploration and personal growth.
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>My worry is that ballot initiatives may not be the smartest way to get there. We still have a lot to learn about the immense power and potential risk of these molecules, not to mention the consequences of unrestricted use. It would be a shame if the public is pushed to make premature decisions about psychedelics before the researchers have completed their work. There is, too, the risk of inciting the sort of political backlash that, in the late 1960s, set back research into psychedelics for decades. Think of what we might know now, and the suffering that might have been alleviated, had that research been allowed to continue.
For sure!
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I've had several roles in the technology space, from the strategy around a complete digital transformation (ripping out a clients current ERP, CRM, MES, PLM, and HR to implement an API-riddled "modern ecosystem" so those systems could share data), to implementing a continuous improvement framework and sustainment model around a technology implementation. What really got me interested in PM was my first role where I took a custom mobile application from design to deployment while running an Agile team for ~2.5 years. I've been searching for PM jobs on and off for the better part of a year until this opportunity came through the pipeline.
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As to why I made the switch, I really enjoy working through all the cross-functional portions that comes with launching a new piece of technology. During the lifecycle of a product/feature you have to do strategy (what is the product-market fit), design/development (work with engineers to build a feasible product), and launch work (empower Product Marketing and work with them to find the correct segment/marketing materials). In my experience consulting teams usually focus on one portion of that work, but seeing the lifecycle through falls under the PM because they're there for the long haul.
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Career aspirations include moving along the PM track and eventually leading a team of PMs. Consulting gave me a strong skillset mostly because I had mentors driving my career development, and providing standards to work towards. One of the most rewarding things I found was returning the favor to the new crop of consultants. Definitely looking to do that in my new position once I get more settled down and we build out the PM team a bit more.
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Speaking on career aspirations, if money is one of your main motivators for becoming a PM I might suggest a different line of work. I got a small pay raise to $122,000 living in an expensive area, but the compensation trajectory is much higher if you stay in consulting (i.e. assuming everything had gone well this year I was looking at a raise to $145,000 base). In the short term compensation may be similar if you get a PM job with a FAANG company (especially at the MBA level where everyone is competing for top talent), but if you hit partner you leave your PM counterparts in the dust.
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Getting this role was really luck-based (in addition to practicing for PM interviews for a year). I was initially contacted by a recruiter for this role and ended up hearing nothing after two weeks. So I found someone in the company on LinkedIn and reached out to them (we had gone to the same school). Turns out that person would be my boss and was interested in talking with me! The rest is history (after some harrowing interviews). I guess the moral of the story is if something seems interesting don't stop at the first roadblock.
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I haven't started the PM role yet so what I like/don't like is TBD, but what I really enjoyed working on the custom mobile application was being "the guy" that everyone comes to with questions/ideas/complaints. One minute I'd be talking with customers about how to use the app, the next I'd be talking with our engineering lead about how I could ever design something so stupidly, and finally I'd get called into the office of the program head to run the numbers with her and see if we were really saving $5 million annually in operations cost. It's stressful, but being the ingress point keeps you constantly on your feet.
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Did you know that psychedelics were legal in the 50s/60s and used to treat alcoholism/depression? I sure didn't! I've been reading How to Change your Mind and it has been mind-blowing (pun intended) charting the rise and fall of psychedelics in both research and counter-culture terms.
This book describes what you are taking about very well.
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
Fascinating stuff.
Michael Pollan has a good book on the subject: https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225/ref=nodl_
He also does a interview with Joe Rogan: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tz4CrWE_P0g
Interesting stuff.
Most recommendations I’ve heard are for 0.2g, up to 0.4g of mushrooms. It could be more but generally, what I’ve seen recommended is that if you can feel it, it’s too much. Dose one day, skip two days. It should make you generally feel like your day is better. Your brain can gain the ability to make new neural connections, among other amazing things. Check out the Paul Stamets interview on Joe Rogan around 46:00 and the fantastic
The Psychadelic Explorers Guide on The Tim Ferris show with Jim Fadiman, they discuss it right away. There’s also books, How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_ZKL5BbQ7K6JYQ (though Michael Pollan offers little on microdosing)
about this new frontier of psychedelics plus a new micodosing specific documentary.
Then there’s the wide variety of psychadelic research currently happening, leading back to OP.
Edit: formatting
> Det er liten fare for dødelige forgiftninger ved bruk av hallusinogener, men dette vil avhenge av dosen, forteller Høiseth.
Det finnes ingen kjent dødelig dose av DMT eller andre vanlige tryptaminer så vidt jeg vet. Folk med hjerteproblemer skal uansett være varsomme. Det samme kan sies om folk som sliter med schizofreni eller har familiemedlemmer som gjør det.
> Legen påpeker at risikoen for avhengighet av stoffer som DMT vil være relativt lav.
Heller ikke-eksisterenede risiko for avhengighet, men psykedeliske stoffer har vist seg å værre langt mer effektive for å stoppe avhengighet av alt mulig rart, enn det legemiddelindustrien så langt har prestert å gjøre penger på
> De viktigste bivirkningene var kvalme og oppkast.
Noe som er en viktig del av prosessen for mange. Oppkast er derfor ikke en bivirkning i dette tilfellet, noe som forklares slik lenger opp i artikkelen:
>Spyingen blir sett på som en renselse av kropp og sinn.
> Det er som om ayahuascaen har fått tak i et virus som ikke tjener deg lenger. Plutselig ligger depresjonen, det dårlige forholdet eller traumer du har slitt med, oppi bøtta. Man får en dypere innsikt og forstår at det som plager deg, ikke trenger å være et problem lenger.
"En studie nylig publisert i Psychological Medicine viser at ayahuasca kan ha positiv effekt på sterk depresjon."
Dette stemmer godt overens med mitt anekdotiske tilfelle.
> – Én ting er å behandle mennesker med alvorlige sykdommer. Noe helt annet er det at friske mennesker inntar hallusinogener i søken etter mening med livet. Å klusse med kjemien i en frisk hjerne er et hasardspill, sier Hasle.
Jeg tror de aller fleste kan ha godt av å bli litt bedre kjent med seg selv. Dette er verktøy som har blitt brukt i tusenvis av år og ikke uten god grunn. Jeg vil påstå at det er minst like hasardiøst å proppe kropp og sinn fullt av avhengighetsskapende lykkepiller, som SSRI'er med tvilsomme bivirkninger og praktisk talt ingen bedre effekt enn placebo, i undersøkelser som ikke er utført av legemiddelindustrien selv.
Til sist vil jeg si at om mann velger å innta et psykedelisk stoff, bør man gjøre grundig research på forhånd og gjøre det i så trygge omgivelser som mulig.
Her er en ganske god artikkelserie for folk som vil vite mer:
https://sapiensoup.com/medical-benefits-of-psychedelic-drugs
Anbefaler også den siste boka til Michael Pollan:
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
Edit: Psykedeliske erfaringer er av mange grunner svært vanskelige å sette ord, siden ord ofte blir fattige. Her er en som gjør et hederlig forsøk likevel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqsdCqKQCLU
Some advice here for anyone looking for psychedelic therapy.
Mushrooms are still not legal in Oakland, they've just instructed cops not to do anything about possession. So don't expect to see shops selling mushrooms, or therapists giving them to clients. Your best bet is to look for a "psychedelic integration therapist". They won't give you drugs or trip-sit for you, but they specialize in helping clients make sense of psychedelic experiences. Also check out meetups such as those run by the SF Psychedelic Society. Their Psychedelic Therapeutic Use Peer Support Group (there's one that meets in Oakland and one in Petaluma) is great.
There are therapists who practice psychedelic therapy underground. They don't advertise, obviously, so you'll need to make connections to find them. I can't help you there.
You don't need a professional guide to benefit from psychedelics. In fact few therapists have training or experience in this unique modality. More than formal training, it's important to have a trusted trip sitter (ideally someone who's taken psychedelics before), a safe and comfortable setting, and a positive mental state going in. If you want to read trip reports, there are thousands available on Erowid. I recommend the book Psychedelic Psychotherapy by R. Coleman (although I don't endorse everything in it). How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan is a popular book that covers a lot of topics related to the psychedelic renaissance. Also check out /r/PsychedelicTherapy.
Both psilocybin and MDMA are in the FDA approval pipeline and might be legally prescribed for therapy within the next 10 years. You could potentially do this now if you qualify for a clinical trial.
Hopefully we will soon see full legalization and a safe way for people to access these experiences that doesn't require them to label themselves as "sick". There is a ballot measure in Oregon next year which would be a big step in that direction.
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuhmZSFvhL0
Either check out this book or Check out this Ted Talk
Hey man I had the same question and I think I found it.
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_LtZ4Cb5CW5F9K
You said it yourself man, cannabis elevates mood. Which is how it's used to treat PTSD, it stabilizes your mood and makes you happier and more compassionate.
I think plant medicines as a whole can be used interchangeably in some cases, which is a great benefit compared to specific and targeted pharmaceuticals you're probably used to that only treat one thing and one thing only. Not everyone wants to go through an intense psilocybin experience, some people might not be mentally ready, or they may have tried it and might be in the small population of people that psilocybin doesn't work for. Cannabis isn't just a one trick pony, and neither are many other plant medicines & drugs that are soon to be legalized. MDMA has also shown great promise I believe. MAPS is actually about to go through a 3rd wave of trials soon for psilocybin and if it performs well, it will then go straight to the FDA and probably be legalized. MDMA is expected to be legal sooner than that for treatments. Michael Pollan talks about this on a recent podcast with Joe Rogan which is here, as well as in his recently released book that can be found here, also check out his Twitter as he Tweets out research and news on drug studies often. Trump could also soon be signing a bill that would allow terminally ill patients to try cannabis, LSD, MDMA, or psilocybin to alleviate their symptoms, article here. Interesting things on the horizon for sure.
You sound like me around 10 years ago. The only difference between misery and happiness is what we choose to focus on.
Take a walk! Meditate! Life is so precious. Every moment of your life is a spectacular phenomenon that should be enjoyed and appreciated. If you don't feel that way, I'd recommend some light reading -
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
Michael Pollan, food/nature writer. Author of In Defense of Food, The Omnivore's Dilemma, and new book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence. With his new book, it's an interesting pivot from food to psychedelics, though he considers himself a nature writer. Given his influence on the food system and thought around it, I think/hope his new book will be monumental in changing how we see psychedelics.
I absolutely found these parallels. If you haven't already I highly suggest reading this . It is super insightful into the healing aspects of psychedelics. Particularly LSD and Psilocybin. I thought this show had a very unique way of bringing these practices to the forefront of the media
Try "How to Change Your Mind," by Michael Pollan
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
Je ne suis qu'un inconnu sur internet, mais quoi que tu décides de faire fais aussi très attention avec les médicaments qu'on pourrait te prescrire. Les antidépresseurs (fluoxétine) et les benzodiazépines (alprazolam) sont des médicaments dont il peut être très difficile de se sevrer. Je te conseille de bien te renseigner sur leur fonctionnement et sur les effets secondaires qu'ils peuvent avoir. Lis les articles Wikipédia sur ces produits. Les benzodiazépines en particulier sont des médicaments hautement addictifs. Si tu peux éviter de toucher à cette classe de médicaments, fais-le. Le risque d'abus est élevé.
Est-ce qu'il existe d'autres types de traitement pharmaceutiques ? Oui, mais certains sont encore à un stade expérimental.
Aux États-Unis la kétamine a récemment été légalisée suite aux résultats positifs dans le traitement contre la dépression. Pour autant que je sache ce traitement n'est malheureusement pas encore disponible en France. La kétamine fonctionne de façon complètement différente des antidépresseurs de la classe des SSRI et agit immédiatement avec des effets positifs à court-terme.
Enfin à un stade moins avancé, il y a les psychédéliques, et en particulier la psilocybine. La psychothérapie assistée par la psilocybine va probablement être une des découvertes les plus importantes dans le traitement de la dépression dans les quelques prochaines années. Malheureusement ces thérapies sont difficiles d'accès, même aux États-Unis. Certains choisissent d'aller voir des thérapeutes "clandestins" qui peuvent réaliser le traitement, mais trouver la bonne personne n'est ni facile ni bon marché. Tu trouveras plus d'informations sur le sujet dans l'excellent livre de Michael Pollan.
Also, read the book on how to change your mind with psychedelics. There’s literally a guidebook on how to treat depression with the science thy exists in psychedelic research.
Interesting! I picked this up recently on a trip (see what I did there?) based on liking the author’s other books: How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_VO0.Bb483RSD1
Might be worth a read. I’ve noted a fair number of news headlines mentioning psychedelic research since I read the book, but that could just be because I’m aware of the subject now.
Perhaps not a guide, but Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind is a great book about history of psychedelic therapy, current events in that field, and looking forward as well as trip reports from the author.
I've been here periodically but I haven't formally intro'ed myself so I'll do that here:
Just taking Psilocybin won't really help fix much. You're better off using it in a therapeutic setting intended to help you deal with past issues. It's all about your intentions using it and the set and setting.
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I can't recommend Michael Pollans book enough to help you understand how Psilocybin works and the therapy that goes along with it. https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
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If you want a quick intro to everything, his interview with Tim Ferriss is really great:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbBXplrwbyQ
https://tim.blog/2018/05/06/michael-pollan-how-to-change-your-mind/
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Good luck, be safe, and take it slow. You're gonna be just fine.
I recommend Michael Pollan’s book How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence.. He also does the audio book reading himself.
Pollen is a a journalist, activist, and professor at Harvard and UC Berkeley.
In How to Change your Mind, Pollan chronicles the history is psychedelics, what’s happening with its current success in medicine, and its affect on human consciousness.
I really hope Netflix picks this up for another docuseries like his past works such as Cooked and The Botany of Desire.
ope, found it. It was actually a square of the sky in an otherwise black page.
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A friend recommended me it. For those interested:
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https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
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I'm making a bad joke. I go to a lot of music festivals and do a bit of psychedelics (at pretty low doses) but admittedly Ketamine still freaks me the fuck out lol I've heard it has amazing uses for depression and things like that (Neil Brennan, the creator of Chapelle Show said it cured his depression in a clinical therapy setting), but I always see people in another universe on the ground in the "k-hole". Definitely not the worst idea to avoid Ketamine unless you're doing it in a clinical setting I think. I haven't heard many good experiences outside of the clinical.
Acid and shrooms on the other hand? Listen.. not everyone has the mental makeup to do psychedelics but addiction is not a fair argument against using psychedelics. You don't get addicted to psychedelics. Like yes, I love to smoke bud and drink whisky but if I go a month without smoking or drinking, I'm only mildly dissapointed. That's kinda how psilocybin and LSD are. I'm very much a believer in "if it aint broke then don't fix it", but in the middle of one of the worst depressive spells of my entire life, acid and shrooms gave me some ability to reconnect with some amount of spirituality. I'm a dejected atheist entering his 30's and I fucking love LSD and mushrooms, but it's not something you build a psychical necessity for. I've had real changes of perspective on these magical molecules (Molecules that you can't overdose on by the way. They share that with weed). Have I had true epiphanies? I think that's the part of it that gets a little inflated, but without doubt I've had my perspective on certain conflicts or challenges changed completely in the aftermath of a good trip. Some people can become addicted to crabcakes and football so if you have an addictive personality, I don't want to be the dirty hippie that convinces you to enter a bad phase in your life, but I do have to say that I think my life would be in a significantly less satisfying place right now if I never experienced a good psych trip. I think right now you probably have a similar amount of misinformation that I once had about these things. Like I thought people commonly became addicted to acid and I was totally wrong about that just like I was about a mushroom trip operating around a chemical disruption akin to food poisoning. Psilocybin and LSD are actually remarkably similar. Ketamine.. yeah people get addicted to that sadly. DMT, LSD, and mushrooms much less so. It's not impossible, but there's a lot of propaganda about psychedelics. As a weed smoker (weed is a mild psychedelic) you know this to be true.
I would say just start with a more open mind on the entire thing and get some more information and then make your decision. Michael Pollan has a book/audiobook about trying psychedelics for the first time at the age of 60 and it's mostly responsible for my newfound love of mushrooms. Whether or not it convinces you that psychedelics can be a utility for people caught in the routine and monotony of daily life, it's 100% a book that can change your perspective on the culture that believes in them and has kept them in existance, as well as the risks associated. One of my favorite reads honestly:
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
I’m 40 and weening off .5mg tables 3X a day for eight years. I’ve recently been reading Michael Pollan’s new book about microdosing psilocybin and I am convinced and going to start trying it out when I get low enough on my benzodiazepines and start really feeling WD. I figure this will be a ripe time to try a natural remedy used by shamans for thousands of years to battle tribal anxieties.
This post is a great connection for me.
You should try psychedelics. In many test cases, subjects who use such substances (especially psilocybin mushrooms) in a clinical setting report greatly reduced fear of death. Please check out this book on the subject by the science writer Michael Pollan,
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
Here are some recent podcasts the author has appeared on to discuss the book. The discussion focused on the positive impact of medicinal psychedelic use amongst terminally ill patients:
From the Joe Rogan Experience:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tz4CrWE_P0g
From the Waking Up Podcast:
https://samharris.org/podcasts/127-freedom-known/
I really hope this helps. As humans we’re all united by the common struggle with our own mortality, and I wish you all the best in enjoying your life. Hang in there :)
> As you can imagine, this is not a topic we can just bring up with our current friends. So many of them don't use any kind of drugs at all.
Why not? We bring up tripping with our straight friends all the time. Maybe give them Michael Pollen on tripping. He is pretty mainstream and quite popular.
I would also suggest investigating your regional burning man community. They generally ahve facebook groups, and local events. They skew a bit older, and are pretty ok with tripping.
> But without other like-minded people there would be no reason to grow more as we could never consume them all ourselves, and I am not interested in selling them.
When I grew shrooms, it was really easy to give them away. I swear once someone found out I had them, I would get so many requests. Be aware that they do go bad, faster than LSD in my experience.
you may find this book interesting: How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. i've just started reading it but it's nonfic about how psychedelics alter the mind.
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
Anyone interested in psychedelics and mushrooms should read "How to Change Your Mind" By Michael Pollan.
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
There are tons of articles in major publications now about psychedelics being used for therapy, many of them in the New York Times etc. Look some of those up.
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Michael Pollan just wrote a new book about psychedelics, people in their 30s fucking love Michael Pollan, very famous food writer. He writes from the perspective of someone who had not really taken psychedelics, and wanted to know about history and neuroscience and immerse himself in it, to see if those transformative experiences were true. He was on a speaking tour for the book and I went to his talk. Hey, if he's coming through your town you should just take everyone to that!
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
decent interview about the book here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whmnx_Cb5ts
this one is more of a talk/presentation, also very good https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuhmZSFvhL0
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re: some of the other suggestions
I do not think psychedsubstance youtube vids are going to appeal to non-psychedelic users. That guy's target audience is people who are already interested in psychedelics and other substances, and he writes from a harm reduction perspective. He's also not exactly charming, kind of an abrasive know-it-all.
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Doors of Perception is a fantastic book but it's a very old perspective and feels very old timey academic to modern readers. Or maybe kind of like a beat poet in search of the miraculous and transcendent. But OP, YOU should certainly read doors of perception.
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The book for those curious
Its a good read.
If you want a really full backstory on the history of psychedelics in the US and all the clinical trials from the 50's 60's, and back up again starting recently, you want to read "How to Change Your Mind" by Michael Pollen (https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225).
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I was introduced to this book after listening to this 45 minute episode on Fresh Air podcast where he talks about it. I was fascinated and bought the book that day, but if you just want a bit more backstory than an article, I'd give it a listen. https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2018/05/15/611225541/reluctant-psychonaut-michael-pollan-embraces-the-new-science-of-psychedelics
> Like many of his colleagues, Hubbard strongly objected to Leary's do-it-yourself approach to psychedelics, especially his willingness to dispense with the all-important trained guide.
This is relayed from the perspective of Al Hubbard (not the Scientologist) on p. 200 of Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind. Pages 185-220 are devoted to Leary.
Some icing on the cake, an excerpt of a letter from Myron Stolaroff to Leary (p. 199):
> "Tim, I am convinced you are heading for very serious trouble ..., and it would not only make a great deal of trouble for you, but for all of us, and may do irreparable harm to the psychedelic field in general."
I am 60 and recently divorced after 30 plus years. I am planning a psychedelic journey to set the tone for my next phase of life. I plan to go with naturals, probably psilocybin mushrooms or maybe peyote. Havent done hallucinogenics for over 35 years, and am looking forward to having a mind expanding experience
FWIW i don't think DMT is technically a psychedelic, it's more of an amphetamine. I recommend:
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_sqEKBbJPP5Z5C
I think that, in general, it's a pretty bad idea to use it recreationally. However, there's some very promising medical research happening around LSD that would seem to contradict your assertion that it's "awful."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594204225/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/lsd-a-wonder-drug-once-again/
I was just listening to a podcast the other day about this. They talked about this book. I haven’t read it, but maybe it could help you.
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1lBWCb6TTW869.
Good luck!
Recommend that they read "How to Change Your Mind" by Michael Pollan:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_5KpRCbYAR7M98
He makes a well researched argument for the use of entheogens (psychedelics) by older people and those facing terminal illness. The author decided at 60 years old he wanted to try psilocybin, LSD and a couple of other entheogens. He went out and did the research then documents his experience with each. It's an interesting read if you want to understand the potential benefits of psilocybin.
Michael Pollan's latest book "How to Change your Mind" is about this very subject.
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225/ref=sr_1_2?crid=37EEAZQA8Z01&keywords=how+to+change+your+mind+michael+pollan&qid=1554585127&s=gateway&sprefix=how+to+change+your+mind+m%2Caps%2C195&sr=8-2
It's about the history of the use of psychedelics to treat many forms of mental illness.
I wept with joy several times.
Highly recommended!
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As a longtime Christian, I came to a point in my life where I was desperate for a solution to my depression season (7 years in total). After suffering, prayers, therapy, and antidepressants as a last ditch effort I started to explore the possibility of psychedelics. I spent 6 months reading medical studies from Johns Hopkins and NYU as they studied for treatment to those with PTSD and cancer induced depression. Nothing but flying colors and no potential for addiction. I was interested.
I’ve had spiritual and mystical experiences in the past and had no idea what to expect. I had some hesitation because of its legality and the notion of “bad trips.” After time and consideration and the consultation of deeply trusted friends and a therapist I decided to give it a try.
To prepare, I spent time praying and writing my intentions for the time as a sacred space. I made of list of the things I wanted to explore with God including past relationships and trauma. I dimmed the lights and played minimalist music. I was ready. It was 4 hours of pure connectedness and healing to my heart sans an ego to combat the felt experience.
Doctors and scientists say that the experience is pneumatic (or a deeply fear spiritual experience). It certainly was. They also say it’s a very hard experience to describe (but I’ll give it a whirl). I felt known by God. I saw memories, heartbreaks, and traumas flash in my mind. I saw that God was there with me. I felt that he cared more than I ever thought possible. I felt a deep love of God. I felt one with God and it was nothing but beautiful. It felt kin to other spiritual experiences I’ve had at church or out in nature. Now on the other side of it, my depression is gone and my heart is open. I feel more connected to God after feeling disconnected for quite some time.
I believe that I had that experience because of my prayers and intentions. I hear that many people “manifest” their unconscious and emotions that they carry into the time. This is why some people have “bad trips.”
If you decide to proceed, I recommend doing a lot of therapy (preferably somatic based, EMDR) to uncover your trauma and unconscious triggers. Then, do your research. I’ll list a couple links below. Next, find a therapist (ideally the same one) to be with you while you are using. They can guide you back to the right space and keep you focused. That will help ensure a good experience.
Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions.
“How to Change Your Mind” by Michael Pollan
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
“The Mind Explained: Psychedelics”
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt10948426/
https://www.google.com/amp/s/tim.blog/2019/09/10/largest-psychedelic-research-center/amp/
https://podcastnotes.org/2019/07/15/psychedelics/
https://hopkinspsychedelic.org/publications
How to Change Your Mind: What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness, Dying, Addiction, Depression, and Transcendence https://www.amazon.com/dp/1594204225/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_1IKRDb6C9CZW2
> My goal as a police officer is not to make the most busts, or arrest the most perps. My job is to serve the community, and at all times I strive to be as open-minded, compassionate, and fair as possible.
Intentions are great, but this can't really work out in practice because there's a massive gap of cognitive dissonance between what you DO and what you WANT TO DO.
Even if you want to be open-minded and "fair", you eventually have to go along with your department otherwise you'd be an outcast.
At the end of the day, even if you wanted to be mother Teresa, your job depends on enforcing the law... which as it pertains to drugs essentially translates into babysitting adults.
For example, in the United States:
So, from where I stand, the central question is: Does an individual have the right to put anything into their body for whatever reason they please?
The answer of course (rationally and philosophically) is YES.
Because to imply otherwise is to say that after age 18, you are not an adult.
...and even if you say no, then the above examples are clear indicators of the contradiction.
So, systematically, you and your friends are financially and morally incentivized to punish NON-VIOLENT adults who choose to put a substance inside their body (which is no different than fast food, alcohol, cigarettes etc.) for their own reasons.
Thus, implying that THEY HAVE NO RIGHT TO THEIR OWN MIND AND BODY.
In the case of psychedelics: most people's lives are actually HEALED IMMENSELY (with Ayahuasca, various forms of DMT, Psilocybin etc.) yet most of those substances are schedule I along with drugs like heroin.
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical companies are legally peddling heroin (in the form of Oxycontin etc) and getting around the system.
Make no mistake, you are going to be on the WRONG side of history.
While I appreciate your post and ability to be open-minded, after this AMA/post dies down, you'll be on the street "doing your job" because that's what you have to do put food on your table.
"Doing my job" is just a modern-day version of the Nuremberg Defense.
...and the police will inevitably abuse their power as shown in the famous Stanford Prison Experiment because it's not a police thing... it's a human nature thing.
So, the problem lies in the incentives of the police.
Unfortunately, the incentives ARE NOT to be as open-minded, compassionate, and fair as possible - it's to enforce the law without question.
...and to make matters worse, cops generally only hang out with other cops. I have yet to met a cop who has given another cop a ticket for the SAME violation made by a civilian.
I know cops have a slogan that says "TO PROTECT AND SERVE" on their squad cars.
But, as a citizen, I think it would be far more accurate to say "TO INTIMIDATE AND EXTORT" .... because I can't remember the last time I felt "protected or served".
So, as far as solutions, other than walking away from it and making an honest living in the private sector, I don't have a clear-cut solution.
LEAP, however, is an excellent start.
...and if you are SERIOUS, check out these resources:
Stay in your home, read this book and slowly work toward recovery and healing. Do yoga. Maybe find a therapist that works with psychedelics. You can read about that here. Not really interested in hearing all the reasons you think that won’t work. Besides, your resistance is stuff you should work through with your therapist, not on Reddit. Go heal. Yeah it’s hard. Walk through the fire and get to the other side.
I heard the book "How to Change Your Mind" is very good and might be what you need to convince your friend. :)
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225/
I really think you should read How to Change Your Mind. It dives into the details of how psychedelics help with depression and you'll probably be able to relate to some of it. Turns out most who use it for depression find that it doesn't last long term for them either, but does provide a break usually at least for a few months. To me that seems like a good enough jumping point to be able to reconnect with emotions. Michael does a much better job of analyzing and theorizing the functions and possibilities.
I truly wish you had the ability to use this medicine with an experienced therapist who maybe could've made the experience more enjoyable and rewarding.
While looking at that book, I came across this one:
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
I've already started listening to it on audiobook and love it! (Reviews told me Dr. Fadiman's book is better written because if some of the technical sections).
There's active research starting up. Check out Michael Polan's latest book for deets:
https://www.amazon.com/Change-Your-Mind-Consciousness-Transcendence/dp/1594204225
Great stuff, definitely worth a read.
Get Micheal Pollan on the show!
He's coming out with a new book: How to Change Your Mind:What the New Science of Psychedelics Teaches Us About Consciousness
Dude destroys a lot of food nutrition theories on the reg and explores the world of psychedelics in his new book. Been trying to get this guy on for years. Lets make it happen soon!
cut them out of your life or get them help. use profits to fund rehabilitation and education. if you're stupid enough to get into heroin and meth, you're probably not going to let the law stop you, but you shouldn't go to jail for possessing it or making it out of plants in the privacy of your own home. i do agree that dangerous drugs such as meth and heroin would be better off decriminalized rather than legalized, so that it remains illegal to sell but not to posses, but i don't think anyone should go to jail for acquiring them by their own means.
we do have to draw a legal limit to what humans can morally get away with on earth, or else people would be stealing and killing without consequence, but the war on drugs is a travesty and is hindering the mental progression of humanity. most people who have had a psychedelic experience will attest that nature is trying to help us (i'm looking forward to reading the book how to change your mind by michael pollan), yet we've let nixon convince the masses that the counterculture is bad and therefore people are losing their freedoms and spending their lives in prison for trying to open their mind and become better individuals or even form a religious belief from it.
more specifically, if we legalized psychedelics, we could help people overcome their addictions to more dangerous substances because like it or not, these substances work with your neurotransmitters to achieve what used to be seen as impossible. we would also see humanity looking past all this political money bullshit and focus more on the reality of love and nature and what's really important. so while i'm not saying we should make it easy to get harmful drugs like meth, i still don't think it should be a criminal act if you figure out how to acquire it on your own, and i sure as hell think it's a sin to have a war on psychedelics. as far as cocaine, i see that as no different than alcohol. it's harmful but fun in moderation and if you're gonna let us poison our livers, might as well let us poison our nostrils.
the whole thing is complex, but right now the war on drugs is a blanket over too many useful substances to accept it as a good thing. but you are right, in that i shouldn't make a blanket statement such as "humans should be able to do whatever they want". we do need order and protection from chaos. i just think politicians are trying too hard to boss us around in unnecessary ways and ruining a lot of lives over plants and what mother nature gave us.