Reimagining the Mental Health Paradigm
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring chemical found in several species of mushrooms, sometimes referred to as 'magic mushrooms'. It is one of a group of drugs known as 'psychedelics'. After decades of stigma and misunderstanding of psychedelics, dozens of studies are now being conducted at respected institutions that use the highest standards of scientific rigor.
While the research is still emergent, studies have shown that positive results can come from short courses - even single sessions - of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.
Psilocybin, in particular, shows tremendous promise for treating depression, addiction and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). So much so, that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) designated psilocybin therapy as a "breakthrough therapy" for depression, suggesting it may be an enormous improvement over already available therapy.
Relevant psilocybin publications and further reading
- 94% of volunteers rate a psilocybin session as among the top five most personally valuable experiences of their lifetime
- Treatment of tobacco addiction
- Treatment of alcohol depence
- Psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression
- Psilocybin relieves major depression (2020)
- The mystical experience is critical for the therapeutic effects of psilocybin
- Treatment of anxiety
- Treatment of OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder)
- Creative thinking and subjective well-being
- Empathy and decision-making
- Enduring positive changes in psychological functioning