Please do not use psychedelics of any sort if you are suffering from depression without the oversight of a medical professional such as a psychiatrist or psychologist
A negative mindset can be heavily amplified through the use of serotonergic 5ht2a agonists, this can lead to disastrous consequences
DO NOT use psychedelics without medical oversight if you're at rock bottom. You ideally need to be strong enough to take some unexpected punches, and be in charge of an open, welcoming mindset.
I'm bullish on the potential of psychedelics. I'm interested in finding work in this area to support it.
Personally I think psychedelics should be freely available to any human that wants them, however I'm also aware of the dangers that these compounds can present and as a society we need to be aware and prepared to face these things. That includes the awareness that one should be careful about their mindset when they decide to use such a powerful tool.
I also agree that there are incompetent professionals, but this isn't about competency. Its about preventing suicide.
medical professionals aren't interested in helping people. They are slaves to liability and insurance and place profits above the well being of their patients.
Just because some medical professionals suck, that doesn't make it safe to use psychedelics when depressed without someone who knows what they're doing with you. "Knows what they're doing" includes knowing how to handle suicidal individuals.
Please find a guide or therapist who has been formally trained in working with psychedelics, and who works closely with medical doctor if you have any medical concerns or questions. Or work directly with an MD if and only if that MD has had formal training with psychedelics.
The conventional career tracks in western mental health (MFT, Psy.D, licensed psychiatrist or psychologist) do not give someone authority about psychedelic therapy. These backgrounds can be a part of a facilitators work, but they also need formal training in psychedelic therapy.
These people exist and our numbers are growing steadily.
You do realize this is hacker news?
Since when does programming carry the risk of suicide or death in some other fashion? I would argue its exceedingly rare, as opposed to suicidal tendencies being amplified by depressed individuals using psychedelics. You're comparing apples to shoes
Fear of death is a self-reinforcing mechanism. The more you sustain it, the more likely it will spinlock during a trip.
How well do we understand how the brain works?
Its an entirely different field and we don't know shit. If you're depressed, using psychedelics alone should be the absolutely last thing you do
And if you're not careful it just might be
This is my opinion as a formal student of neuropsychopharmacology
Its fine to use psychedelics if you have a responsible and prepared trip sitter, not alone which is what this entire thread is about. That's literally the most dangerous thing you can do and goes against all tenets of harm reduction
Depression isn't "losing" and what you say almost sounds like you're okay with some suicides. That's a bit disgusting