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My brief experiences with entheogens largely agree with the study. However, if you're not in a good place (mentally), please don't just do drugs (it won't solve anything).
Also, if anybody suggests you "try this," perhaps start with a microdose of psilocybin, first (but only if you're curious).
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The beautiful interconnectedness of everything is my main "takeaway" from brief dabblings.
I suggested starting with a microdose, above, because for me it is one of those experiences which just helps me "be" [makes my attitude less shitty].
But as others have suggested, a smaller dose might be more appropriate for anybody looking for "an experience on psychedelics."
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My absolute DO NOT recommendation: don't try any drug alone. When you're doing drugs alone (particularly first experimentations), you open yourself up to all sorts of gruesome outcomes (whether physical or mental).
As example, I have previously been turned down [by a US MD] as "too anxious" to try legal ketamine-infusion therapy [immediately after loss of a parent].
In using a trained professional (e.g. see Oregon's new psilocybin guide certification) to help you determine your "use fitness," you can probably avoid a very bad experience...
Just a perfectly-generated word, based on my own personal experiences of connecting with the above examples (except S. divinorum, which can go to hell (or take you there)).
- https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-02876-5
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33648632/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6364961/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34915762/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35918311/
BIG DISCLAIMER before you read the next bits: I'm not a researcher/scientist in this field, but psychedelics have helped me get a handle on CPTSD, process trauma.
My take on this is that microdosing probably still has some acute benefits, since it still does alters brain chemistry. So, can it be helpful? Probably, but it should come with a big "YMMV" disclaimer.
In the context of psilocybin, my understanding is that it doesn't give long-term benefits as a "macro" dose would like DMN regulation[1] and neuroplasticity[2]; a lot of people tend to attribute these to microdosing too, but apparently it's not the case[3]. Also, due to tolerance build up, so you start getting diminishing returns from microdosing, so it's not effective long-term (even with the Fadiman microdosing protocol where you take breaks; I think there's other protocols that claims to lessen the diminishing returns). I don't think LSD triggers these physiological changes in the brain, but it's believed it can helps with the psychological aspects.
I don't take them regularly anymore (I used to take them every couple of months during a rough patch in my life, but I also did therapy on-and-off during that period too). I now take them every few years as to check-in with myself, or special occasions.
[1]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10032309
[2]: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6082376; I feel like there was a another study on this too, but I can't find it now, sorry!
[3]: Only briefly discussed by Huberman in his podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIxVfln02Ss. I recommend watching the video in its entirety; it's great!
>You'll never microdose and have any apparent classical effects.
This is incorrect, but probably only on a case-by-case basis (to each, his own).
<0.5g == microdose (you just feel happier, more connected)
0.5-2g == small dose (you definitely notice distortions/connections)
2-4g == normal dose (silliness, connectedness, impactful mental rearrangement)
>5g == heroic dosing (you'd better be ready for visuals, tracers, and a few hours of helpful insanity)
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Personally, I agree that the real therapy begins after your first normal dose; however, I would not start there, nor even with a small dose. Start slow, build up to the revelation.
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Onwards, through the fog.