Depression is a common mental health issue that can affect anyone. While there are many effective treatments for depression, people with severe or treatment-resistant depression often don’t respond well to standard therapies.
New research has found that psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and ketamine can be quite effective at treating depression.
What are psychedelic drugs?
Psychedelic drugs are psychoactive substances that alter perception, mood and thought patterns. They’re also known as hallucinogens or hallucinogens because they can produce hallucinations and alter thinking processes.
The term “psychedelic” was coined by British psychiatrist Humphry Osmond, who combined the Greek words for “mind manifesting” — psyche — with dēloun (to make visible).
The psychedelic drugs LSD, psilocybin mushrooms, and mescaline can produce powerful effects on the mind. They may cause users to perceive sensations like taste or smell in addition to seeing things; they may also alter their perception of time and space, have delusions or hallucinations.
Here’s what you need to know about psychedelic drugs for depression:
What is psychedelic drug therapy for depression?
Psychedelic drugs like psilocybin and ketamine have been shown to be effective in reducing depression symptoms, when used as part of a psychotherapy treatment plan. The idea behind this approach is that it helps people to experience a shift in perspective. This may work through several mechanisms including changes in brain chemistry and perspective on life issues.
Why do people use psychedelic drug therapy for depression?
People who are depressed often feel stuck in their negative thought patterns, which makes them feel worse about themselves and their lives in general.
Psychedelic drugs include LSD, psilocybin (found in “magic mushrooms”), dimethyltryptamine (DMT) and mescaline (found in peyote). As well as being used to treat depression, these drugs are also being explored as treatments for anxiety disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Overall, it seems that psychedelics can be incredibly effective in treating depression
