3 ms·

It’s mistaken (and somewhat sad!) to take a cynical attitude like that given the implications of the research. The most exciting part of these type of studies

It’s mistaken (and somewhat sad!) to take a cynical attitude like that given the implications of the research. The most exciting part of these type of studies is the ability to take depressive people and ‘kick’ them out of the cognitive ruts they are in. Those cognitive ruts are often world-views, thought structures and learned behaviours from childhood or their parents which constantly reinforce that the sufferer is worthless or stupid or unwanted etc. In those world views, other people are often seen in very negative light - they’re critical, or assholes, or dangerous, or perhaps you’re so needy for love and attention that you endlessly see other people as your savior (and constantly make bad relationships as a result). The idea that we just need love and kindness and selflessness and we’re all connected maaaan - that’s a childish interpretation. As is the idea that interconnectednesa and empathy falls apart in a realistic adult world of possessions and basic needs. In the context of mental illness, being able to experience connectedness and heightened empathy might mean seeing other people for who they really are, not who they appear to be in your distorted worldview. It might mean realizing that other people are similar to you and you’re not alone in your struggle, or realizing that you can give support to someone else instead of constantly needing support from them. Sometimes breakthroughs like that take years in therapy, but might be achieved much more quickly using mushrooms. Hope that helps dissolve the cynicism.

jotm 9y ago
Wait, so the idea is to see other people for "who they are"... but they won't do the same. It sure can "restore faith in humanity" and yourself, but what happens when you get hit with a dose of reality? That everyone struggles... individually. And most people don't actually care about you. Back to depression it is?
- westiseast 9y ago
  > And most people don’t actually care about you Well... yeah. I mean, imagine you had super critical parents who picked on your every mistake as a child. Now you suffer from social anxiety and feel intense shame and fear in public because you think everyone is constantly criticizing you and talking about you. Being able to relax and be yourself knowing that most people won’t care either way is a huge step forward.
- drvdevd 9y ago
  It’s been speculated by researchers that the therapeutic effects we are seeing may in fact be due to a physical change - specifically potent anti-inflammatory effects of 5ht-2a agonists, though this has been confirmed more for other psychedelic drugs such as DOI, at non-psychoactive dosages (and in rats) [1]. Hence the psychological narrative may be backed by an actual psychiatric, physiochemical change. An actual change, in “reality” - in other words, assuming some form of inflammation is involved in most depressive states... [1] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075426
- rosser 9y ago
  > Back to depression it is? For some people, I suppose. For others, a non-trivial point of the work is to learn not to care that other people don't care. It's about improving yourself, changing the relationship you have with the only person you will always be with, regardless of what other people might say, think, or do — that their behavior is entirely about them and has nothing whatsoever to do with you. And that trying to make their behavior about you is just as much an ego-trap as the more obvious things you'd associate with that notion. It's pretty remarkable the degree to which a little compassion and self-awareness can take the sting out of other people's lacking those things.

jotm 9y ago

Wait, so the idea is to see other people for "who they are"... but they won't do the same. It sure can "restore faith in humanity" and yourself, but what happens when you get hit with a dose of reality? That everyone struggles... individually. And most people don't actually care about you. Back to depression it is?

westiseast 9y ago
> And most people don’t actually care about you Well... yeah. I mean, imagine you had super critical parents who picked on your every mistake as a child. Now you suffer from social anxiety and feel intense shame and fear in public because you think everyone is constantly criticizing you and talking about you. Being able to relax and be yourself knowing that most people won’t care either way is a huge step forward.
drvdevd 9y ago
It’s been speculated by researchers that the therapeutic effects we are seeing may in fact be due to a physical change - specifically potent anti-inflammatory effects of 5ht-2a agonists, though this has been confirmed more for other psychedelic drugs such as DOI, at non-psychoactive dosages (and in rats) [1]. Hence the psychological narrative may be backed by an actual psychiatric, physiochemical change. An actual change, in “reality” - in other words, assuming some form of inflammation is involved in most depressive states... [1] DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075426
rosser 9y ago
> Back to depression it is? For some people, I suppose. For others, a non-trivial point of the work is to learn not to care that other people don't care. It's about improving yourself, changing the relationship you have with the only person you will always be with, regardless of what other people might say, think, or do — that their behavior is entirely about them and has nothing whatsoever to do with you. And that trying to make their behavior about you is just as much an ego-trap as the more obvious things you'd associate with that notion. It's pretty remarkable the degree to which a little compassion and self-awareness can take the sting out of other people's lacking those things.