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I went back and reread your original comment, and I may be a bit confused. You state that issues are cognitive but then go on to discuss how psychedelics break

I went back and reread your original comment, and I may be a bit confused. You state that issues are cognitive but then go on to discuss how psychedelics break down barriers. Psychedelics are drugs, one of the best ways of showing that out cognitive processes are determined by our neuronal chemistry. Considering a traditional psychedelic like 4-HO-DMT or LSD, these compounds have activity at a few different serotonin receptors (and some other side interactions). This pharmacological activity (interaction of an external compound with our internal biomolecules) is how psychedelics alter our cognitive processes. From my perspective, this shows how our cognitive processes are biochemical and using a drug can change it easily whereas other means are more difficult such as external sensory inputs (therapy, talking to people, reading, aromatherapy, massage?) I entirely agree with the usefulness of psychedelics, they are massively powerful tools. They're great at helping catalyze significantly alterations in our thought processes, but these changes that they help induces are chemical and structural (structural such as changes in synaptic connectivity) Structural changes between neurons are directed by chemical signaling as well. If the changes that fix the problem are biochemical, the problem was biochemical. We alter the biochemistry and they induce changes in the emergent properties of the overall system: behavior and thought processes Our thought processes and behaviors are the product of our brains (and some signaling from other organs, mostly the brain though) and even minor changes in certain areas or with certain regulatory mechanisms can have profound impacts on mental health.

travisjungroth 5y ago
> They're great at helping catalyze significantly alterations in our thought processes, but these changes that they help induces are chemical and structural (structural such as changes in synaptic connectivity). Psychedelics don’t operate purely this way (it is part of it). They also, through chemistry, create an opportunity for change in cognition. It’s common for people taking psychedelics in a therapeutic context to leave with lasting insights (like in the article). I don’t know this to be true of any other drugs. SSRIs don’t have the “and then I realized” moment.
- netizen-936824 5y ago
  The change that they create an opportunity for in cognition is a change in regulation and structure at a biochemical level
  - travisjungroth 5y ago
    Yes, I agree. There are also some important details. 1. That state is short. Minutes or hours. 2. That state is different from the long changes. 3. The long term effects can be enhanced by the activities you do during the temporary state, including thinking. 4. Long term effects can be enhanced and maintained by non-drug activities. This whole setup seems to be especially good at curing illnesses that are caused by something “at the cognitive level”. It won’t do much for anxiety caused by a hyperactive gland. It will for anxiety caused by a fear of death.
    - netizen-936824 5y ago
      Those long changes are chemical. Its all chemical Cognition operates on the basis of neuronal dynamics and neuronal dynamics operate on the basis of biochemical interactions All changes in neuronal dynamics are due to changes in biochemical regulation Fear of death could be caused by a multitude of reasons, it's not as simplistic as you make it sound. People are innately afraid of death because there are pathways and regulations that occur naturally in our brain development driven by genetic biochemical regulation.
      - saltcured 5y ago
        In case it helps, I think the original post was not meaning to say that the mind is not chemically based in the brain. I did not see it as a contradiction in their position. I think their use of "chemical" was part of an assumed dichotomy between chronic disorders referred to in pop-culture as "chemical imbalances" versus other (learned or cognitive behavioral) disorders which could presumably be unlearned. The difference is mirrored in the assumed intervention: whether a continuous maintenance dose of some drug is needed to manage the chronic condition versus a transient dose or other therapy which allows the brain to assume a healthier posture and maintain itself thereafter.

travisjungroth 5y ago

> They're great at helping catalyze significantly alterations in our thought processes, but these changes that they help induces are chemical and structural (structural such as changes in synaptic connectivity). Psychedelics don’t operate purely this way (it is part of it). They also, through chemistry, create an opportunity for change in cognition. It’s common for people taking psychedelics in a therapeutic context to leave with lasting insights (like in the article). I don’t know this to be true of any other drugs. SSRIs don’t have the “and then I realized” moment.

netizen-936824 5y ago
The change that they create an opportunity for in cognition is a change in regulation and structure at a biochemical level
- travisjungroth 5y ago
  Yes, I agree. There are also some important details. 1. That state is short. Minutes or hours. 2. That state is different from the long changes. 3. The long term effects can be enhanced by the activities you do during the temporary state, including thinking. 4. Long term effects can be enhanced and maintained by non-drug activities. This whole setup seems to be especially good at curing illnesses that are caused by something “at the cognitive level”. It won’t do much for anxiety caused by a hyperactive gland. It will for anxiety caused by a fear of death.
  - netizen-936824 5y ago
    Those long changes are chemical. Its all chemical Cognition operates on the basis of neuronal dynamics and neuronal dynamics operate on the basis of biochemical interactions All changes in neuronal dynamics are due to changes in biochemical regulation Fear of death could be caused by a multitude of reasons, it's not as simplistic as you make it sound. People are innately afraid of death because there are pathways and regulations that occur naturally in our brain development driven by genetic biochemical regulation.
    - saltcured 5y ago
      In case it helps, I think the original post was not meaning to say that the mind is not chemically based in the brain. I did not see it as a contradiction in their position. I think their use of "chemical" was part of an assumed dichotomy between chronic disorders referred to in pop-culture as "chemical imbalances" versus other (learned or cognitive behavioral) disorders which could presumably be unlearned. The difference is mirrored in the assumed intervention: whether a continuous maintenance dose of some drug is needed to manage the chronic condition versus a transient dose or other therapy which allows the brain to assume a healthier posture and maintain itself thereafter.