4 ms·

I believe depression is not something you can resolve with drugs. Sure, it helps to numb it all away.

by lvl102 5y ago

bin_bash 5y ago
The way these drugs seem to work is they stop serotonin from being blocked in habitual ways. The resulting experience makes people see/feel things as if it was for the first time. "Numb" is a poor description for this phenomenon.
- philosopher1234 5y ago
  I'm not sure if "these drugs" refers to psilocybin or SSRIs, but the science does not support SSRIs as a solution to depression.
  - siloed 5y ago
    What? Do you mean SSRIs specifically? Or are you including SNRIs, α2 blockers, MAO inhibitors etc? Do you have any evidence to support this or just anecdotes?
  - bin_bash 5y ago
    I'm referring to psilocybin and other tryptamines but I suspect you knew that and simply wanted to take a jab at SSRIs for some reason
  - weakfish 5y ago
    Source on that statement? Considering they’re the leading pharmaceutical treatment, the burden is on you to prove that claim
spicymaki 5y ago
This is a really unpopular answer, but I whole heartedly support it. Unfortunately, many people are looking for a solution (a quick fix) in a pill. They don't want to hear that perhaps the way they are living or the society they live in is not conducive to happiness. Perhaps an alternative to intoxication is to work towards a world of human flourishing.
- TaylorAlexander 5y ago
  The thing about mushrooms is the effect lasts well after “intoxication”. And the effect of mushrooms is anything but numbing. Scientifically they actually allow the brain to see things in a new light and overcome blocks (they relax the "default mode network" tho I am not a scientist). Changing your behavior is of course very important but sometimes the mind gets stuck and it seems mushrooms can help get us unstuck.
- ashes-of-sol 5y ago
  There are different types of depression. Some are related to how we live, either as a person or the society we find ourselves in. But others are related to physical brain imbalances which will absolutely benefit from medication.
  - lvl102 5y ago
    And how many percentage of people suffering from depression do you think have this physical brain imbalance ONLY? Doctors prescribing depression drugs do not care nor do they have the tools to make such a diagnosis.
ok123456 5y ago
A drug can't cure alienation.
siloed 5y ago
This is too broad a statement to support with evidence. This study was specifically about treatment-resistant chronic depression and the measured effects on the brain.
Trasmatta 5y ago
"Numbing" isn't an accurate description of what psilocybin does to you. It's kind of the opposite, it puts you in closer touch with the thoughts and feeling that were already there. This can be a double edged sword, as it can also surface and magnify highly negative thought processes.

I believe depression is not something you can resolve with drugs. Sure, it helps to numb it all away.

by lvl102 5y ago

I believe depression is not something you can resolve with drugs. Sure, it helps to numb it all away.

The way these drugs seem to work is they stop serotonin from being blocked in habitual ways. The resulting experience makes people see/feel things as if it was for the first time. "Numb" is a poor description for this phenomenon.

philosopher1234 5y ago
I'm not sure if "these drugs" refers to psilocybin or SSRIs, but the science does not support SSRIs as a solution to depression.
- siloed 5y ago
  What? Do you mean SSRIs specifically? Or are you including SNRIs, α2 blockers, MAO inhibitors etc? Do you have any evidence to support this or just anecdotes?
- bin_bash 5y ago
  I'm referring to psilocybin and other tryptamines but I suspect you knew that and simply wanted to take a jab at SSRIs for some reason
- weakfish 5y ago
  Source on that statement? Considering they’re the leading pharmaceutical treatment, the burden is on you to prove that claim

spicymaki 5y ago

This is a really unpopular answer, but I whole heartedly support it. Unfortunately, many people are looking for a solution (a quick fix) in a pill. They don't want to hear that perhaps the way they are living or the society they live in is not conducive to happiness. Perhaps an alternative to intoxication is to work towards a world of human flourishing.

TaylorAlexander 5y ago
The thing about mushrooms is the effect lasts well after “intoxication”. And the effect of mushrooms is anything but numbing. Scientifically they actually allow the brain to see things in a new light and overcome blocks (they relax the "default mode network" tho I am not a scientist). Changing your behavior is of course very important but sometimes the mind gets stuck and it seems mushrooms can help get us unstuck.
ashes-of-sol 5y ago
There are different types of depression. Some are related to how we live, either as a person or the society we find ourselves in. But others are related to physical brain imbalances which will absolutely benefit from medication.
- lvl102 5y ago
  And how many percentage of people suffering from depression do you think have this physical brain imbalance ONLY? Doctors prescribing depression drugs do not care nor do they have the tools to make such a diagnosis.

ok123456 5y ago

A drug can't cure alienation.

siloed 5y ago

This is too broad a statement to support with evidence. This study was specifically about treatment-resistant chronic depression and the measured effects on the brain.

Trasmatta 5y ago

"Numbing" isn't an accurate description of what psilocybin does to you. It's kind of the opposite, it puts you in closer touch with the thoughts and feeling that were already there. This can be a double edged sword, as it can also surface and magnify highly negative thought processes.