Expert Answers Psychedelics Questions From Twitter (ft. Michael Pollan) | Tech Support | WIRED
WIRED・13 minutes read
LSD tightly binds to brain receptors, leading to lasting effects and limited understanding of its impact on perception and consciousness. Despite potential risks, psychedelics like psilocybin show promise in therapy for anxiety, addiction, and confronting mortality.
Insights
- LSD's molecular similarity to serotonin allows it to tightly bind to brain receptors, leading to lasting effects on perception and consciousness.
- Psychedelics, such as psilocybin, have demonstrated promise in treating addiction by reshaping thought patterns, despite being classified as Schedule 1 drugs, highlighting their potential therapeutic benefits.
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Recent questions
What is LSD?
A molecule similar to serotonin, affecting brain receptors.
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Summary
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Psychedelics: Unlocking Minds, Healing Souls
- LSD is a molecule similar in shape to serotonin, fitting tightly into brain receptors, causing lasting effects due to its snug fit.
- There is limited understanding of the cascade of effects from LSD activation to changes in perception and consciousness.
- While psychotic breaks on psychedelics are rare, they can trigger schizophrenia, leading to fears of going crazy.
- Flight instructions in research trials advise surrendering to difficult experiences during a trip, including confronting dark aspects of oneself.
- Ego death on psychedelics involves a complete crumbling of one's sense of self, leading to a sense of merging with the cosmos or nature.
- Microdosing involves taking sub-perceptual doses of psychedelics like LSD or psilocybin, believed to enhance well-being and creativity.
- DMT's geometric hallucinations may be influenced by set and setting, with organic drugs like magic mushrooms leading to more natural imagery.
- Psychedelics introduce chaos into mental functioning, potentially beneficial for rigid thought patterns like addiction but risky for schizophrenia.
- Psilocybin therapy has shown promise in alleviating anxiety in cancer patients, allowing them to confront mortality with peace.
- Despite being Schedule 1 drugs, psychedelics like psilocybin have shown success in treating addiction by reshaping thought patterns.
