Psilocybin-Assisted Psychedelic Therapy
(PAPT)
Guiding and Supporting a Mushroom Experience
What Is Psilocybin?
What makes it Psychedelic?
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring compound found in certain species of mushrooms, often referred to as "magic mushrooms." When ingested, psilocybin is metabolized by the body into psilocin. This compound interacts with the brain's serotonin receptors and produces psychoactive effects such as altered perception, heightened sensory experiences, and shifts in consciousness.
Psilocybin has been used for centuries in various cultural and spiritual practices and has gained recognition for its potential therapeutic benefits in recent years. Research suggests that psilocybin excels in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD, as well as promoting personal growth and spiritual exploration.
Effects of Psilocybin
Onset
After you have eaten the psychedelic mushrooms your body will begin to break down the psilocybin into psilocin, a molecule that closely resembles the serotonin produced in our brains.
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While you may not feel anything at all for the first 30-45 minutes, you are likely to start feeling a tingling in your skin and muscles. As this experience increases it is not uncommon to experience some light nausea or discomfort, but that will soon pass.
Peak
Once the medicine sets in it tends to come on hard and fast. For the first 2-3 hours or so of this period, the brain is somewhat overwhelmed by the surge of activity and sensory experience. It is during this period that you are most likely to feel discomfort at a loss of control of what is happening, but it is also during this time that your neural networks are lighting up and communicating in magnificent new ways.
It is important to trust the medicine, trust the process, trust me, and most importantly trust yourself. This can also be the most fun part, any visual hallucinations will occur most strongly during this time. It is also often associated with the sensation of the loss of ego and the deconstruction of the self.
Return to Ground
As the intensity of the peak begins to fade, your brain has also begun to become more acquainted with the higher level of activity. For the next 2-3 hours, you slowly regain agency of your sensory experience as you rebuild your sense of self. While sometimes less flashy or awe-inspiring than the peak, this time is often when the most profound personal growth can occur.
Lingering Effects
You have now regained control of all of your mental and physical faculties, but the world around you may seem a little hazy or surreal (you still can't drive!). Most often you find yourself in a bit of a stunned daze, simply at the gravity and quantity of new information that you have just received. During this time it is important to give yourself time and space to relax and reflect. Take care of yourself! Take a bath or walk barefoot in the grass. Watch a favorite movie. Journal or make art.
Benefits of Psilocybin
In therapeutic settings, psilocybin use can offer a range of potential benefits, primarily centered around personal growth, enhanced creativity, and spiritual exploration. Many individuals report profound insights and a deepened connection to their emotions and thought processes, fostering self-awareness and a greater understanding of their life's trajectory.
Psilocybin increases creativity, with users often describing a heightened capacity for abstract thinking and problem-solving. Moreover, the substance can facilitate a sense of interconnectedness with nature and the universe, leading to a more profound appreciation for life and one's place within it.
In these settings, where the emphasis is on intentional and responsible use, individuals may find that psilocybin provides a unique avenue for self-discovery, offering a potentially transformative experience that extends beyond traditional therapeutic contexts.
Risks of Psilocybin
"Compared to the intensity of the subjective effects, it's remarkable how little impact these substances have on physiology. You know, your heart rate, your blood pressure- everything has its risk, to be clear. But compared to other drug classes, psychedelics are really robustly safe at the physiological level."
-Dr. Matthew Johnson, Professor at John Hopkins (See Recommended Videos)
Important: I, Dylan Cook, am not a doctor. If you have pre-existing health conditions or take regular medications, you should consult with your doctor about if Psilocybin is safe for you
As long as we have taken the steps to procure good mushrooms, and you have cleared your pre-existing conditions and regular medications with a doctor, the main risk of psilocybin is the colloquial "bad trip." A "bad trip" during a psychedelic experience is often a reflection of a vulnerable person navigating uncomfortable emotions and thoughts within the psychedelic state.
Under the wrong circumstances, such as an unsupportive environment or a lack of guidance, the experience can become overwhelming and potentially traumatic. An individual may confront unresolved traumas, fears, or anxieties, leading to a distressing journey. However, it's crucial to recognize that even in challenging moments, the psychedelic experience can be a catalyst for profound healing and growth.
With intention, respect, and a supportive guide or facilitator, the same vulnerable individual can transform their experience into something beautiful and fulfilling. The presence of a compassionate guide can help navigate difficult emotions, providing reassurance and holding space for the person to process and integrate the experience in a safe and nurturing environment.
By treating the psychedelic journey with reverence and intention, individuals have the potential to emerge from the experience with a newfound understanding of themselves, enhanced self-awareness, and a greater sense of inner peace and connection.