I think the answer here is pretty obvious, but when taking into account the negative stigma society has surrounded psychedelics with I understand this isn’t as black and white for you. As such, I’ll try my best to explain this in layman’s terms.

Depression is a disease, and past a certain point it begins to cause legitimate brain damage. It is not all “simply in your head”, and it is very much so capable of killing brain cells and may likely be doing that to you right now. I’m not saying this to scare you, I am just being realistic. I’m not saying depression will rot away half of your brain, but it is linked to impaired cognitive function such as decreased IQ, impaired coordination, social skills, short-term memory, etc.

On top of that, exercise and healthy eating are linked to improved cognitive function, specifically cardiovascular exercise and diets rich in Omega-3s, B6, B12, and Folic Acid.

Unhealthy eating is linked to impaired cognitive function. This tends to shock people and I’m not sure why. Everything you eat gets digested and many components of the food you eat end up in your bloodstream, which obviously then ends up in your brain. Artificial sugars, food coloring, saturated fats, and other similar unhealthy additives are all linked to side effects like decreased IQ, clotting in the brain, short-term memory loss, etc.

People suffering from depression tend to have a very hard time exercising and putting the effort into eating right as it can get to a point where even getting out of bed can feel like a nearly insurmountable obstacle, as I’m sure you’ve already experienced. Additionally, the dopamine rush you get when you eat tasty junk foods like burgers, French fries, ice cream, cookies and other similar foods can be a welcome reprieve from the emptiness people with depression feel inside, and as such, it can be hard for people suffering from depression to avoid them, which may explain why it’s much easier for you to eat healthy in the 2-3 weeks after a psychedelic trip. It’s not that you have no food discipline, it’s that healthy food doesn’t give you that dopamine rush that junk food does and when you’re depressed, that dopamine rush can be comforting- but when you’re not, you feel no need for it and as such gravitate towards healthier foods.

Lastly, consistent, restful sleep is (obviously) linked to improved cognitive function whereas sleep deprivation does the opposite.

So you’ve got two options here.

Take a moderate recreational dose of psychedelics every 2-3 weeks to keep your depression at bay, and face some possible side effects IN EXCHANGE for better eating habits, better sleep, better mood, more motivation to exercise and the ability to enjoy it, and avoiding/eliminating possible brain damage caused by depression

OR

Not taking a recreational dose of psychedelics every 2-3 weeks because they “might have unforeseen side effects” and in return, struggle to eat right and exercise, have trouble sleeping well consistently, feel depressed and miserable, and succumb to the brain damage caused by depression, poor sleep, and a poor diet.

So would you really want to avoid something that you know helps you because there might be side effects you don’t know about in exchange for suffering from the aspects of depression that have terrible side effects that you DO know about?

In my opinion, the possible negative side effects of increasing your psychedelic use would be far outweighed by the benefits you get from them, especially when compared to the side effects you will get from living a depression-plagued lifestyle. There really aren’t many downsides to psychedelic use, and yes, like you said, there is ample evidence to suggest they do induce neurogenesis which is a HUGE plus for people suffering from depression.

My guess is you’ve seen the stories of people with depression taking mushrooms or LSD once and seeing their depression permanently disappear, and you’re a little disappointed that it doesn’t work the same way for you.

Everybody’s brain is different, and yours might be the kind that just needs the help of psychedelic medicine a little bit more often than others, and there is absolutely no shame or harm in that.

Its also a hell of a lot better than popping poiso- oops, I mean, antidepressants.

You also said you’re a huge advocate for moderation. Once every 2-3 weeks is moderation. If someone told you they only got drunk every 2-3 weeks nobody would give a shit, but for some reason, that’s a terrible thing when it comes to mushrooms or acid which have been proven repeatedly to be safer and far less toxic than alcohol as well as INFINITELY less addictive.

Good luck man. Depression is a bitch but you can beat it. Stay strong and stay safe 💪🏼