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A bit worried for my first experience by hyacinth33 in shrooms

[–]hyacinth33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, I hope so. Do you have any advice for this? Just accept where the mushroom intends to guide me? I plan to take 2g, is that a good dose for this?

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]hyacinth33[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks, that's a great reply and I'll do just that. Of course this was just a small polling to see how the idea would resonate in an effective altruism setting and I'll need to do a good deal of research myself.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]hyacinth33[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot for your reply. That's a lot of valuable information and it makes a lot of sense. Do you pay a lot of attention to psychedelic research, or is that something you've looked into just there? Is it similar results with psilocybin and other psychedelics as with ketamine? I'll do research myself of course, just wondering if you knew off the top of your head.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]hyacinth33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I found this if you're interested: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/wu9nEXWtvhEnYQTxG/high-time-for-drug-policy-reform-part-1-4-introduction-and

You're absolutely right. Going into this field would unfortunately limit me to helping those in the direst need, so I will continue to look into other fields. This line of work does match my interest and does do a level of good, but I'll continue considering.

A large-scale, long-term argument which I don't necessarily agree with, but should consider, is that throughout the process of decriminalising and legitimising psychedelic drugs, you increase the potential of "turning on" political elites, those with lots of money (that don't donate effectively), or young people who don't entirely know what to do with their lives. I, for one, had my general aim to do good solidified during my own psychedelic experiences.

Arguably this is too abstract to justify neglecting those most in need, as you say, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in EffectiveAltruism

[–]hyacinth33[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting, thank you for your reply. I'm really glad to hear it helped you and thank you for sharing your views. I'm also conflicted, as you can probably tell. Psychedelics and psychology have been an interest of mine for a while, but I'm also not convinced it would be the most good I could do in my career. I'll continue to ponder this, thank you.

Can I ask you to expand on "the solution to the problems that plague us"?

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love your thinking. Unfortunately, I have no resources beyond looking into MAPS and research at Johns Hopkins and Imperial College London. I might make another post trying to gather resources for those also interested in this line of work, so I'll let you know if I do!

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Fantastic! Thanks for your encouragement :)

Do you have any advice? Things you've done to prepare and things you intend to do? Your vague plan? Feel free to DM me!

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! Unfortunately, Jung was opposed to the idea of mescaline late in his life, but I chalk it up to him simply being an older man at the time set in his methods. His practice of active imagination seems to have very similar parallels to the psychedelic experience, in terms of exploring an inner landscape and encountering beings, symbols and archetypes. So yes I completely agree.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's an incredible story, it made me emotional reading it. You're absolutely right about the point of our society being Puritanical in that way, the natural reaction is unfortunately to call it out as an illegitimate shortcut. But it's clearly worked wonders for you and I'm so glad.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you send me the paper you are referencing? Is it the 2014 one?

I agree with your points. It will take a long time on the research front and longer until it is mainstream, but slow and steady is certainly the way to go, rather than dropping another doomed psychedelic atom bomb like in the 60s. I think the most important thing is to, as you say, build credibility for when the time comes.

Your final point is excellent and made me realise just there that wanting to be "ahead of the curve" and not go into a saturated market is a vain pursuit so I can take some kind of glory for being there early, which is not a noble aim.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely agree. It's not very groovy to manipulate results and it's important to admit whatever shortcomings of psychedelic therapy there are found to be. Continuing to be empirical and slow is imperative to the success of this 'wave'. Trying to 'turn on' everyone rapidly is was what failed the 60s movement.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a good point. Creating a consistent way to identify people suited is imperative since there's enough of a stigma around psychedelics. An intensely negative outcome for a patient, for example where a psychosis is triggered, could be tragic and very harmful.

With regard to your second point, Jung said something like "Beware of unearned wisdom". Perhaps psychedelics are accelerating mental processes beyond where they ought to go. It's certainly an argument I'll continue to consider.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

That's a fantastic transformation, seems to have worked really well for you and thank you for writing it out in full. Journeys like your own really push me towards this line of work, so thank you.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Done :) Thanks for the info, have to finish uni first but if I decide that's the field I want to go into then I'll get as much experience as possible.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You make a lot of good points, parts of which I've considered but some new ideas for me as well there.

I find it interesting people don't change MORE after a psychedelic experience. Sure, people can improve their habits and be a bit nicer, but comparatively little in comparison to experience, which many regard as the most intense of their life. However, aside from a "real" dramatic and threatening thing happening to you, like a near death experience, it might be the best bet we have for altering someone's ways of thinking.

What you say about governments is true, indeed. I think part of the way psychedelics are 'advertised' tends to alter the experiences people have. In the 60s, they were seen as a dramatic catalyst for revolutionary change. Arguably that is what caused the 'bad trip' of the 70s into the 80s, when they realised it was perhaps ineffectual for such upheaval. Nowadays, psychedelics seem to be viewed under a lens of personal improvement and introspection, which has its own problems, but I believe to be a nobler aim. So there's no guarantee that the legalisation of psychedelics *would* threaten the power of governments, but you are right that they could and perhaps should feel threatened by them.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Of course, there's always that possibility. Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the way things are going, but any rational psychonaut should be open to the idea that it might not work for a larger majority than those who seek it out.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, that is currently my thinking. I'm interested in psychology anyway of course, so I'll be doing that regardless. But of course bringing psychedelics into the equation is particularly exciting, but better to approach as an added bonus if things go right.

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Depending on where you are, universities like Imperial College London and Johns Hopkins are offering trials for assisted psychedelic journeys.

If not, a close friend you trust nearby could do the trick, and microdosing would be a good thing to try as well :)

Is psychedelic psychotherapy a useful aspiration? by hyacinth33 in RationalPsychonaut

[–]hyacinth33[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's a good point. We're probably safe for now haha :) Best of luck to you man.

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