Mental health disorders affect people from every walk of life, socioeconomic group, and generation. More than 21 million people in the United States have experienced at least one major depressive episode. Post-traumatic stress disorder hits up to 12 million people each year. The condition impacts approximately six percent of Americans in their lifetime.
In any given year, 20 percent of Americans experience a mental health illness. With five percent facing a severe mental health episode. This is a serious issue, and many therapies and medications are available to help people struggling with mental health disorders. One therapy to explore is psilocybin therapy.
This guide provides essential information about psychedelic-assisted therapies and their benefits.
What Is Psilocybin?
Psilocybin is a mushroom that grows naturally and looks similar to a type of mushroom that’s deadly. It’s sometimes referred to as a magic mushroom for its psychedelic effects. This mushroom can be used to experience a trip. Some people use them as illegal drugs.
However, there is a growing sector within the mental health community that uses psilocybin for therapy purposes. Pages of psilocybin for therapeutic purposes are done in a medically supervised environment with specific doses for psychedelic studies.
As a hallucinogenic, psilocybin provides specific effects, including:
- Feelings of wellbeing
- Sweats and chills
- Euphoric feelings
- Vomiting
- Changes in perception, mood, and consciousness
- Increased respiration and fast breathing
- Dilated pupils
- An increase in body temperature
- Auditory and visual hallucinations
- Headaches
- Stomach issues
- Increased and irregular heartbeat
Most people who use magic mushrooms outside of a therapy session use them for the feeling of being on a “trip.” This includes hallucinations and changes in perception.
However, it’s becoming more mainstream to use psychedelic medicine to treat various mental health disorders. A licensed therapist might offer this therapy to a patient they feel could benefit from the treatment.
Is Psilocybin Dangerous?
When a patient participates in psilocybin therapy with a professional, any dangers from using the psychedelic drug are minimized. However, psilocybin is a drug and a mushroom, so there may be side effects or an allergic reaction.
Sometimes, when are people using magic mushrooms for recreational purposes have overdosed or experienced unpleasant side effects. Using psilocybin therapy isn’t for everyone. For example, the drug causes increased and irregular heartbeat, so someone with a heart condition would want to avoid it.
Some people who use magic mushroom experience a “bad trip.” The hallucination and altered perceptions from the psilocybin mushrooms will give the user feelings and images of things that frighten them or make them anxious. A bad trip can create paranoia, anxiety, and panic.
When someone comes down from psilocybin, the person might experience exhaustion or even a sense of depression. Sometimes, the person might have a headache lasting between 12 and 24 hours.
A therapist, who offers psilocybin therapy, understands the dangers involved in using this drug, and they determine that their patient can safely use it while under the therapist’s care. Before starting this treatment session, the patient should discuss any fears or hesitations with their therapist about the psychedelic treatment.
What Mental Health Disorders Can Psilocybin Treat?
The use of psilocybin to treat mental health disorders is still a relatively new option. The treatment might expand as the use of psilocybin therapy shows positive results and gains new patients.
Currently, psychedelic therapy is most often used to treat:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
- Major depressive disorder and treatment-resistant depression
- Bipolar disorder
- And other mental health disorders
If a person struggling with a mental health disorder wants to try a psilocybin session, they will start by finding a treatment center or therapist who offers this treatment. The patient and therapist will discuss the patient’s unique situation, their mental health disorder, and the goal of any treatment before determining if psilocybin therapy is a good fit.
While a patient’s mental health disorder might not be on the list of conditions, it’s a good idea to discuss the possibility with their therapist if they feel that the therapy might be a good fit. The therapist will only use psilocybin therapy if they believe it will benefit the patient and help their recovery or management of their mental health disorder.
Benefits of Psilocybin Treatment Near Los Angeles
When a patient starts psilocybin treatment in Los Angeles, they want to know that there will be real benefits for them and that it’ll help improve the symptoms of their mental health condition. A therapist wouldn’t recommend this treatment without seeing its potential benefits through psychedelic research.
Over the years, research has shown that psilocybin can help ease the symptoms of a major depressive episode. It’s also shown to help lessen anxiety for patients who struggle with anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Sometimes, a therapist might recommend psychedelic assisted therapy to a terminally ill patient displaying severe anxiety and fear. This treatment has been shown to lessen these patients’ anxiety.
Psilocybin treatment is usually given in two doses, and the result once the patient comes down off the drug is a feeling of calm, peace, and happiness. This lessening of symptoms of their mental health disorder is the goal and benefit of the treatment.
Psilocybin Clinical Trials in 2023
In 2023, states like California are on their way to legalizing natural psychedelics. Major institutions, like the University of Calfornia, Berkley, are actively looking for participants for their clinical trials. By the end of 2023, these clinical trials will be well-underway and may see the legalization of utilizing psilocybin during mental health treatment within the next couple of years.
Start Mental Health Treatment at Acera Health
When a person struggles with a mental health disorder, they need to choose the treatment option with the highest chance of success for their unique situation. Psilocybin therapy has a proven track record of helping patients who struggle with a variety of mental health disorders.
At Acera Health, we can help patients who want to utilize psilocybin therapy in Los Angeles. Our team can connect patients with treatment centers that uniquely specialize in psilocybin therapy.
Contact us today to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
