[mehphp]

Anecdotally, I didn’t get severe anxiety and panic attacks until immediately after trying mushrooms. I didn’t even have a bad trip, but the next day something was off and I never truly recovered from that.

[throwmeaway222]

Thank you for posting this. While not everyone's experience is the same, after hearing all the hype I was inching closer to trying this... but this confirms that it's not a magic bullet and there are dangers. I don't have any specific mental issues right now, so there's also probably no reason to try it. The only thing I wish for, at 45 yo, is to have a faster to adapt mind like I had when I was younger.

[mehphp]

Yes, it’s a roll of the dice which is unfortunate because it was actually pretty fun and a quite profound experience.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t do it but just to proceed with caution and ideally under professional supervision.

[superfrank]

I've did a bunch of recreational drugs growing up, but mushrooms were the only one that I swore off forever. It just didn't sit well with me and would lead to a ton of anxiety both during and after taking them.

I think it's too easy for people to get caught up in the idea that these are miracle cures and forget that, just like with any drug, the effects will be different for different people. I'd love for it to be available for people who are seeing benefits, but I don't think there's any shame in people saying, "that doesn't work for me"

[kbos87]

Yes, the one time I've tried mushrooms it was a very unpleasant experience. For weeks I was left feeling like I had done some permanent damage to my mental health. I eventually got past that feeling and there might be a point I try them again, but not without professional guidance. Psilocybin is powerful and not a remotely recreational thing (for me at least.)

[LakesAndTrees]

The first time I tried them, it was like I peaked behind the “curtain” in the Wizard of Oz, and knew even in that moment I’d never be able to unsee or forget it. It was the equivalent of being a child and realizing Santa didn’t actually exist.

Life as I had known it, the things that then animated me, were “shown” to be a pantomime - a joke. It was tremendously sad, and - for better or worse - I’ve never been the same since.

Maybe it was a coming of age experience - something I would have more painfully experienced later anyway. But it cost something significant. It changed me. Still, some 25 years later, I don’t know if it was for the better.

[n4r9]

Similar. Was over a decade ago. Not easy, but gradually gets better. Sorry to hear about it, it's not something I'd wish on anyone.

[selectodude]

I have way too much mental illness in my family to ever consider trying psychedelics.

[landl0rd]

Ditto. They contributed to long-term trashing the psyche of a relative and we have a really strong history of such issues, stuff like schizophrenia that they can trigger. It’s an under appreciated risk.

[Joel_Mckay]

In general, even with genetically inherited disorders your chances of developing most conditions drop from 54% to less than 18% in low stress environments.

Epigenetics are weird, but if you are past 35 without symptoms than you should be fine without medication (know several people that weren't as lucky.)

Stay healthy friend =3

[krzat]

Psychodelics allow brain to change, but the change is not guaranteed to be positive.

[Trasmatta]

Exactly. This is why I hate it when psychonauts push the "there are no bad trips" angle. It's a lie, and psychedelics can have a long lasting negative impact on the brain in some cases.

[spiralcoaster]

I had this exact same experience. It felt like it opened the door to panic attacks, and I had a few of them in the years that followed.

[andoando]

And I've gotten far worse effects from weed than shrooms or LCD weirdly enough.

[yieldcrv]

thanks for sharing that