Embarking on a psilocybin journey can be a profound and transformative experience. Understanding what you may experience can help you navigate the realms of altered states of consciousness with mindfulness and openness. The information in this guide is based on current scientific studies and clinical trials on Psilocybin. Here are some common aspects and effects of a psilocybin experience:
There are some contraindicated health issue and medications when it comes to ingesting psilocybin. While it is relatively safe to use with a lot medications, the use of psychiatric medications can interact with psilocybin making its effects more potent or rendering it ineffective. Please make an informed decision by talking to your doctor and doing your research before ingesting any psychedelic medicines. You can find links with more information at the end of the blog.
1. Onset and Duration:
- Psilocybin effects typically begin within 30 to 90 minutes after ingestion. Duration of time from your last meal and mode of ingestion affect this
- Making mushroom tea or lemon tek-ing will cause the effects of psilocybin to be much stronger and come on much quicker but they can also reduce nausea and stomach upset
- The peak of the experience usually builds after onset and can last 2 to 3 hours. The entire experience generally lasts 5 to 7 hours depending on dosage and strain
2. Altered Perception:
- Enhanced sensory perception: Colors may appear more vibrant, sounds more pronounced and textures more intricate
- The perception of time may become distorted, with minutes feeling like hours or vice versa
3. Emotional Intensity:
- Deeply felt positive mood
- Emotions may intensify, ranging from euphoria and joy to introspection and sometimes emotionally challenging content due to past memories resurfacing
- Derealization and depersonalization can occur
- Some people experience emotional release and catharsis, leading to a sense of emotional purification
4. Visual and Cognitive Effects:
- Mild to moderate visual distortions and/or hallucinations, such as patterns, geometric shapes, dream-like quality or morphing objects are a common effect of psilocybin
- Visionary restructuralization
- Increased creativity and new thought patterns may emerge, contributing to a sense of expanded consciousness
5. Ego Dissolution:
- Some people may experience a dissolution of ego boundaries, leading to a sense of interconnectedness with the universe
- Profound spiritual, mystical or transcendental experiences can occur, fostering a deep sense of unity and oneness
- A sense of sacredness, transcendence of space and time, a sense of deep truth or ultimate meaning
6. Insights and Reflection:
- Many individuals report gaining profound insights into personal challenges, relationships, past traumas and life in general
- Mood regulation, primary process thinking can be affected, changes in personal relevance attribution
- Reduced activity in cortical areas related to self and social processing
- The experience often prompts introspective thinking, allowing people to view their lives from a new perspective
7. Potential Challenges:
- Some may experience periods of anxiety or discomfort. Having a trusted facilitator who creates a safe and supportive environment can help navigate these challenges
- Other adverse behavioral effects: panic, paranoia, agitation, fear that the experience will never end, fear of losing one’s mind, erratic behavior, dysphoria ( state of unease or general dissatisfaction ), acute psychotic reactions
- The experience can bring up challenging thoughts or memories. Integrating these experiences post-session is crucial for growth
8. Physical Effects:
- Psilocybin is not known to have a big impact on vital signs but it can cause increased heart rate and mild increases in blood pressure
- Other adverse effects that can occur are: blurred vision, drowsiness, tremor, weakness, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, increased tendon reflexes, paresthesia ( tingling or prickling sensation ) mydriasis ( dilated pupils ) acute or delayed headaches
9. Ceremony After-Effects:
- Increase in self-efficacy in relation to certain substance use disorders such as tobacco and alcohol
- Decrease in substance cravings
- Changes in relationship to past memories
- Increase in prosocial behaviors and attitudes
- Increase in openness
- Sustained positive changes to mood due to new neural pathways created by psilocybin resulting in improved global neurological activity particularly in the default mode network and from a decrease in amygdala reactivity
- Increased neuroplasticity or activation of ‘critical periods’ which are times when the brain can easily learn new skills. This promotes receptivity to implementing new thought patterns and beliefs for 2 weeks after ceremony
Conclusion:
Approaching a psilocybin experience with respect and an open mind can contribute to a meaningful and transformative journey. Always prioritize safety, set and setting and responsible use. Please dedicate time to prepare for your ceremony and do integration after. Integration work is the most important part of the ceremony. You can check out the blog I wrote for more information and an integration guide. Remember that individual experiences vary and having a trusted guide or facilitator can enhance the safety and richness of the experience. You can find more information on how to have the safest journey here: https://tripsit.me/#hero here: https://www.erowid.org/ or here: https://dancesafe.org/magic-mushrooms/
