Being diagnosed with cancer is life-changing. For many, it’s awful news that suddenly blankets someone with anxiety. Online information about cancer and anecdotal reports can also add to their distress.
So people, including you, are looking for solutions, and a path now being discovered is through psychedelic means.
Anxiety and depression are challenging barriers to overcome alone. Still, through gradual medical discoveries, it’s a problem that’s not impossible to solve. By understanding the benefits of psychedelic substances like psilocybin, the fight against cancer is on.
Aggressive and rare cancers can suddenly show up without any symptoms and any prior warnings, like mesothelioma. It’s a disease that starts without visible symptoms. But it starts with exposure to asbestos fiber.
Stories of that kind fill the internet. Fathers suddenly getting the disease without them knowing can slowly fall into anxiety and depression because of fear and pain. Questions on how to help your loved ones in this condition force you to find solutions, and now you’ve come across the potential help from psilocybin. But what is psilocybin? Can this substance help cancer patients dealing with anxiety and depression?
This article will provide information about psilocybin, what it is and how it can help people dealing with anxiety and depression caused by severe cancers like mesothelioma. Furthermore, this write-up will also discuss the beneficial use of psychedelic substances in cancer management.
People diagnosed with aggressive cancers like mesothelioma may feel anxious and depressed, seriously affecting their quality of life.
Mesothelioma is a disease linked to asbestos exposure. It typically hits the lungs but can also affect other areas of the body. Suppose you want to learn more about this disease. In that case, there are communities like The Mesothelioma Group that you can get in touch with to get more helpful information.
How Psilocybin Helps People With Cancer?
Cancer is a severe illness that doesn’t only affect the body but also the mind. Rare and aggressive types of cancers like mesothelioma has a toll on people’s physical, emotional, and mental health.
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. It attacks the smooth linings of internal organs, especially the lungs. The prognosis for this disease is poor, and ways to fight the spread of cancer cells are limited.
The usual interventions for this type of cancer involve surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, which do not guarantee a cure. The pain and fear linked to these treatments can lead to patients developing anxiety and depression that affects their quality of life.
It is here where psilocybin comes into the picture. Psilocybin is a hallucinogen that might reduce the feeling of distress from the problems caused by cancer. Many researchers have studied how hallucinogens affect the mind and agree that substances like psilocybin may help maintain positive mental health.
A study on the effects of high-dose psilocybin lowered depressed feelings and anxiety among participants. Also, after six months, 80% of the participants showed that the decreased depression and anxiety continued, which helped improve their mood, self, relationship, and outlook.
A growing body of studies reveals the benefits of psilocybin and its uses for anxiety therapy. Researchers have shown that psychedelic-assisted therapies may help people control psychiatric disorders. They say that treating these substances may have enormous potential in psychiatric medicine.
Psilocybin and the Magic Mushroom
Psilocybin is one of the substances found in magic mushrooms. This hallucinogenic substance can have a psychedelic effect linked to ingesting these “shrooms.” The use of magic mushrooms goes way back to prehistoric times.
Archeologists date the first known instance of magic mushroom use in 10,000 BCE in Northern Australia. Historically, people used psychedelic mushrooms for many religious and spiritual purposes. Additionally, some use these mushrooms for managing pain, divination, healing, and celebrations.
There are different ways to use psilocybin and magic mushrooms:
- You can eat it fresh or cooked
- You can make it into tea
- You can smoke it like tobacco
Here are the known effects of psilocybin and ingesting magic mushrooms. You need to understand that the effects of this substance depend on the following factors:
- Your size, weight, and health
- How used you are in taking the substance
- Other drugs you’ve taken at the same time
- How many mushrooms you took
- The type of mushroom you had
The body has different reactions to the use of psilocybin. Here are the effects of using this psychedelic substance:
- Taking the mushroom may cause euphoria and a sense of well-being.
- Taking the substance may cause changes in consciousness, thought, mood, and perception. This type of effect is often called the “trip.”
- Pupil dilation
- Hallucinations and perception changes
- Visual and auditory distortions.
- Nausea, stomach discomfort, and vomiting
- headaches
- Irregular heartbeat
- Increased breathing
- Flushes, sweating, and chills
Pros and Cons
You can quickly see the benefits of using psilocybin to relieve stress, anxiety, and depression. The psychedelic substance can easily change and uplift your mood and spirit. But, these products have their fair share of disadvantages and side effects which can’t be denied.
Here are the benefits of using these substances:
- Psilocybin shows positive effects in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in cancer patients.
- It can help improve the quality of life and overall well-being of people with mesothelioma.
- It may help patients better cope with the stress and fear associated with a terminal illness.
Here are the disadvantages of using this substance:
- Psilocybin is a controlled substance. It may be difficult to obtain for medical use.
- The long-term effects of psilocybin use are not well-studied, and there may be potential risks and side effects.
- The psychoactive effects of psilocybin can be unpredictable and may not be suitable for everyone.
Another side-effect of using psilocybin is the “bad trip.” these are a collection of adverse experiences a person feels after using a psychedelic substance. A list of “bad trip” symptoms are the following:
- Unpleasant or intense hallucinations
- Feeling of anxiety
- Paranoia
- Panic or fear.
There are ways to overcome these “bad trip” symptoms, and it’s best always to consult doctors for guidance.
You can find a lot of benefits in using psychedelics like psilocybin online and in many research journals. But, it’s still recommended always to consult doctors and only with doctors licensed and trained to provide these substances.
Legality and Use of Psilocybin in the United States
Psilocybin and its source, magic mushrooms, are considered Schedule I substances. If you live in the United States, you can’t buy a schedule I substance over the counter. Psilocybin is categorized like that because the substance is highly addictive and is prone to abuse and misuse.
You take psilocybin through the mouth. You either eat the mushroom fresh or do something else, like brewing it to make tea. But, people who misuse this substance add it to foods like chocolate or candy to hide it from the authorities. Any misuse of addictive products is dangerous to health.
Like other party drugs, psilocybin or shrooms are popular in events like clubs, raves, and lately, and in increasing numbers, on college campuses. Teenagers and young adults are prone to these kinds of substance abuse, which is a real problem.
According to the University of Michigan survey, in 2021, 8% of young adults have used hallucinogens. Many young individuals are caught up in using hallucinogens the wrong way. The continued reports of substance abuse are the reason for the reluctance of many legislators to legalize psychedelic medication in their respective states.
Penalties for Psilocybin Use in the United States
You can’t use psilocybin freely in the U.S. because it’s categorized as a Schedule I substance. The law can punish you if you have this substance or sell it to others.
Possession of psilocybin is punishable by a misdemeanor charge, which may lead to one-year imprisonment and a fine.
On the other hand, the unauthorized selling of psilocybin is a felony, which may result in imprisonment in a state or federal prison.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved an investigation into the drug to learn its benefits in treating eating disorders and psychotherapy. However, it’s still not allowed in most of the United States.
Can Your Doctors Prescribe Psilocybin Use?
As of this writing, only two states have legalized psilocybin, Oregon and Colorado. The legalization allows the use of this substance in state-run medical centers. It will give people more access to psychedelic therapies. Also, the legalization allows.
Today you can only access psychedelics like psilocybin through strict medical conditions and doctor supervision. You can’t use it at home, have it in your possession or cultivate it for personal use. The legalization will allow more people to have personal use of this substance, but still under strict medical supervision.
Many are still reluctant to legalize psilocybin use because of its highly addictive nature. Research about psilocybin also lacks concrete evidence proving its medicinal effectiveness. Yet, this can all change, as many researchers are now keen to understand the secrets locked inside psychedelic substances.
Hallucinogens were seen before as mere party drugs that only pollute the minds of people using them without care. Now, it is not the case. With proper medical supervision and knowledge, a psychedelic substance like psilocybin can help free people from the grip of anxiety and despair.
People whose lives were taken over by disease can now have hope for relief, a clear mind, and the right outlook to start again and fight.
References
- A.G. File No. 2019-027
https://lao.ca.gov/BallotAnalysis/Initiative/2019-027 - Marijuana, hallucinogen use at all-time high among young adults
https://news.umich.edu/marijuana-hallucinogen-use-at-all-time-high-among-young-adults/ - Psilocybin Fast Facts
https://www.justice.gov/archive/ndic/pubs6/6038/index.htm
- The Therapeutic Potential of Psilocybin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8156539/
- Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5367557/
