Psilocybin and Magic Mushrooms Effects and Risks

Psilocybin and Magic Mushrooms: Effects and Risks

You can find psilocybin in magic mushrooms, which causes hallucinations. Shrooms grow in areas like South America, the United States, Mexico, and Europe. While many people enjoy the hallucinations, or “trip,” caused by shrooms, there is also the potential for abuse. They can cause sensory distortion and a feeling of euphoria. Even though psilocybin is not addictive, you may have panic, hallucinations, and anxiety when you use it.

About Shrooms

If you have a mental illness or a family history of schizophrenia, you might be more likely to experience a bad reaction to magic mushrooms. It can also cause psychotic moments. The way that psilocybin works is by activating receptors in your brain for serotonin. These receptors are located in the prefrontal cortex, which affects your perception, your mood, and your thinking. 

The way that hallucinogens work is by affecting the parts of your brain that work with your panic and arousal responses. However, psilocybin does not cause auditory or visual hallucinations all of the time. It might distort the way that you perceive people or objects around you.

The number of magic mushrooms, your expectations of how things will go, and your past experiences will all play a role in the effects. Once your system has digested the psilocybin, your body will convert it to psilocyn. 

You will usually notice the effects around half of an hour after eating them. They can last anywhere from four to six hours, depending on your body and how much you took. Some people find that these changes can last for as long as several days, although the effects will likely become less noticeable over time.

Shrooms are usually fairly small, and they are tan or brown. When they are found in the wild, it is easy to mistake them for other types of mushrooms that are poisonous. That is why it is so important to only get shrooms from a reputable grower. They will also arrive dried, which is a better option for longer-term storage.

Consuming Shrooms

Usually, magic mushrooms are made as a tea. They can also be put into food, like chocolate. That way, the bitter, earthy taste can be better masked. Sometimes, you can get capsules, as well. These are made when the manufacturer crushes the shrooms to a powder and puts them in the capsule. You might still want to cover them with chocolate.

Consuming Shrooms
Psilocybin and Magic Mushrooms: Effects and Risks

How Potent Are Shrooms?

How potent your shrooms are will depend on a number of factors. That might include: 

  • Their Species
  • The Growing Conditions
  • Their Origin 
  • When They Were Harvested
  • How Mature They Are
  • If They Are Dried or Fresh

In dried mushrooms, the dried ingredients are about 10 times higher than with fresh shrooms. Many people use shrooms with groups of people. They are especially popular with people who want a spiritual experience.

Shrooms have even been tested in medical settings for treating depression, anxiety, or cluster headaches. However, more research is still needed to see how safe they are for patients.

Effects of Shrooms

Magic mushrooms may have an impact on your mental health and distort your view of reality. The effects are fairly similar to LSD’s effects. That include strong changes in your feeling and mood, as well as a different sense of space and time.

You might feel peaceful or euphoric. Many people claim that they experience a spiritual awakening. Since your emotions can change quickly, you may experience many of these feelings. It might feel like your environment is not real, and you may feel disengaged from it. 

You may notice vivid colours or light halos around objects. Your pupils will likely dilate, while you may feel drowsy or dizzy. Many users yawn a lot. Your concentration will likely be impaired, and your muscles might feel weak. Many people stay on their couch during a trip. You may not be as coordinated as usual. 

Some people feel nauseated, so it is a good idea to avoid eating very much besides what you use to take your shrooms. You may feel confused or have paranoia. Some people have reported seeing frightening hallucinations. Of course, all of these effects might vary for you. Your mental state, environment, and your personality will all play a role.

If you are using them recreationally and have mental health issues or feel nervous, then you might be more likely to have a bad experience. One of the more common side effects of recreational use of shrooms is psychological distress. That might include psychosis or extreme anxiety. This is why so many users enjoy having a calming environment before their experience.

Potential Use of Shrooms for Depression

Potential Use of Shrooms for Depression

There are ongoing studies into whether shrooms may be a potential treatment for depression. At least two studies have been completed so far. The first study looked at how psilocybin may reduce the symptoms of depression and avoid dulling your other emotions. Another study looked at hallucinations from psilocybin and potential therapeutic results. Even though this research is ongoing, many still believe that shrooms are not safe to use.

Potential Risks of Shrooms

If you do not take shrooms in a controlled setting, you might be more likely to have risky behaviour, including driving while on your trip. That is why it is a good idea to have a sober, experienced friend with you. They can stop you from doing reckless things that seem like good ideas to you. They will also be able to guide you through the trip and help calm any anxiety.

For some users, the effects of shrooms can be long-lasting. They may have distressing, persistent changes to the way that they look at the world. These might be visual effects, like hallucinations, and they can last many weeks or even years after taking a shroom.

This is a condition that is known as HPPD, or hallucinogen persisting perception disorder. It is also called a flashback. That is a traumatic memory of a very upsetting experience. The recollection would be of a bad trip, which means that the hallucinations were disturbing to the user.

Other users may experience psychosis, fear, confusion, delirium, agitation, or schizophrenia. That may even require them to go to the emergency room. This condition can usually be treated with medication, like benzodiazepines. Once the drug begins to wear off, around six to eight hours, the user will begin to feel better.

There is a very small risk that a person will accidentally eat a poisonous mushroom instead. The symptoms can include confusion, delirium, and muscle spasms. It is important to visit an emergency room if this happens. The good news is that getting shrooms from a reputable distributor can reduce the risk.

If you find any mushrooms growing in your area, you should remove them, so pets and children do not accidentally ingest them. Both poisonous and hallucinogenic shrooms are common in many areas. Luckily, many mushrooms are more likely to induce nausea or vomiting, and only very severe cases will require medical attention.

Potential for Abuse

You are not likely to get addicted to shrooms. The active ingredient isn’t chemically addictive. You will not experience physical symptoms when you stop using them. But if you use them a lot, you may become more tolerant to their effects. And if you use drugs such as LSD, you will need to wait a few days before you can feel the effects of shrooms.

If you have used psilocybin for several days in a row, you may have psychological symptoms and find it hard to adjust to reality again.

What Is a Bad Trip

What Is a Bad Trip?

If you have a bad trip, you may experience confusion, panic, despair, anxiety, or paranoia. That might last from anywhere from a few hours to several days. To avoid this issue, you should try to take a very small dose at first. If the shrooms have a stronger dose than you expect, you may be more likely to have a poor experience.

If you already have personal issues in your life, then it is not a good idea to use shrooms in an unsupportive, unsafe environment. That might make a bad trip more likely.

Getting Started with Shrooms

Now you know the potential risks of shrooms and how they may affect you. So, how do you safely try them for the first time? First, remember that only adults should use shrooms. You should be in good mental and physical health. That means if you suffer from depression, you may want to wait before taking shrooms. You should also not have a cold or the flu. 

Find a trusted friend who can be with you when you have your first experience. It is good for this friend to have taken shrooms before. That way, they can guide you through the process and help you have a better trip.

Drinks and Food

There should also be lots of drinking water available. It is a good idea to be able to access drinks that contain sugar. That way, if you find the effects are too strong for you, you can drink something sugary to reduce them. 

When you take shrooms, your body believes they are toxins. It needs water to get them out of your system. If you do not stay hydrated, your body will just take water from other vital organs, and you will become dehydrated, which is dangerous.

It’s best to take shrooms on a fairly empty stomach, which will help you have a better experience. Wait at least two and a half hours after a meal before taking them. The effects will likely begin about 20 minutes to an hour after you take them. Some people metabolize them faster than others.

Even if you are experienced, you never want to take more than about 1.5 grams of shrooms. And if this is your first time, you should stick with a much smaller dose. Don’t get impatient and take more if you do not feel the effects. 

Drinks and Food

Having Good Surroundings

You should trust and like the people around you. Make sure you are taking them because you want to, not because other people have convinced you. If you are in a group, make sure that there is at least one person who will not take shrooms. That way, this person can take care of anyone who is struggling. 

It is a good idea to avoid having strangers in the environment. You can be either inside or out in nature if the weather is nice. A crazy party is not the time to use shrooms.

The next 24 hours after your experience should not have any obligations. That way, you will be more relaxed during your experience. You should take your time when you are using shrooms. For example, if you know that you have a job interview or have to travel, you will be more stressed and less focused on the trip.

It is a good idea to avoid using your phone. You are not likely to react rationally if you receive any kind of news. You also want to avoid sending any messages that you might regret later. You might even turn off the doorbell, so you will not be disturbed.

Other Drugs

It is important for you to avoid using shrooms with any other type of drug. That includes cannabis and alcohol. You may have extremely negative effects if you do this. For example, shrooms and alcohol have contrasting effects. Alcohol slows down your reactions, while shrooms cause your mind to jump to various topics. In the end, shrooms and alcohol together can cause your thoughts to go in loops and cause a poor trip.

Closing Thoughts 

Like many fun experiences, like cannabis and alcohol, magic mushrooms are not without their risks. But with the right safety precautions, you will be well on your way toward having an unforgettable trip. Make sure you have a safe environment and have gotten the shrooms from a reputable supplier. And never mix them with other drugs.

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