John Miller
Magic mushrooms, also known as shrooms, are hallucinogenic mushrooms that can be consumed fresh or dried. They are psychedelic drugs that affect the senses and alter a person's thinking, sense of time, and emotions, and perception. The active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, can lead to hallucinations, both visual and auditory, and intense mood swings. The effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person, with some experiencing feelings of euphoria, connectedness, and awe, while others may feel anxiety, paranoia, or nervousness. The unpredictability of magic mushrooms makes them a substance that should be approached with caution, as they can pose significant mental health risks, especially at high doses or in unsafe settings. While some people may view magic mushrooms as a recreational substance, they are also being studied for their potential therapeutic benefits in treating mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and addiction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Effects | Hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, nervousness, distorted sense of time, place, and reality, euphoria, sensory distortion, flashbacks, nausea, excessive yawning, drowsiness, relaxation, stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, feelings of euphoria, auditory hallucinations, visual hallucinations, seeing geometric shapes, seeing colours profoundly, sensing things that aren't there, hearing colours, seeing music |
| Risks | Poisoning from poisonous mushrooms, accidental ingestion by children, muscle spasms, confusion, delirium, psychosis, flashbacks, "bad trip" |
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What You'll Learn
- Hallucinations: People may see things that aren't there or are distorted
- Visual perception: Colours may be seen in a profound manner, or images may form geometric shapes
- Synesthesia: Some people may hear colours or see music
- Flashbacks: Some people may relive a previous mushroom trip days, months, or years later
- Therapeutic effects: Magic mushrooms are being studied for their potential to treat mental health issues like depression and anxiety
Hallucinations: People may see things that aren't there or are distorted
Hallucinogenic mushrooms can cause people to see things that aren't there or are distorted. These hallucinations can be either visual or auditory. For example, people may see geometric shapes, colours, or sense things they know aren't there. They may also hear colours or see music.
The effects of magic mushrooms usually begin within 30 to 45 minutes when eaten, or within 5 to 10 minutes when taken as a soup or tea, and can last approximately four to six hours. The length and intensity of each mushroom trip can vary depending on the strength of the mushrooms, the dosage, and individual factors such as mood, personality, and expectations.
It's important to note that the effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person, and some people may have a negative experience known as a "bad trip". This can include disturbing hallucinations, anxiety, paranoia, nervousness, and panic. In some cases, too large a dose can lead to the development of a long-term mental health condition known as psychosis.
Additionally, it's worth mentioning that magic mushrooms can be risky as they may be mistaken for poisonous mushrooms, which can cause serious illness or even death. Therefore, it is advised to refrain from consuming mushrooms unless one is certain of their identity.
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Visual perception: Colours may be seen in a profound manner, or images may form geometric shapes
The active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, is a psychedelic that affects the senses and can cause hallucinations. The effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person and can be influenced by factors such as mood, personality, expectations, and dosage.
Visual perception changes are among the most commonly reported effects of consuming magic mushrooms. These changes can include distortions in depth perception, where the foreground and background of the scenery appear swapped, or objects appear flat and two-dimensional. This effect is particularly noticeable with textured surfaces such as rugs, grass, tree bark, and gravel, where the texture repeats in a symmetrical and consistent manner, often leading to the perception of abstract shapes, forms, and images.
Colours may be perceived in a profound manner, with objects appearing to cycle through colours in a fluid, wave-like motion. This phenomenon, known as colour shifting, can vary in intensity and speed, with some objects changing colours slowly and others more rapidly. The drifting effect can be more effectively perceived when staring at objects and can be "reset" by looking away and then back again.
Consuming magic mushrooms can also result in images forming geometric shapes. These geometric hallucinations have been observed not only with mushroom consumption but also with other hallucinogens such as LSD, cannabis, and mescaline. Klüver organised these images into four groups, known as form constants: tunnels and funnels, spirals, lattices (including honeycombs and triangles), and cobwebs. These images are typically seen in both eyes and move with them, suggesting that they are generated in the brain.
The visual effects of magic mushrooms can be fascinating and even aesthetically pleasing to some, but it is important to remember that they can also be dangerous. Mushrooms can affect a person's sense of reality and judgement, leading to accidents, particularly when driving. Additionally, consuming large doses or strong batches of mushrooms can result in negative experiences, commonly referred to as ""bad trips," which can include feelings of anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness.
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Synesthesia: Some people may hear colours or see music
Psilocybin, the active ingredient in magic mushrooms, is known to trigger hallucinations and perceptual changes. Some people who take magic mushrooms may experience synesthesia, a sensory effect where one sense stimulus is paired with another in the brain. For example, a person with synesthesia may see colours when they hear music or see shapes when they touch a particular texture.
Magic mushrooms can cause a person to see or hear things that are not there or are distorted. The psychedelic effects of psilocybin can create a hyperconnected brain, where brain regions that do not normally communicate are tightly synchronized. This disruption of normal communication networks in the brain may result in synesthetic experiences.
Research suggests that serotonin agonists, which include psilocybin, can elicit transient experiences of synesthesia. These experiences are typically short-lived and may involve seeing colours or shapes, hearing sounds or music, or even feeling textures that are not present in the physical environment.
While the induction of synesthesia with chemical agents has been reported in research, it is important to note that the understanding of this phenomenon is still evolving. The effects of magic mushrooms can vary from person to person, and while some may experience synesthesia, others may have intensely spiritual experiences or altered personalities after taking the drug.
It is worth mentioning that the use of magic mushrooms can be risky due to their similarity in appearance to poisonous mushrooms. Additionally, combining magic mushrooms with certain psychiatric medications is not recommended as it may lead to a relapse or worsening of the condition.
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Flashbacks: Some people may relive a previous mushroom trip days, months, or years later
Magic mushrooms are psychedelic drugs that contain psilocybin, which is converted into the psychoactive chemical psilocin in the body. They can cause perceptual changes, such as visual and auditory hallucinations, and distort one's sense of time, place, and reality. The effects of magic mushrooms can vary depending on the user's mood, personality, and expectations, as well as the dosage and potency of the mushrooms.
Some people who consume magic mushrooms may experience flashbacks, where they relive parts of a previous mushroom trip even when they are no longer under the influence of the drug. These flashbacks can occur days, months, or even years after the initial mushroom trip. They can be triggered by various factors, such as tiredness, anxiety, or stress, and can be intense and disturbing.
The phenomenon of flashbacks is known as Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD) and is characterised by intense and frequent visual hallucinations. While not everyone finds flashbacks troubling, they can be intense, unpleasant, and frequent for some individuals. Flashbacks are commonly associated with hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD ("acid") and magic mushrooms, and they can occur even when the person is abstaining from drug use.
Research on flashback phenomena has been conducted through controlled studies with healthy participants. In one study, subjects who received LSD, psilocybin, or a combination of both were analysed for reoccurring drug effects. Some participants reported reoccurring perception changes, predominantly of a visual nature, that lasted for seconds to minutes and occurred within a week after the last drug administration. In rare cases, flashbacks can persist for months or even years after the initial drug experience.
It is important to note that the only certain cause of HPPD is previous hallucinogen use, and it is crucial to seek professional help if flashbacks become intense, frequent, or distressing. Mental health professionals can provide support and treatment to manage flashbacks and any associated anxiety or impairment in various areas of life.
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Therapeutic effects: Magic mushrooms are being studied for their potential to treat mental health issues like depression and anxiety
Magic mushrooms, or psilocybin, are being studied for their therapeutic effects on mental health issues like depression and anxiety. While there is no cure for depression, some research suggests that magic mushrooms may be a promising treatment option for medication-resistant depression and anxiety.
Psilocybin is a Schedule 1 drug due to its hallucinogenic properties and potential for abuse. However, it has been used for generations by indigenous cultures in spiritual rituals and, more recently, as a potential treatment for substance use disorders and mental illness. The key active ingredient in magic mushrooms, psilocybin, is converted by the body into psilocin, which is the chemical responsible for its psychoactive properties.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins University found that psilocybin treatment produced large decreases in depression severity, with improvements lasting up to one year for most patients. The researchers measured depressive symptoms using the GRID-Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and found significant reductions in scores over time. These results suggest that psilocybin may offer a unique approach to treating depression, with enduring relief from symptoms after just one or two treatments.
Another meta-analysis from the University of Georgia found that psilocybin, when given as a therapeutic single dose, had similar side effects to traditional antidepressants, including headache, nausea, anxiety, dizziness, and elevated blood pressure. These side effects were generally well-tolerated and faded within 24 to 48 hours. However, it is important to note that magic mushrooms can have varying effects on individuals, and a ""bad trip"" may occur, leading to negative experiences such as anxiety, paranoia, and nervousness.
While the research on psilocybin for mental health treatment is promising, experts urge caution. More research is needed to understand the potential long-term side effects and rare serious side effects. Additionally, it is crucial to seek professional supervision when using psilocybin due to its potential dangers.
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Frequently asked questions
People who take magic mushrooms may experience hallucinations, which can be disturbing. They may see fractals, sense things that aren't there, or see colours in a profound way.
Magic mushrooms are psychedelic drugs that contain the hallucinogenic substance psilocybin. They may be either fresh or dried.
The risks of taking magic mushrooms include accidental poisoning, as some mushrooms are extremely poisonous and can cause illness or death. Regular use may also cause people to become tolerant to the effects of psilocybin. There is also the risk of a bad trip, which can lead to a long-term mental health condition such as psychosis.
