Scientists Now Know Why Psychedelics Conquer Depression Even Without a High

Everyone is raving about hallucinogens as the future of antidepressants.

LSD (better known as acid), psilocybin (the active ingredient in magic mushrooms), and the “spirit molecule” DMT are all being tested in clinical trials as fast-acting antidepressants.

And I mean fast: when carefully administered by a doctor, they can uplift mood in just one session, with the results lasting for months. Meanwhile, traditional antidepressants such as Prozac often take weeks to see any improvement—if they work at all.

But tripping all day is hardly a practical solution. Unlike Prozac, hallucinogens need to be carefully administered in a doctor’s office, under supervision, and in a comfortable setting for best therapeutic results. It’s a tough sale for busy individuals.

Then there’s the elephant in the room: psychedelics are still classified as Schedule I drugs at the federal level, meaning that similar to heroin, their possession and consumption is illegal.

What if we could strip the trip out of psychedelics, but leave their mood-boosting magic?

This week, a new study in Nature Neuroscience suggests it’s possible. Led by Dr. Eero Castrén, a long-time champion of psychedelic research for mental health, the Finnish team dug deep into the molecular machinery that either lifts mood or gives you a trippy head rush.

waking up 

The Damaging Effects of Negativity

You make think that a disease or illness are the reasons for your tired body or prolonged aches, but have you ever thought that thinking negatively could be the reason? Pessimism affects more than just your emotional health. In fact, doctors have found that people with high levels of negativity are more likely to suffer from degenerative brain diseases, cardiovascular problems, digestive issues, and recover from sickness much slower than those with a positive mindset.

What Causes Negativity?

Negativity is often a product of depression or insecurity. It can stem from illness, life events, personality problems, and substance abuse. Like many things in life, negativity too, can become a habit. Frequent criticism, cynical thoughts, and denial can create neural pathways in the brain that encourage sadness. These negative tendencies can cause our brain to distort the truth and make it even more difficult to break the negative cycle. Luckily, most habits can be broken. Experts say that it takes 21 days to break a habit.

What are the Types of Negativity?

Negativity can manifest itself in numerous ways:

1) Cynicism: A general distrust of people and their motives.

2) Hostility: Unfriendliness towards others; unwilling to develop relationships.

3) Filtering: Only noticing the bad in what should be a happy experience or memory.

4) Polarized Thinking: The belief that if something or someone is not perfect, then they must be horrible.

5) Jumping to Conclusions: Assuming something bad will happen because of circumstances in the present.

6) Catastrophizing: The belief that disaster is inevitable.

7) Blaming: Blaming others for personal maladies, and feeling that you are a victim to life’s uncontrollable events.

8) Emotional Reasoning: Using your emotions to define what is real and what is not.

9) Fallacy of Change: The thinking that if people or circumstances change, you can then be happy.

10) Heaven’s Reward Fallacy: Type of negativity that assumes there will always be a reward for hard work and sacrifice. When the reward does not come, you become bitter and depressed.

How Does Negativity Affect the Body?

Negative thoughts and emotions are a natural response to disaster and heartache. But extended bouts of negativity can result in serious health problems. Negativity sends our body into stress, or ‘fight-or-flight’ mode. Our bodies are designed to deal with stressful situations by releasing cortisol into the bloodstream, making you more alert and focused. Though some stress is good for us, too much can be detrimental to your health. Extended periods of negativity slows digestion, and decreases the immune system’s ability to fight inflammation. This is also why negative people are more likely to get more sick than optimists.

Some of the common effects of negativity include:

• Headache
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Upset stomach
• Sleep problems
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Social withdrawal
• Drastic changes in metabolism (i.e. overeating or under-eating)

Prolonged negativity also hurts mental health, making individuals more likely to turn to smoking or substance abuse as a way of coping.

Overcoming Negativity (see link above)