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I have struggled a lot with my mental health and do every single day. I forget that not everyone is not constantly having to strain themselves and push so hard just to get through the day. I think that there is most definitely something I can benefit from in helping change people's views about the use of psilocybin therapy. I personally have taken ‘magic mushrooms’ and when I did I was planning on trying to explore my mind more. Most people my age do so for partying and have a good time but I really wanted to try and get to know myself better. I had prior knowledge about the therapeutic use of psilocybin, however I am not a professional in the slightest so I knew that there was some risk involved. Luckily my experience was really good. During it I was drawing and just thinking, and by the end I had come to terms with what I looked like. I know it sounds silly but I have always struggled with how I look and suffered with really bad body dysmorphia. Afterwards I felt so much better about myself and that feeling has not gone away. I still cannot say that I am 100% better, but compared to pre psilocybin I would give myself a good 40% which is better than nothing. Also being able to come to that not under any sort of psychiatric care is wild! I just think that it can be a great help to people with mental illness everywhere. (254)

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https://docs.google.com/document/d/1I83mNkUgbRbY6DyEwxqToL1xNiSlEB_Qcyzi1-A6-kE/edit?usp=sharing

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Mini Annotated Bibliography - Kiera O'Connell

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Interview with Dr. Marisha Chilcott

How do you perceive the current cultural and societal attitudes in America towards psychedelic mushrooms?

I think that there is an increasing awareness of the potential for psilocybin to be a useful therapeutic.  Because of the attention being brought to the research examining its uses there is also a common misperception of its legality.  Although psilocybin has been "decriminalized" in several municipalities and even the State of Colorado, it remains on the federal controlled substances list and is therefore an illegal substance in the eyes of the law of the country.

Can you elaborate on the potential influence of media representation and public discourse on shaping American attitudes towards psychedelic mushrooms?

In my opinion, the media representation of the often somewhat sensationalized research results is leading to a focus on the substance rather than on the reality that far more important that the intoxicating effects, is the transformative ability of psilocybin to make therapy more effective.

In your opinion, how might the prevailing attitudes towards psychedelic mushrooms impact mental health discourse and treatment options in the United States?

While attitudes are adjusting, in my opinion, it is extremely unlikely that psilocybin will become legalized as a medication in the near future.  Because mushrooms are a natural substance, there is not the opportunity for big pharma to make the kind of money needed to recoup the costs of doing the clinical trial work to get FDA approval.  That said, I am very hopeful that the interest in psychedelic mushrooms may help us shift treatment options from merely reducing symptoms to actually addressing the root cause of mental health challenges.  In order for people to be mentally healthier, they have to heal their wounds and shift their thinking.  They have to change their minds!

From a psychological perspective, how might personal experiences with psychedelic mushrooms contribute to shaping one's attitudes and beliefs about their societal implications?

I think that a personal experience that is positive might make one have a good attitude about changing the laws regarding legalizing the use of psychedelics as medications.

Are there any legal or regulatory implications associated with the changing attitudes towards psychedelic mushrooms, and how might this influence policy making?

The reality is that psychedelic mushrooms are illegal to possess, sell, or use.  Even though attitudes toward them are adjusting and they are not necessarily being regarded by the public as "bad drugs", until policies are developed that can take into consideration controlled use of them as medications, their status as illegal means that legitimate medical professionals cannot recommend them or supervise the use of psychedelic mushrooms without risking sanctions or loss of their  medical license.

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This is a drawing that I drew while having an experience with psychedelic mushrooms. This is a self portrait which I know looks nothing like me but it was how I felt. But when I was finished with it all I could do was cry because of how beautiful I thought that she looked. It really put into percpective for me that beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. I wanted to include this for the positive psychological impact that psilocybin.

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When originally going into the research project I was planning on seeing a lot of negative attitudes towards psychedelic mushrooms, but it was quite the contrary. Prior to the war on drugs there was a lot of research being done for the uses of psychedelics and how that can correspond with healing mental health issues. When psychedelics became sensationalized during the 1960 in the United States this created a huge swing in Americans attitudes towards psychedelics. The uptick of use of mushrooms at festivals and the widespread government propaganda during that time created a hostile viewpoint towards psychedelics and their usefulness. All people were seeing was the ‘dangers’ of psychedelic mushrooms, and usually that tended to be the misuse of mushrooms. This created a huge pause for research of psychedelics for a couple decades. Researchers were not allowed to go further with their research because it was federally illegal, however some did with their own funding and not through an institution. Fast forward to the present day, with the legalization of weed in many states created an opportunity for psychedelics to be decriminalized as well. Now that is huge amounts of money being poured into furthering research into psychedelics and their uses for psychiatry. With all the new research and new generations growing up the overall American attitude is shifting drastically. Many Americans with mental health issues are open to psilocybin therapy because it has shown that it not only can help mental illness but even get rid of it as a whole. While Americans attitudes are changing towards psychedelics, this shift is allowing the research to become more solid and well thought through. I am excited to see the future of psychiatry and the use of psilocybin therapy and hope that someday it will be accessible to all people with mental health issues. (304)