A Psychologist Goes on a Mushroom Trip – Gems from an Unlocked Mind

I don’t do drugs. I don’t even drink or smoke weed. So how did I find myself tripping mushrooms in my living room?

Photo by Benjamin Balázs on Unsplash

Let’s establish some facts. First, we’re talking about psychedelic, psilocybin mushrooms – the kind that alter reality for a few hours. In Colorado where I am, it’s legal to grow, possess, use and give them away. Oregon and California have similar but slightly more restrictive rules. In Illinois, it’s legal to buy grow bags and spores…but once they turn into dark little mushrooms, it’s murky.

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How Mushrooms Work in the Brain

I did a ton of research before stepping into this magical world. When it comes to mind altering substances, I’m about as straitlaced as it gets. I paid a lot in student loans for my brain so I wasn’t going to risk messing it all up. To boot, I’m a drug and alcohol counselor so I had to be sure. But, stuck and out of ideas on how to move my life forward, I was at the end of my rope. Something had to change, and I sensed it had to be big.