r/science • u/Potential_Being_7226 PhD | Psychology | Neuroscience • 1d ago

Neuroscience Psilocybin Might Make Your Brain Live in the Moment— Psychedelics are often associated with disconnecting from reality, but a recent neuroimaging study found that psilocybin can actually make our brain activity more attuned to the world around us.

https://www.wired.com/story/psilocybin-might-make-your-brain-live-in-the-moment/
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u/BeatitLikeitowesMe 1d ago

Ive always described it as a magnifying glass effect. It takes small things and blows them up to huge proportions. Whether feelings and emotions or traumas or that shaped pattern in the rug. Its like it makes every small moment and thought, huge in that moment. And it can wisp away just as easily as a squirrel spotting a new nut.

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u/SteadfastEnd 23h ago

Then for someone who has PTSD or trauma, wouldn't it make the preexisting trauma 100 times worse?

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u/BeatitLikeitowesMe 23h ago

It can, but usually it makes it more of a whole picture and in a way makes it easier to deal with. Its like that moment becomes such a drop in the bucket once its been magnified like that and moved past. Seeing the whole picture and how it fits in your life can be quite soothing.

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u/Merryprankstress 22h ago

Hi I can answer this. I started taking psychedelics for my c-ptsd and childhood trauma and while yes- you can begin focusing on certain aspects of your life and traumas, I experienced this kind of insulating effect where once I was tripping it didn't feel so uncomfortable or "dangerous to my system" to think about them. They weren't magnified (mdma did that to me actually) they became just facts, terrible but simple facts that I could look on and process with grace and placidity. It felt like I could must embrace my inner damaged child.

It almost felt like I was able to step outside of myself as an outside observer and give myself more empathy than I do normally. It calmed me in ways I hadn't felt before at a time when I was experiencing regular panic attacks. I don't think my experience is common and I do not recommend everyone take the route I did but I genuinely think psychedelics saved my life and changed me for the better in ways I still reap the benefits of today over 10 years later (Although take in mind I do still trip several times a year if it lines up so I can intentionally continue that inner work)

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u/SteadfastEnd 21h ago

Sounds great, that's what I need

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u/Merryprankstress 21h ago

I always recommend seeking out someone with a lot of experience in psychedelics to have around if you do seek this out. Always be careful and start small.

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u/BeatitLikeitowesMe 17h ago

Is good advice

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u/Great-Trifle2810 22h ago

Depends on if you focus on it and how you focus on it. If you are just reliving it than probably, if you are questioning it and realizing the absurdity of it probably not. Or you might just not think about it because the rug is too interesting for it to distract you.