I also had those body healing sort of experiences, which allowed me to move better since than. Psychedelics are amazing, it's so sad they have so many restrictions in some places.
- Same with ketamine treatments. The actual drug basically costs nothing, but the psychologists well, they’re expensive af. And the doctor(s) involved. So it’s a treatment for the more wealthy people out there. 🤷🏼♀️
Dear @nanako128, Thank you for sharing your concerns. Just to clarify, the price of 6200 Euros is specifically for private rooms at our retreats. For those opting for a space in a shared room, the cost is 4600 Euros. Additionally, our private retreat experiences start at 2000 Euros for one day. As a token of appreciation, anyone coming through this platform and mentions Sam will receive a 10% discount on our retreat packages. Furthermore, we understand that cost can be a barrier for some individuals, which is why we offer scholarships. These scholarships can significantly reduce the price by up to -40%. If you have any further questions or require clarification on anything, please feel free to reach out. We're here to assist you in any way we can. Warm regards, Alice
SSRI's for fifteen years just messed up my natural neurotransmitter apparatus. "Pruning" sounds as if an outside agent decides which bits of neurons should be trimmed. Not exactly. It is more a dying-off of neurons that are not being utilized. If psylocibin can encourage neuronal growth, that is a good thing. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors prevent the reabsorption of serotonin in the synapses so that it remains floating around. Trouble with that is this: the neurofeedback loop tells us we do not need to make more serotonin because it registers that the serotonin is still circulating, rather than being absorbed after use as a transmitter molecule. No need to make more. SSRI's tell the body to slow production of serotonin. Psylocibin could be a balm to the nerves, smoothing out transmission of currents.
So awesome to hear another autistic individuals experience with mushrooms! I agree they can potentially be very therapeutic for a lot of autistic adults, but definitely do your research beforehand and start small. The experience can be very overwhelming on the senses. Even microdosing feels like too much for me sometimes. A trip sitter is highly recommended for anybodies first experience regardless of dosage.
I've been to a psilocybin retreat about 2 years ago. It was 3 days, the first being preparation, the second day for the ceremony itself and the third day was for integration. During the ceremony, I suffered a tremendous amount, all my negative feelings and self-loathing times 100 or so. If I had been alone, it would have been hell on earth. But I wasn't alone, the practitioners there were extremely kind and for a good amount of times there was always someone by my side to help me, let me cry and sob and listened. When the torment phase in me was over, I felt extreme inner peace for maybe the first time in my life. It was so profound I cannot describe it. It was amazing. Before I went to this retreat, I was content that I hated people in general. After just one day with psilocybin, I didn't anymore. I learned that day that I wasn't the grumpy old wench that I thought I was. I feel this even today. It is so amazing, I would do it again in an instant, if it wasn't so expensive. 😅
I found this on the Inner Shift website (tho they hide it kind of well): "Shared Double Room with ensuite bathroom: 4600 Euros. Private Room with ensuite bathroom: 6200 Euros"
The one Sam is talking about costs 4600€ for the Shared Double Room with ensuite bathroom and 6200€ for the Private Room with ensuite bathroom. You can find this info in the FAQ section of the website :)
Thanks for sharing! I feel like I might make myself crazy wondering how I can know which one was the “real me” but I suppose you either just know or you embrace the more positive feeling version?
Last year I had a powerful psilocybin trip that made me quit drinking, severed neural connections that were keeping me in an abusive relationship with a narcissist, and initiated my unmasking journey. Psilocybin mushrooms rapidly became my new special interest, and luckily I live in a place (Colorado) where cultivation for personal use is legal. Mycoculture of all kinds became a new passion of mine and after cultivating my own Psilocybes, I'm learning how to grow all sorts of culinarily and medicinal mushrooms.
Hi TJ! It sounds like your mushrooms have been super-helpful to you, as well as being fun to grow and learn about! You are lucky to have the laws you have in Colorado. Even though Australia has legalised their use for psychiatric treatment, it's only for treatment resistant Depression and as yet, I don't qualify. It really sounds like such a powerful way to heal and make changes. I am really happy for you that it's been so transformative. 🍄😊
@@MrStyles784 under prop 122 which passed in November 2022, it's now legal (not just decriminalized) in Colorado to possess, gift, and cultivate/produce Psilocybin mushrooms, DMT, ibogaine, and non-peyote mescaline, with a legal framework to license and establish clinics for guided therapy. It's legal, you just gotta do the hard work yourself. I was willing to do that.
@@Baptized_in_Fire. King Oyster are on my list to try next. Along with lions mane. I've heard all the good things about what lions mane is supposed to do for neurological health, but I'm more interested in the fact that it allegedly tastes like crab when you cook it in butter. Cooking, sciences, and psychotropics are all special interests to me, and Mycology just nicely dovetails into everything.
That sounds amazing. And for all my hesitations about psychedelics, I'm really bummed it's so expensive. No way I could afford that. But I'm really glad it worked for you!
For people who live in a place where it is illegal fully, they might be interested to know that in many, many places, it's fully legal to purchase a magic mushroom spore syringe for microscope studies! You can also buy mushroom grain bags/all-in-one bags (for gormet mushrooms). Those have an injection port for gormet mushrooms. Oddly, though illegal, injecting a small amount of microscope magic mushrooms spores into that readily avaliable grow bag will produce mushrooms, so just don't do that ;) Of course, there are many "how to grow magic mushrooms from a grow bag" instructional videos on UA-cam. Again, spores are legal in most places. Grow bags are legal in all places. Just don't accidentally inject your legal spores into the legal grow bag. Anyone who can follow high school level science lab instructions could easily grow mushrooms though. Shame its illegal.
This makes me think of bricks of grape juice concentrate sold during prohibition that said things like "After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine."
There are also LSD prodrugs thta are legal in many places. Substances like 1P LSD, 1V LSD, etc. I used both LSD, as well as many prodrugs. Despite very minor differences, they are basically the exact same thing, due to the substance breaking down into the "OG LSD".
Ever since I first tried psychedelics, I have been fascinated by them. I first tried them when I didn't know I was autistic, and each time they gave me profound insights about myself and the world. they helped me navigate a lot of confusing situations, and helped me find myself under my mask - i didn't even know i was under there! I now microdose regularly and it really helps. if i had a parallel self I would also be studying psychedelics and their effects on mental health, and maybe even autism as I now know that about myself! thank you for making this :)
I'm so glad you're talking about this, Sam. I found psychedelics long before I realized my own AuDHD. I don't know for sure how helpful psilocybin can be for other neurodivergents, but I feel it's been very helpful to me. In recent years I have found opportunity to use psilocybin around once a year, and I find that to be about the right frequency. For anyone wondering, this is not something you'd likely be inclined to use frequently. Psychedelics are, in fact, used to treat addictions to other substances, but are not addictive themselves.
It sounds amazing, and there is a new lightness and freshness in your presence on screen. Plus I love the botanical background. I really look forward to part 2.
Thank you for doing this video Sam. I'm very logical and non emotional... but watch me transform into a psychedelic feeling nature grounded hippie whenever we start talking about 🍄 The life changing revelations and reset I feel... Can't wait for part two!
I did a large shroom trip a few years ago, it knocked me off the spiral thinking for quite a long time. I do have a history of schiz in my family, and while my experience was positive I could also see how it could become a problem for me/ anyone that has a hard time being grounded in reality.
i'm here crying from joy on your behalf. I have been hoping and waiting for you to talk about psychedelic therapy, I remember you mentioning psilocybin a long time ago. I share and stand behind all your observations and points made. doing therapy with a facilitator makes the world of difference compared to trying to deal with it on your own. Congratulations!
Sam, thank you so much for sharing your experience and showing your vulnerability. ❤ I don’t really know why but I cried through a good chunk of the video. It made me super emotional, it’s all so relatable even though you didn’t share much about the trips yet. I would definitely felt the same about being in a group setting at first. I am happy you got so much relief and experienced such profound changes. It’s amazing, really. Looking forward to part two!
As a Western Canadian 60 urs old, I have had quite a LOT of experience with natural halluconogens and "shrooms" in pqrticular. Yes it helps with depression and learning to take a longer view. Yes it helps with neural regrowth, even to the degeee of healing a severe neuropathy. I had gotten it as a side effect of chemo and it was quite debilitating. By microdosimg the psylocybin once a week for a couple of months, I restored my peripheral nerves. Second story in a reply...
Second story happened this winter on Vancouver Island. I was brashly collecting mushrooms for spup and included some brown ones. Being overconfisent, I did not double check my jarvest and the 3 browns got me and my dog mildly high for 2 hours. Oops. Cheap lesson, I say.
Also autistic - also had powerfully transformative psychedelic experiences. But - it is definitely something everyone needs to do research on and decide for themselves about. I strongly believe psychedelics shouldn't be done recreationally - mostly because of how powerfully positive AND negative some of the experiences can be psychologically speaking.
Psychedelics can be and are used recreationally by many people. I fully disagree with the notion that certain substances are only for this and that. Use them however they benefit you.
I do agree it needs a lot of training, but for instance I find the preparation from buddhist retreats are often sufficient mentally since they already focus on mindfulness, introspection, how to handle uncomfortable truths, etc. But for someone who's never dealt with any of that stuff, having a guide is a good idea.
Found out at 72 y/o, 2 years ago that I was on the spectrum. trying to get my newly found myself together for two years now. Thought really funny this experience of yours since I am on microdoses since about a yeaar, Very interesting to go as far as you have been with that therapy. You really look happier and better in yourself. Food for thoughts. Merci
I'm glad to here a view from someone who's gone through it as I've been looking into this for some time to try and help me, though I'm still troubled; you have to scroll through a lot of marketing to find prices (which are really high, no pun intended) and frankly out of my reach. And for all the 'luxury' angle, it doesn't overly look it to me. I'm interested to hear more detail about your trips there though.
Thank you so much for this. The more people tell about experiences like this, the more it will be normalized and hopefully become available in more countries. It's such a shame that humanity decided to lump psychedelics into the cauldron of bad scary dangerous drugs, while their use had been a healing human practice across the world, probably for millennia.
@@RubixB0y wow. Great point. Also, it's not a daily pill that costs over a thousand dollars a month and don't work for us anyway. I've been on every antidepressant there is. Never helped me or changed my behavior at all. Big pharma is not going to jump on the mushroom band wagon.
"a healing human practice across the world, probably for millennia" Do you want me to make a list of all the insane, useless, or actively harmful things we can also say this about? Our ancestors knew less than we do, not more.
I look forward to hearing more about your experiences here Sam, sounds really interesting so far and I'm definitely interested in hearing the full story. Very happy to hear you got so much from it. Hope those positive vibes (and the dancing) continue into the future too😺
I've been curious about this as soon as I learned about it. Being ND, this kind of self reflective therapy really appeals to me. Probably eve more so because I already know exactly what my intention would be with it. Getting a 'fresh reset' sounds too good to be true tbh.
i vouch for the potential. It has saved my life and even healed narcissistic tendencies that I had from a traumatic upbringing and medical gaslighting. I learned emotional skills that I thought was impossible. it's possibly to truly surprise yourself with this.
Thanks Sam! Love this topic, bring on round 2! Psylocibin research needs to be brought into the main stream as widely as possible. I think it can be very beneficial for a lot of people, but stigma is the biggest hurdle. Like with most things.
Psychedelics cured my intrusive suicidal thoughts. MDMA with mushrooms, work together really well for me. Had to do it on my own but at the time I was desperate. I basically got a miracle. Turns out my intrusive thoughts were FLASHBACKS of a near drowning when I was 2. I went back to that day and it became the day I DIDNT drown. My family was there and it was a beautiful day in Hawaii. 5 hours start to finish and my life became worth living again.
Thanks so much for sharing! I did some ayahuasca retreats in Brazil and it was also so healing, I was able to understand and realease things about traumas and phobias, we also did the breathing work, and it was soo deep and so connected with what ayahuasca was showing me...
This is so interesting, thanks for sharing all these details and I'm also looking forward to part 2!! Since I'm working with a therapist on my recent AuDHD diagnosis while struggling with depression and feeling completely stuck in life (unemployed and in a country sooo autistic unfriendly), this sounds like something really interesting and that could help a lot, but it's a bit too expensive, because of my current situation... will definitely keep this in mind for better times as I think some of my issues will still be with me 😂
@BennyDavidson-py6mc Thanks for your advice, I'll think about it for sure as I also feel stuck on some self-hate and core beliefs I don't understand and years of therapy didn't help me enough with it, psychedelics sound like an interesting option :) (not the only one for sure but an option)
Very happy for you and all other viewers who have benefited from this but I'm the other end of the spectrum I'm afraid. I'm terrified of anything that affects your mental state, because it can be so hard to regulate anyway, but medical science has nothing to offer autists , nothing at all and again I'm very happy for you and the other viewers who have found something that works. And as always very appreciative of the humane and intelligent presentation on the topic, which is the hallmark of your content ❤️
Very interested in the second video as well. I had started MDing after my Autism diagnosis a couple years ago to try to get in touch with myself but then I found out I had Stage 4 Breast Cancer and stopped. I'm a few months into treatment and starting to think about MDing again once the side effects from the medications subside and maybe getting to a place where I can do a therapeutic dose. This retreat or something similar sounds like something I'd really get a lot out of.
Wow that’s really cool that you noticed an improvement with your cardio endurance/breathing. I would love if you talked more about the breathwork session you did in the retreat. What breathwork technique was it? I’ve tried several different techniques and like you I haven’t been fond of breathwork, but since you liked that session I am definitely curious what technique it was. ❤ thanks for the helpful video, it was so educational!
love this, looking forward to part 2 🥰 also really appreciate how you put your bloopers/word stumbles in at the end of videos - very sweet and authentic xx
Thank you for this video. I already know a few things about this topic but didn't know that people with the autism diagnoses could benefit from this therapy. One thing I want to mention is that while watching your video I had to minimize the screen because of the reflection of your lamp in your glasses.
I will honestly advice anyone suffering from fibro, ptsd, depression, addiction and anxiety, should give psychedelic therapy. Been microdosing for 6 months now I have very little anxiety and migraine now, PTSD, INSOMNIA, ADHD, OCD and zero panic attacks including pains, all thanks to microdosing ,it really boosted my mental health for the better.
I'm recently diagnosed ASD. Back in 1984 I 'accidentally' had a huge dose of Liberty Caps, about 100 fresh ones. Was indeed life-changing and incredibly positive, have since dedicated my entire life to serving Gaia and being 'green' and eco-friendly, whilst focusing on quality of life, volunteering and making other's lives better. I am particularly taken with the utopian vision imagined by Aldous Huxley in 'Island' which, amongst other differences to mainstream western society, includes a coming-of age trip with an imaginary psychedelic called Moksha Medicine. An excellent book, and maybe we should/could use the Island of Pala as a template for healing our own broken society?
@@oksanakaido8437 Because I was young (18) and didn't know what I was doing, had no idea what was going to happen. Someone brought them into our college halls, and a 20 year old told us that if we ate 20, we'd know something was happening, if we had 50, we'd have a great time, if we ate 100, we'd never forget. So, a dozen of us had 100 each - and it was utterly life-changing and hugely positive, luckily!
@@compostjohn oh wow. Yeah, taking one person's experience as a guideline for dosing doesn't seem like the best idea, haha. Glad it worked out well for you though! I've been intrigued by the idea of taking mushrooms for years now, but they don't grow in my area and I do feel nervous about buying them online.
@@oksanakaido8437 Don't buy them off anyone - learn how to grow them yourself, there are plenty of good videos on YT about how to grow your own. Then you know exactly what you're getting. The most important things, once you've acquired the medicine, are 'set and setting'. And, having a sitter. I've been a sitter with several novices, as I'm quite experienced and have a calm, unflappable manner.
You have to be careful! She explicitly said "when used in a controlled therapeutic setting", don't go around trying psychedelics without understanding them or their effects and without having good support.
Correct! Look at the latest peer-reviewed scholarly research on the substance. Read user reports at websites such as Erowid and PsychonautWiki. Have at least one trustworthy adult serve as a trip sitter. If you have any reservations, don’t use it.
Fascinating. Thank you for sharing your experience! I hope to be able to attend a retreat someday, but there's a part of me that is still hesitant. Seems like a lot of benefits though!
This offers hope to a lot of people. Unfortunately I have a history of allergies and bad reactions to meds, so I shall probably stick to sea swimming. But if this helps others, I’m all for it, because we need to increase the overall happiness in the world. Hmm, I sound like I’ve been on 🍄after all 🙂
I don't want to try to talk you into anything because you know your body best, but I have found that psilocybin, LSD, ketamine all have helped reduce my overactive immune response by calming my nervous system, and also has strongly antiinflammatory effects. I have ME/CFS POTS and allergies, and I tolerate these medicines better than anything my doctor prescribes.
@@Artista.Atipica & @arasharfa thank you so much for sharing! I used psilocybin mushrooms over a decade ago and felt it was very mentally healthy for me. However, in the early part of the trip I would get nauseous and cold/ allergy symptoms with congestion and runny nose. Since then, I've had more histamine (maybe MCAS?) reactions so I wondered if it would still be safe for me. I love the idea it can be physically as well as mentally healing. 💜
Interesting! Thank you for telling your experience. Waiting for part 2. I have been very helped exploring many years of "being weird," and why: your work and book have been very helpful! Thank you.
Thank you, and I cant wait for part 2!! Pscyhadelic therapy is absolutely the future, I'm glad its gaining traction, and I'm so curious to hear the ways it may have changed you're internal experiences and approach to the world- I've been flirting with the idea of having a proper supervised shroom trip myself, having microdosed for a few months, but I'm still hesitant. Also, I heard from someone that autistic people tend to need higher doses of shrooms, as we naturally have a higher tolerance to psilocybin, or something along those lines? Not sure how scientifically backed that claim was, but if it is true- maybe thats why you needed a higher dose to get the trip going
It sounds like a wonderful place! I rarely take anything mind-altering (including alcohol) and only ever in moderating...3g + top-up is a perfect learning dose 🙏🏻
Hi, Sam, This is late, but I now see what I’m most interested in hearing about in part 2: that is, how (and if) you were able to process trauma, and come out the other side feeling better, but also still feeling like yourself. This interests me partly because I have had the experience of antidepressants making me feel less depressed, but also like I am not quite who I am supposed to be. And because I see now that the reason I chafe at some depiction of trauma (specifically early childhood trauma) is not just that I don’t think I experienced abuse or neglect, but also that my lifelong cognitive processing style - as well as low mood and overactive fear response, though not exactly desirable - is really who I am. It’s unquestionably partially heritable, based on family history, but even the things that occurred during early childhood development (when wiring is still being laid down) feel like part of myself, not some disastrous deus ex machina. I would like to dial down what I recognize as CPTSD from relatively recent events, plus things that grew over decades, but were I to wake up one day as a naturally happy, laid back person who rolls with every punch, life might be easier, but I would also not know who I was. Like masking on steroids. So one concern I’ve had with psylo is whether it would unmoor me in the way that it may for people with certain disorders (I don’t think I have a clinical affective disorder, but I might have traits), but also that it not rewire me in a generally positive way that nonetheless undermines my sense of self. Neuroplasicity yes, but neuroplasticity that is consistent with who I am. Anything you have to offer that illuminates how this worked for you would be welcome.
Thanks for all your videos. I'm about to turn 50 and have been referred for diagnosis for dual diagnosis. It's a brave new world but content like yours helps. x
While shrooms are legal where I live (at the state level, but not at the federal level - the U.S. is weird), my employer’s policies are a barrier to my trying this. One more thing that will be delayed until retirement. As others have commented, the group setting of this retreat is very unappealing, so I would need a private session to overcome my issues with groups first (if it works for me).
Not psilocybin but I do ketamine therapy. It's helped me to quit drinking and reduced my mental health symptoms enough to realize my autistic traits. My ketamine therapist was actually the first to suggest that I have autism. Ketamine helped my partner quit drinking, smoking and discover they are transgender. Colorado has legalized psilocybin and I'm excited to try it in a therapeutic setting.
Interesting. It's not a path for me personally, but given the state of mental health care and how many people are suffering, it's definitely worth investigating for some👍👍
I wanna warn ppl of the shroom bots real quick. Ive seen the same exact comments with the same exact replies, saying “Never thought I’d be saying this about mushrooms”. I’ve seen these bot comments on channels of creators WITH schizophrenia, which really gave me a bad feeling. Dont fall for these comments or replies claiming to say they’re selling, who knows how reputable they are if they are only advertising to struggling people. Be careful.
wonderfull, and wonderfully presented - good on you, and thankyou - lots of food for thought - reckon I will pursue it when things finally settle down - 5 years I reckon!
Just here to say a big Thank You for your wonderful workbook 'So you think you're autistic ' - it really helped me to organise my thoughts & observations, & to understand what some of the obscure criteria mean! Got diagnosed last Tuesday! (So happy bc I self-diagnosed about 25 years ago!)
Thank you for sharing this. I know of someone who also facilitates these retreats, although not with the same organisation you went with. He is a psychiatric nurse, and also clear that some people may actually have a psychotic break by undertaking these retreats. Not just a 'bad trip', which actually usually translates to a good trip in terms of healing benefits. I would be very interested, but in honesty the human brain is just so complex, and unpredictable. I would fear my brain throwing me into psychosis unexpectedly.( even though I have no history of psychosis). Also the therapists involved may well be able to provide a very supportive and safe emotional environment, but they wont be at all able to support anyone who does go onto experience full blown psychosis. I work in mental health and its very very difficult to support someone in the throes of pyschosis. This is even in a professional environment so on a retreat? My understanding is that there is much work to still be done to ensure safety on these retreats, and the need for a medical professional such as a Dr to be present. I feel in the field of mental health much discussion is already taking place about the use of psychedelics. Which is very exciting. So the warning is 'you may become psychotic' !. In which case, there is a lot at stake. Im possibly sounding over cautious because of working in mental health, and seeing what I see day in, day out.
Be really careful WHO you do this with. There are lots of inexperienced and malicious groups out there, a woman eecently died messing with this stuff in my region due to health issues and the inexperienced practitioner. This experience sounds very professional, monitered, careful and safe.
@Mycotrance that is fantastic! Just an important warning, I know mamy folks who have gone completely insane due to misuse. There are a lot of self proclaimed "shamans" out there doing harm. Research, be careful, be smart.
That sounds SO interesting! I have only ever heard good things about shrooms but I hate losing control and hallucinating and feeling trapped (I’ve only experienced this mildly when dosing MJ too high). And my uncle had schizophrenia so I may not be a good candidate anyway. But I can’t wait to watch part 2!! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing this. I have worked with psychedelics for a long time, and find many benefits. I am curious about what kind of breathwork you did?
This was fascinating, TY for sharing. What was your mental state like in the weeks following the experience. You mention presence with the micro dosing, less stress, and physical relief / improvements. What about the mental noise (both with micro-dosing and after the full experience)? It was after a similar experience blasting off into space that I noticed how nice and peaceful life was in the days / week or two after. The day after I would ask myself what things I would do for myself if I cared for and wanted the best for myself - I wanted to exercise, eat healthy, meditate, read, work, play, do chores like the dishes, and spend time with loved ones. Most of those activities would cause anxiety and get the mental chatter going looking for excuses / distractions, but I didn't have that for a solid week or two. I thought it, and then I did it, no push back. I could hear myself think instead of hearing non-stop noise. I even looked at the clock more than once thinking "Wow, there's so much time in a day"... Was the most mundane and the most wonderful time I've had with myself. Part of investigating the AuDHD in my life came from that experience and perceiving "that's what it's like to be neurotypical", and though I've started on meds, I don't know if it's realistic to strive for that. Feeling at peace with the universe is probably afterglow, but I don't know if the mental space is reasonable to expect without regular trips out into the beyond... I'm still early in my learning, but would love your feedback. Thanks, and looking forward to Part 2.
Thanks for sharing! It's helpful hearing others experiences with these. I've wondered if its something I should look into for a couple years, since I've seen a lot of info online, from Psychiatrists or others who've done similar retreats and have similar traits/history as me (e.g. ND or also raised in religious cults). I'm diagnosed "mildly" autistic, and was raised in a fundamentalist religious cult (Mormon), and I still struggle with deeply entrenched self-worth issues despite having loads of self-awareness and gathered information (my therapist says that normally people break through when they have this much awareness, but there's something in me that refuses to let it go (so, there's obviously still something in there that I'm not aware of)). I was finally going to try EMDR, after also considering that for over a 1.5 yrs, and had my preliminary meeting the other week... But the EMDR therapist said that I'm not ready for EMDR yet. I need to work with my therapist on being able to identify and articulate what my body is doing in relation to emotions, and identifying the emotions themselves, more than I currently can. It doesn't need to be perfect, but needs to be more than I currently can, since it's an important part of EMDR. I'm going to talk with my therapist today about this retreat. I'm still on disability from a breakdown a couple years ago, and I've already spent so much on my mental health in the past 1.5 years, with no real progress (primarily my own fault for repeatedly backing off from things after I get triggered again). But my disability ends this year, no matter what, and I need to find something that truly helps while I still have dedicated time and enough resources. This might be a good next step right now, since I can't carry forward with EMDR yet, and their site talks about helping with self-worth and stuckness. I've never used any substances like that though, so am still hesitant and would have no clue what to expect. First time I even had a drink was in my 30s, and I still almost never drink. Only drink tea a handful of times per year to help with headaches (never even tasted coffee).
Thanks, though I'm not comfortable trying them on my own. I'd want some kind of professional support. I wouldn't have the slightest clue how to control doses or know how to make sure it's being used therapeutically. But I appreciate you for helping by sharing the info!!
I live someplace where psilocybin is legal and learned to grow my own medicines. I feel the effects of very low doses, but have the most profound and positive experiences only with extremely high doses (11g for my last journey!) Smaller doses (even of 5g) make me feel jittery and twitchy and are generally unpleasant. My journeys have been some of the most profound experiences of my life and altered my spiritual views entirely. Potency definitely varies by strain and growing conditions, but I heard autistics tend to do better with much higher doses and I found this to be the case for me as well (I'm not on any SSRIs).
I have found occasionally psilocybin and LSD to be very helpful, as i can get quite 'stuck' in a particular mindset due to my need for order and rationalising which for me is part of autism.
Psychedelics gave me the ability to see things from a different perspective and allowed me to begin working on myself and dealing with my trauma. I owe who I am today in part to lessons I learned while having psychedelic experiences.i have been dealing with trauma, anxiety and other disorders for more than a decade now, but this came to an end when i started using PSYCHEDELIC for healing, now i feel better. If you need some psychedelic products get intouch with
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Some time ago I researched retreats to do this, but apart from also not having enough money it worries me from a medical point of view. The gene that is responsible for the enzymes in the liver for processing around 25% of medications, including LSD and psylocybin, is missing on one allele in my case, which is why I have problems processing ADHD medication too, it affects also SSRIs and opiods. I don't know whether I would trust a retreatment centre to make the correct dose adjustment in my case and it would probably be too much of a risk for them too. That makes me sad, because I am sure, it really could help me. 😔
I wonder about this too in terms of pharmacogenetics. I have 7 extra copies on some of mine, so my liver ultra-rapid metabolizes things and it's why most SSRI and opiates are dangerous for me. My lab results didn't cover other types of drugs of ingestion so I have no idea what I can and can't metabolzie normally.
I haven’t done the mushroom thing but when I am really having a hard time with certain things or just need to take the edge off, I take some different forms of THC free products derived from industrial hemp and natural terpenes, such as delta 8, delta 10, some delta 9, THC-O, THC-P, HHC, CBD, CBG, ect… I have these in gummy and vape forms. I do not smoke marijuana because I am not able to handle that form and intensity of the delta 9 THC. I also have different Terpenes I use that I use in food and drinks that work well also. I also have various industrial hemp flowers that I smoke and find it so very helpful for different symptoms. When I take these things I find that it works kind of like a drain cleaner, my brain just opens up and it just feels so free, I can think clearly and the stress, anxiety, depression or whatever just dissipates. I have to pay attention to how much I take at a time for too much tends to go overboard and then brings in other or more intense symptoms so it is really a matter of keeping things balanced and being mindful of what is going on within myself. The only negative effects I’ve ever had was when I simply overdid the dose and then just suffered a lack of sleep or too much the next day and an occasional headache but this was all gone relatively quickly with no long term effects that medication does and it is all none addictive. I am Autistic and have ADHD and a lot of trauma so I do get triggered often and am so glad to have discovered these non medication alternatives to help when the stress and anxiety become too much for me to handle.
@BennyDavidson-py6mc I wouldn't want to lose or suppress my ADHD neurotype. While I can experience difficulty in some areas, it brings me joy, as well, and is an essential part of who I am. What do you mean specifically when you say psilocybin has relieved your ADHD?
I would love to hear more details about your trips! I have taken mushrooms several times in the past and I have had all good experiences. However, I haven't taken them since discovering I am autistic and getting my diagnosis. Now, for some reason I do not yet know, I am very scared to take them! I think it ultimately could be very healing for me to face that fear.
I also had those body healing sort of experiences, which allowed me to move better since than. Psychedelics are amazing, it's so sad they have so many restrictions in some places.
Psychedelics have really made a difference for my mental health. They've been super helpful in managing my anxiety and depression.
I've been wanting to give it a go, but I'm struggling to find a reliable source.
Coxshroomies is your guy. Got all kinds of psychedelics stuff. Guided me through my first ever experience
How do I reach out to him? He on Telgram??
Yes, and TikTok
I tried golden teachers for the first time, and it was an amazing experience.
6,200 euros though. It's sad that such a potentially life-saving treatment is so prohibitively expensive.
@BennyDavidson-py6mcThanks for your help
- Same with ketamine treatments. The actual drug basically costs nothing, but the psychologists well, they’re expensive af. And the doctor(s) involved. So it’s a treatment for the more wealthy people out there. 🤷🏼♀️
Dear @nanako128,
Thank you for sharing your concerns. Just to clarify, the price of 6200 Euros is specifically for private rooms at our retreats. For those opting for a space in a shared room, the cost is 4600 Euros. Additionally, our private retreat experiences start at 2000 Euros for one day.
As a token of appreciation, anyone coming through this platform and mentions Sam will receive a 10% discount on our retreat packages. Furthermore, we understand that cost can be a barrier for some individuals, which is why we offer scholarships. These scholarships can significantly reduce the price by up to -40%.
If you have any further questions or require clarification on anything, please feel free to reach out. We're here to assist you in any way we can.
Warm regards, Alice
Wow, that cost more than an autism diagnosis.
SSRI's for fifteen years just messed up my natural neurotransmitter apparatus.
"Pruning" sounds as if an outside agent decides which bits of neurons should be trimmed. Not exactly. It is more a dying-off of neurons that are not being utilized.
If psylocibin can encourage neuronal growth, that is a good thing. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors prevent the reabsorption of serotonin in the synapses so that it remains floating around.
Trouble with that is this:
the neurofeedback loop tells us we do not need to make more serotonin because it registers that the serotonin is still circulating, rather than being absorbed after use as a transmitter molecule. No need to make more. SSRI's tell the body to slow production of serotonin.
Psylocibin could be a balm to the nerves, smoothing out transmission of currents.
So awesome to hear another autistic individuals experience with mushrooms! I agree they can potentially be very therapeutic for a lot of autistic adults, but definitely do your research beforehand and start small. The experience can be very overwhelming on the senses. Even microdosing feels like too much for me sometimes. A trip sitter is highly recommended for anybodies first experience regardless of dosage.
I've been to a psilocybin retreat about 2 years ago. It was 3 days, the first being preparation, the second day for the ceremony itself and the third day was for integration. During the ceremony, I suffered a tremendous amount, all my negative feelings and self-loathing times 100 or so. If I had been alone, it would have been hell on earth. But I wasn't alone, the practitioners there were extremely kind and for a good amount of times there was always someone by my side to help me, let me cry and sob and listened. When the torment phase in me was over, I felt extreme inner peace for maybe the first time in my life. It was so profound I cannot describe it. It was amazing. Before I went to this retreat, I was content that I hated people in general. After just one day with psilocybin, I didn't anymore. I learned that day that I wasn't the grumpy old wench that I thought I was. I feel this even today. It is so amazing, I would do it again in an instant, if it wasn't so expensive. 😅
How much did it cost? That's one thing I'm having trouble finding on their website
I found this on the Inner Shift website (tho they hide it kind of well): "Shared Double Room with ensuite bathroom: 4600 Euros.
Private Room with ensuite bathroom: 6200 Euros"
The one Sam is talking about costs 4600€ for the Shared Double Room with ensuite bathroom and 6200€ for the Private Room with ensuite bathroom. You can find this info in the FAQ section of the website :)
Thanks for sharing! I feel like I might make myself crazy wondering how I can know which one was the “real me” but I suppose you either just know or you embrace the more positive feeling version?
@@federicade6382 damn. I mean I get it. It's a huge time and resource investment on the part of the organisers. Just a shame it's not very accessible
Last year I had a powerful psilocybin trip that made me quit drinking, severed neural connections that were keeping me in an abusive relationship with a narcissist, and initiated my unmasking journey.
Psilocybin mushrooms rapidly became my new special interest, and luckily I live in a place (Colorado) where cultivation for personal use is legal. Mycoculture of all kinds became a new passion of mine and after cultivating my own Psilocybes, I'm learning how to grow all sorts of culinarily and medicinal mushrooms.
Hi TJ! It sounds like your mushrooms have been super-helpful to you, as well as being fun to grow and learn about! You are lucky to have the laws you have in Colorado. Even though Australia has legalised their use for psychiatric treatment, it's only for treatment resistant Depression and as yet, I don't qualify. It really sounds like such a powerful way to heal and make changes. I am really happy for you that it's been so transformative. 🍄😊
I started learning mycology, picking wild mushrooms and even grew my own pink oyster mushrooms. Cool stuff
I remember when it was decriminalized in Denver, but had no idea they have since broadened the scope (and decriminalized isn't the same as legal)
@@MrStyles784 under prop 122 which passed in November 2022, it's now legal (not just decriminalized) in Colorado to possess, gift, and cultivate/produce Psilocybin mushrooms, DMT, ibogaine, and non-peyote mescaline, with a legal framework to license and establish clinics for guided therapy. It's legal, you just gotta do the hard work yourself. I was willing to do that.
@@Baptized_in_Fire. King Oyster are on my list to try next. Along with lions mane. I've heard all the good things about what lions mane is supposed to do for neurological health, but I'm more interested in the fact that it allegedly tastes like crab when you cook it in butter.
Cooking, sciences, and psychotropics are all special interests to me, and Mycology just nicely dovetails into everything.
That sounds amazing. And for all my hesitations about psychedelics, I'm really bummed it's so expensive. No way I could afford that. But I'm really glad it worked for you!
@BennyDavidson-py6mcThanks, I would look it up
For people who live in a place where it is illegal fully, they might be interested to know that in many, many places, it's fully legal to purchase a magic mushroom spore syringe for microscope studies! You can also buy mushroom grain bags/all-in-one bags (for gormet mushrooms). Those have an injection port for gormet mushrooms. Oddly, though illegal, injecting a small amount of microscope magic mushrooms spores into that readily avaliable grow bag will produce mushrooms, so just don't do that ;)
Of course, there are many "how to grow magic mushrooms from a grow bag" instructional videos on UA-cam.
Again, spores are legal in most places. Grow bags are legal in all places. Just don't accidentally inject your legal spores into the legal grow bag. Anyone who can follow high school level science lab instructions could easily grow mushrooms though. Shame its illegal.
This makes me think of bricks of grape juice concentrate sold during prohibition that said things like "After dissolving the brick in a gallon of water, do not place the liquid in a jug away in the cupboard for twenty days, because then it would turn into wine."
There are also LSD prodrugs thta are legal in many places. Substances like 1P LSD, 1V LSD, etc.
I used both LSD, as well as many prodrugs. Despite very minor differences, they are basically the exact same thing, due to the substance breaking down into the "OG LSD".
Come to Oakland ,CA . The mush is plentiful and you can get it just like dispensaries! 🍄
Ever since I first tried psychedelics, I have been fascinated by them. I first tried them when I didn't know I was autistic, and each time they gave me profound insights about myself and the world. they helped me navigate a lot of confusing situations, and helped me find myself under my mask - i didn't even know i was under there! I now microdose regularly and it really helps. if i had a parallel self I would also be studying psychedelics and their effects on mental health, and maybe even autism as I now know that about myself! thank you for making this :)
I'm so glad you're talking about this, Sam. I found psychedelics long before I realized my own AuDHD. I don't know for sure how helpful psilocybin can be for other neurodivergents, but I feel it's been very helpful to me. In recent years I have found opportunity to use psilocybin around once a year, and I find that to be about the right frequency. For anyone wondering, this is not something you'd likely be inclined to use frequently. Psychedelics are, in fact, used to treat addictions to other substances, but are not addictive themselves.
It sounds amazing, and there is a new lightness and freshness in your presence on screen. Plus I love the botanical background. I really look forward to part 2.
Thank you for doing this video Sam.
I'm very logical and non emotional... but watch me transform into a psychedelic feeling nature grounded hippie whenever we start talking about 🍄
The life changing revelations and reset I feel... Can't wait for part two!
I did a large shroom trip a few years ago, it knocked me off the spiral thinking for quite a long time. I do have a history of schiz in my family, and while my experience was positive I could also see how it could become a problem for me/ anyone that has a hard time being grounded in reality.
i'm here crying from joy on your behalf. I have been hoping and waiting for you to talk about psychedelic therapy, I remember you mentioning psilocybin a long time ago. I share and stand behind all your observations and points made. doing therapy with a facilitator makes the world of difference compared to trying to deal with it on your own. Congratulations!
This was really interesting! Thank you, Sam, so looking forward to part 2.
Sam, thank you so much for sharing your experience and showing your vulnerability. ❤ I don’t really know why but I cried through a good chunk of the video. It made me super emotional, it’s all so relatable even though you didn’t share much about the trips yet. I would definitely felt the same about being in a group setting at first. I am happy you got so much relief and experienced such profound changes. It’s amazing, really. Looking forward to part two!
Looking forward to part 2!
As a Western Canadian 60 urs old, I have had quite a LOT of experience with natural halluconogens and "shrooms" in pqrticular. Yes it helps with depression and learning to take a longer view. Yes it helps with neural regrowth, even to the degeee of healing a severe neuropathy. I had gotten it as a side effect of chemo and it was quite debilitating. By microdosimg the psylocybin once a week for a couple of months, I restored my peripheral nerves. Second story in a reply...
Second story happened this winter on Vancouver Island. I was brashly collecting mushrooms for spup and included some brown ones. Being overconfisent, I did not double check my jarvest and the 3 browns got me and my dog mildly high for 2 hours. Oops. Cheap lesson, I say.
Also autistic - also had powerfully transformative psychedelic experiences. But - it is definitely something everyone needs to do research on and decide for themselves about. I strongly believe psychedelics shouldn't be done recreationally - mostly because of how powerfully positive AND negative some of the experiences can be psychologically speaking.
Psychedelics can be and are used recreationally by many people. I fully disagree with the notion that certain substances are only for this and that. Use them however they benefit you.
@@liteoner fair enough!
I do agree it needs a lot of training, but for instance I find the preparation from buddhist retreats are often sufficient mentally since they already focus on mindfulness, introspection, how to handle uncomfortable truths, etc. But for someone who's never dealt with any of that stuff, having a guide is a good idea.
Found out at 72 y/o, 2 years ago that I was on the spectrum. trying to get my newly found myself together for two years now. Thought really funny this experience of yours since I am on microdoses since about a yeaar, Very interesting to go as far as you have been with that therapy. You really look happier and better in yourself. Food for thoughts. Merci
I'm glad to here a view from someone who's gone through it as I've been looking into this for some time to try and help me, though I'm still troubled; you have to scroll through a lot of marketing to find prices (which are really high, no pun intended) and frankly out of my reach. And for all the 'luxury' angle, it doesn't overly look it to me. I'm interested to hear more detail about your trips there though.
@BennyDavidson-py6mcThanks for your help, I would check out the page
Sounds like such a positive healing experience! 💖🙏
I have no idea what I’m in for, but I have my popcorn and I’m ready to dive into the video
Thank you so much for this. The more people tell about experiences like this, the more it will be normalized and hopefully become available in more countries.
It's such a shame that humanity decided to lump psychedelics into the cauldron of bad scary dangerous drugs, while their use had been a healing human practice across the world, probably for millennia.
People that are more self-aware are harder to control.
@@RubixB0y bingo!
@@RubixB0y wow. Great point. Also, it's not a daily pill that costs over a thousand dollars a month and don't work for us anyway. I've been on every antidepressant there is. Never helped me or changed my behavior at all. Big pharma is not going to jump on the mushroom band wagon.
Not humanity! It was imposed on us. The whole "drugs are bad and scary" narrative is a tool (and product) of imperialism
"a healing human practice across the world, probably for millennia" Do you want me to make a list of all the insane, useless, or actively harmful things we can also say this about? Our ancestors knew less than we do, not more.
I look forward to hearing more about your experiences here Sam, sounds really interesting so far and I'm definitely interested in hearing the full story. Very happy to hear you got so much from it. Hope those positive vibes (and the dancing) continue into the future too😺
I've been curious about this as soon as I learned about it. Being ND, this kind of self reflective therapy really appeals to me. Probably eve more so because I already know exactly what my intention would be with it. Getting a 'fresh reset' sounds too good to be true tbh.
i vouch for the potential. It has saved my life and even healed narcissistic tendencies that I had from a traumatic upbringing and medical gaslighting. I learned emotional skills that I thought was impossible. it's possibly to truly surprise yourself with this.
Please please please do a follow up part two of the details. Thank you so much!!!
Thanks Sam! Love this topic, bring on round 2! Psylocibin research needs to be brought into the main stream as widely as possible. I think it can be very beneficial for a lot of people, but stigma is the biggest hurdle. Like with most things.
Something new for my bucket list!
PLEASE talk about your experiences with breathwork.
Psychedelics cured my intrusive suicidal thoughts. MDMA with mushrooms, work together really well for me. Had to do it on my own but at the time I was desperate. I basically got a miracle. Turns out my intrusive thoughts were FLASHBACKS of a near drowning when I was 2. I went back to that day and it became the day I DIDNT drown. My family was there and it was a beautiful day in Hawaii. 5 hours start to finish and my life became worth living again.
Wow incredible
I’d love to go. Just need to come up with the funds.🤪💖🙏
Looking forward to part 2 of your experience!
Thanks for sharing, really looking forward to part 2 😊
Thanks so much for sharing! I did some ayahuasca retreats in Brazil and it was also so healing, I was able to understand and realease things about traumas and phobias, we also did the breathing work, and it was soo deep and so connected with what ayahuasca was showing me...
This is so interesting, thanks for sharing all these details and I'm also looking forward to part 2!! Since I'm working with a therapist on my recent AuDHD diagnosis while struggling with depression and feeling completely stuck in life (unemployed and in a country sooo autistic unfriendly), this sounds like something really interesting and that could help a lot, but it's a bit too expensive, because of my current situation... will definitely keep this in mind for better times as I think some of my issues will still be with me 😂
@BennyDavidson-py6mc Thanks for your advice, I'll think about it for sure as I also feel stuck on some self-hate and core beliefs I don't understand and years of therapy didn't help me enough with it, psychedelics sound like an interesting option :) (not the only one for sure but an option)
Very happy for you and all other viewers who have benefited from this but I'm the other end of the spectrum I'm afraid. I'm terrified of anything that affects your mental state, because it can be so hard to regulate anyway, but medical science has nothing to offer autists , nothing at all and again I'm very happy for you and the other viewers who have found something that works. And as always very appreciative of the humane and intelligent presentation on the topic, which is the hallmark of your content ❤️
Need part 2!!
Very interested in the second video as well. I had started MDing after my Autism diagnosis a couple years ago to try to get in touch with myself but then I found out I had Stage 4 Breast Cancer and stopped. I'm a few months into treatment and starting to think about MDing again once the side effects from the medications subside and maybe getting to a place where I can do a therapeutic dose. This retreat or something similar sounds like something I'd really get a lot out of.
You could look into Amanita microdosing too.
Wow that’s really cool that you noticed an improvement with your cardio endurance/breathing. I would love if you talked more about the breathwork session you did in the retreat. What breathwork technique was it? I’ve tried several different techniques and like you I haven’t been fond of breathwork, but since you liked that session I am definitely curious what technique it was. ❤ thanks for the helpful video, it was so educational!
it was apparently a mixture of clarity breathing but with some changes, mainly some long stretches of holding our breath
love this, looking forward to part 2 🥰 also really appreciate how you put your bloopers/word stumbles in at the end of videos - very sweet and authentic xx
Thank you for this video. I already know a few things about this topic but didn't know that people with the autism diagnoses could benefit from this therapy.
One thing I want to mention is that while watching your video I had to minimize the screen because of the reflection of your lamp in your glasses.
i can't look at the screen for the same reason. it's literally making me feel woozy.
20% is indeed a significant discount. 4600 euros huh. I wanna try it but I don;t hink I want anything that badly
I will honestly advice anyone suffering from fibro, ptsd, depression, addiction and anxiety, should give psychedelic therapy.
Been microdosing for 6 months now I have very little anxiety and migraine now, PTSD, INSOMNIA, ADHD, OCD and zero panic attacks including pains, all thanks to microdosing ,it really boosted my mental health for the better.
On Insta-gram only ✅✔️
Thank you so much for sharing . Mushies are amazing. I'm glad you took the journey and shared with us.
I'm recently diagnosed ASD. Back in 1984 I 'accidentally' had a huge dose of Liberty Caps, about 100 fresh ones. Was indeed life-changing and incredibly positive, have since dedicated my entire life to serving Gaia and being 'green' and eco-friendly, whilst focusing on quality of life, volunteering and making other's lives better.
I am particularly taken with the utopian vision imagined by Aldous Huxley in 'Island' which, amongst other differences to mainstream western society, includes a coming-of age trip with an imaginary psychedelic called Moksha Medicine. An excellent book, and maybe we should/could use the Island of Pala as a template for healing our own broken society?
How do you accidentally eat a huge dose of fresh psychedelic mushrooms? Were you foraging and accidentally picked the wrong ones?
@@oksanakaido8437 Because I was young (18) and didn't know what I was doing, had no idea what was going to happen. Someone brought them into our college halls, and a 20 year old told us that if we ate 20, we'd know something was happening, if we had 50, we'd have a great time, if we ate 100, we'd never forget. So, a dozen of us had 100 each - and it was utterly life-changing and hugely positive, luckily!
@@compostjohn oh wow. Yeah, taking one person's experience as a guideline for dosing doesn't seem like the best idea, haha. Glad it worked out well for you though! I've been intrigued by the idea of taking mushrooms for years now, but they don't grow in my area and I do feel nervous about buying them online.
@@oksanakaido8437 Don't buy them off anyone - learn how to grow them yourself, there are plenty of good videos on YT about how to grow your own. Then you know exactly what you're getting. The most important things, once you've acquired the medicine, are 'set and setting'. And, having a sitter. I've been a sitter with several novices, as I'm quite experienced and have a calm, unflappable manner.
I've done mushrooms a few times, but didn't get much out of it. MDMA however, was a lifesaver. Helped me immensely.
Please share part 2 soon!
TYSM loved your video.
Great video. Have you read Michael Pollan's 'How to change your mind: The new science of psychedelics'? Absolutely fascinating.
Andrew Huberman channel 11 months ago did an extensive breakdown, if anyone's interested
Look forward to Part 2 ❤
You have to be careful! She explicitly said "when used in a controlled therapeutic setting", don't go around trying psychedelics without understanding them or their effects and without having good support.
Correct! Look at the latest peer-reviewed scholarly research on the substance. Read user reports at websites such as Erowid and PsychonautWiki. Have at least one trustworthy adult serve as a trip sitter. If you have any reservations, don’t use it.
Fascinating. Thank you for sharing your experience! I hope to be able to attend a retreat someday, but there's a part of me that is still hesitant.
Seems like a lot of benefits though!
@BennyDavidson-py6mc The retreat has a process and therapists.
Part 2 please🤍🤍🤍
This offers hope to a lot of people. Unfortunately I have a history of allergies and bad reactions to meds, so I shall probably stick to sea swimming. But if this helps others, I’m all for it, because we need to increase the overall happiness in the world. Hmm, I sound like I’ve been on 🍄after all 🙂
I also have bad reactions to meds, with EDS and MCAS, but surprisingly no bad reactions to ayahuasca and psilocybin...
In a sense this is completely different to anything conjured up in a lab, I am sensitive to all meds, including panadol
I don't want to try to talk you into anything because you know your body best, but I have found that psilocybin, LSD, ketamine all have helped reduce my overactive immune response by calming my nervous system, and also has strongly antiinflammatory effects. I have ME/CFS POTS and allergies, and I tolerate these medicines better than anything my doctor prescribes.
@@Artista.Atipica Thank you for sharing, have likely the same background...
@@Artista.Atipica & @arasharfa thank you so much for sharing!
I used psilocybin mushrooms over a decade ago and felt it was very mentally healthy for me. However, in the early part of the trip I would get nauseous and cold/ allergy symptoms with congestion and runny nose.
Since then, I've had more histamine (maybe MCAS?) reactions so I wondered if it would still be safe for me.
I love the idea it can be physically as well as mentally healing. 💜
Interesting! Thank you for telling your experience. Waiting for part 2. I have been very helped exploring many years of "being weird," and why: your work and book have been very helpful! Thank you.
Thank you, and I cant wait for part 2!! Pscyhadelic therapy is absolutely the future, I'm glad its gaining traction, and I'm so curious to hear the ways it may have changed you're internal experiences and approach to the world- I've been flirting with the idea of having a proper supervised shroom trip myself, having microdosed for a few months, but I'm still hesitant. Also, I heard from someone that autistic people tend to need higher doses of shrooms, as we naturally have a higher tolerance to psilocybin, or something along those lines? Not sure how scientifically backed that claim was, but if it is true- maybe thats why you needed a higher dose to get the trip going
It sounds like a wonderful place! I rarely take anything mind-altering (including alcohol) and only ever in moderating...3g + top-up is a perfect learning dose 🙏🏻
Hi, Sam,
This is late, but I now see what I’m most interested in hearing about in part 2: that is, how (and if) you were able to process trauma, and come out the other side feeling better, but also still feeling like yourself.
This interests me partly because I have had the experience of antidepressants making me feel less depressed, but also like I am not quite who I am supposed to be. And because I see now that the reason I chafe at some depiction of trauma (specifically early childhood trauma) is not just that I don’t think I experienced abuse or neglect, but also that my lifelong cognitive processing style - as well as low mood and overactive fear response, though not exactly desirable - is really who I am. It’s unquestionably partially heritable, based on family history, but even the things that occurred during early childhood development (when wiring is still being laid down) feel like part of myself, not some disastrous deus ex machina. I would like to dial down what I recognize as CPTSD from relatively recent events, plus things that grew over decades, but were I to wake up one day as a naturally happy, laid back person who rolls with every punch, life might be easier, but I would also not know who I was. Like masking on steroids.
So one concern I’ve had with psylo is whether it would unmoor me in the way that it may for people with certain disorders (I don’t think I have a clinical affective disorder, but I might have traits), but also that it not rewire me in a generally positive way that nonetheless undermines my sense of self. Neuroplasicity yes, but neuroplasticity that is consistent with who I am. Anything you have to offer that illuminates how this worked for you would be welcome.
i'm fascinated by psychedelics + neurodivergence, thank you for sharing your experience, i'm looking forward to part 2!
When comes part 2?💛🍀
Very interesting. I've been microdosing with psilocybin chocolate for a few months now and I feel a lot better as a result
Thanks for all your videos. I'm about to turn 50 and have been referred for diagnosis for dual diagnosis. It's a brave new world but content like yours helps. x
While shrooms are legal where I live (at the state level, but not at the federal level - the U.S. is weird), my employer’s policies are a barrier to my trying this. One more thing that will be delayed until retirement.
As others have commented, the group setting of this retreat is very unappealing, so I would need a private session to overcome my issues with groups first (if it works for me).
How about simply not telling your employer about it? It isn't something that they screen for.
@@liteoner Some jobs require from you bloodtest from time to time
@@mmmmmmmm9358 I wouldn't lose sleep over it, chances are they don't check for mushrooms
Would love more details. Thank you for sharing.
Part 2 pleaaaase!
Not psilocybin but I do ketamine therapy. It's helped me to quit drinking and reduced my mental health symptoms enough to realize my autistic traits. My ketamine therapist was actually the first to suggest that I have autism. Ketamine helped my partner quit drinking, smoking and discover they are transgender. Colorado has legalized psilocybin and I'm excited to try it in a therapeutic setting.
I wish I could go, but it is way out of my budget unfortunately 😢
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! It has helped me to remove the fear and has sparked my curiosity. ✨♥️
Interesting. It's not a path for me personally, but given the state of mental health care and how many people are suffering, it's definitely worth investigating for some👍👍
I wanna warn ppl of the shroom bots real quick. Ive seen the same exact comments with the same exact replies, saying “Never thought I’d be saying this about mushrooms”. I’ve seen these bot comments on channels of creators WITH schizophrenia, which really gave me a bad feeling. Dont fall for these comments or replies claiming to say they’re selling, who knows how reputable they are if they are only advertising to struggling people. Be careful.
@JasonJohnson-yi7cn -_-
Yeah, they are all over this comment section.
wonderfull, and wonderfully presented - good on you, and thankyou - lots of food for thought - reckon I will pursue it when things finally settle down - 5 years I reckon!
It can be incredibly therapeutic! Big fan of tripping if done safely.
Part 2 plssss I'm so curious about your experience now
Yes. I do want to hear about your experience with your treatment.
I love your energy
Just here to say a big Thank You for your wonderful workbook 'So you think you're autistic ' - it really helped me to organise my thoughts & observations, & to understand what some of the obscure criteria mean! Got diagnosed last Tuesday! (So happy bc I self-diagnosed about 25 years ago!)
Thank you for sharing this. I know of someone who also facilitates these retreats, although not with the same organisation you went with. He is a psychiatric nurse, and also clear that some people may actually have a psychotic break by undertaking these retreats. Not just a 'bad trip', which actually usually translates to a good trip in terms of healing benefits. I would be very interested, but in honesty the human brain is just so complex, and unpredictable. I would fear my brain throwing me into psychosis unexpectedly.( even though I have no history of psychosis). Also the therapists involved may well be able to provide a very supportive and safe emotional environment, but they wont be at all able to support anyone who does go onto experience full blown psychosis. I work in mental health and its very very difficult to support someone in the throes of pyschosis. This is even in a professional environment so on a retreat? My understanding is that there is much work to still be done to ensure safety on these retreats, and the need for a medical professional such as a Dr to be present. I feel in the field of mental health much discussion is already taking place about the use of psychedelics. Which is very exciting. So the warning is 'you may become psychotic' !. In which case, there is a lot at stake. Im possibly sounding over cautious because of working in mental health, and seeing what I see day in, day out.
I can’t wait to try it under the right medical conditions
Thank you so much for sharing your experience!! Could you talk more about the breath work you did?
And no promised video describing the actual trips.
I have emetophobia so I'm scared to death if I get nausea or someone around me gets sick. Did any of that happen?
Where is part two please? I can't find it anywhere and I'm frazzled and irritated!
Be really careful WHO you do this with. There are lots of inexperienced and malicious groups out there, a woman eecently died messing with this stuff in my region due to health issues and the inexperienced practitioner. This experience sounds very professional, monitered, careful and safe.
@Mycotrance that is fantastic! Just an important warning, I know mamy folks who have gone completely insane due to misuse. There are a lot of self proclaimed "shamans" out there doing harm. Research, be careful, be smart.
That sounds SO interesting! I have only ever heard good things about shrooms but I hate losing control and hallucinating and feeling trapped (I’ve only experienced this mildly when dosing MJ too high). And my uncle had schizophrenia so I may not be a good candidate anyway. But I can’t wait to watch part 2!! Thanks for sharing
Thank you for sharing this. I have worked with psychedelics for a long time, and find many benefits.
I am curious about what kind of breathwork you did?
This was fascinating, TY for sharing. What was your mental state like in the weeks following the experience. You mention presence with the micro dosing, less stress, and physical relief / improvements. What about the mental noise (both with micro-dosing and after the full experience)?
It was after a similar experience blasting off into space that I noticed how nice and peaceful life was in the days / week or two after. The day after I would ask myself what things I would do for myself if I cared for and wanted the best for myself - I wanted to exercise, eat healthy, meditate, read, work, play, do chores like the dishes, and spend time with loved ones. Most of those activities would cause anxiety and get the mental chatter going looking for excuses / distractions, but I didn't have that for a solid week or two. I thought it, and then I did it, no push back. I could hear myself think instead of hearing non-stop noise. I even looked at the clock more than once thinking "Wow, there's so much time in a day"... Was the most mundane and the most wonderful time I've had with myself. Part of investigating the AuDHD in my life came from that experience and perceiving "that's what it's like to be neurotypical", and though I've started on meds, I don't know if it's realistic to strive for that. Feeling at peace with the universe is probably afterglow, but I don't know if the mental space is reasonable to expect without regular trips out into the beyond...
I'm still early in my learning, but would love your feedback. Thanks, and looking forward to Part 2.
Would love to hear about your psychedelic experience . I'm very interested in trying this type of therapy.
The thouught of being high makes me so nervous. But I'm glad it was helpful for you!
Thanks for sharing! It's helpful hearing others experiences with these.
I've wondered if its something I should look into for a couple years, since I've seen a lot of info online, from Psychiatrists or others who've done similar retreats and have similar traits/history as me (e.g. ND or also raised in religious cults).
I'm diagnosed "mildly" autistic, and was raised in a fundamentalist religious cult (Mormon), and I still struggle with deeply entrenched self-worth issues despite having loads of self-awareness and gathered information (my therapist says that normally people break through when they have this much awareness, but there's something in me that refuses to let it go (so, there's obviously still something in there that I'm not aware of)).
I was finally going to try EMDR, after also considering that for over a 1.5 yrs, and had my preliminary meeting the other week... But the EMDR therapist said that I'm not ready for EMDR yet. I need to work with my therapist on being able to identify and articulate what my body is doing in relation to emotions, and identifying the emotions themselves, more than I currently can. It doesn't need to be perfect, but needs to be more than I currently can, since it's an important part of EMDR.
I'm going to talk with my therapist today about this retreat.
I'm still on disability from a breakdown a couple years ago, and I've already spent so much on my mental health in the past 1.5 years, with no real progress (primarily my own fault for repeatedly backing off from things after I get triggered again). But my disability ends this year, no matter what, and I need to find something that truly helps while I still have dedicated time and enough resources. This might be a good next step right now, since I can't carry forward with EMDR yet, and their site talks about helping with self-worth and stuckness.
I've never used any substances like that though, so am still hesitant and would have no clue what to expect. First time I even had a drink was in my 30s, and I still almost never drink. Only drink tea a handful of times per year to help with headaches (never even tasted coffee).
Thanks, though I'm not comfortable trying them on my own. I'd want some kind of professional support. I wouldn't have the slightest clue how to control doses or know how to make sure it's being used therapeutically.
But I appreciate you for helping by sharing the info!!
Where is part 2?
I live someplace where psilocybin is legal and learned to grow my own medicines. I feel the effects of very low doses, but have the most profound and positive experiences only with extremely high doses (11g for my last journey!) Smaller doses (even of 5g) make me feel jittery and twitchy and are generally unpleasant. My journeys have been some of the most profound experiences of my life and altered my spiritual views entirely. Potency definitely varies by strain and growing conditions, but I heard autistics tend to do better with much higher doses and I found this to be the case for me as well (I'm not on any SSRIs).
I have found occasionally psilocybin and LSD to be very helpful, as i can get quite 'stuck' in a particular mindset due to my need for order and rationalising which for me is part of autism.
Samantha, the ringlight bouncing back from your glasses is very distracting❤
I’m curious if this would work for those of us with Aphantasia. Nothing I have tried so far helps with my anxiety.
Psychedelics gave me the ability to see things from a different perspective and allowed me to begin working on myself and dealing with my trauma. I owe who I am today in part to lessons I learned while having psychedelic experiences.i have been dealing with trauma, anxiety and other disorders for more than a decade now, but this came to an end when i started using PSYCHEDELIC for healing, now i feel better.
If you need some psychedelic products get intouch with
perfect_shroom
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did you share your experience with aphantasia anywhere? For me, it is hard to imagine new things. Is it a part of aphantasia?
Looking forward to Part 2
Very interesting! And very brave of you to go! I think I’d be terrified to try 😅
Thanks for sharing your experiences. Some time ago I researched retreats to do this, but apart from also not having enough money it worries me from a medical point of view.
The gene that is responsible for the enzymes in the liver for processing around 25% of medications, including LSD and psylocybin, is missing on one allele in my case, which is why I have problems processing ADHD medication too, it affects also SSRIs and opiods. I don't know whether I would trust a retreatment centre to make the correct dose adjustment in my case and it would probably be too much of a risk for them too. That makes me sad, because I am sure, it really could help me. 😔
I wonder about this too in terms of pharmacogenetics. I have 7 extra copies on some of mine, so my liver ultra-rapid metabolizes things and it's why most SSRI and opiates are dangerous for me. My lab results didn't cover other types of drugs of ingestion so I have no idea what I can and can't metabolzie normally.
I would love to hear your story. Very interesting!
Waiting on Part ✌️
I haven’t done the mushroom thing but when I am really having a hard time with certain things or just need to take the edge off, I take some different forms of THC free products derived from industrial hemp and natural terpenes, such as delta 8, delta 10, some delta 9, THC-O, THC-P, HHC, CBD, CBG, ect… I have these in gummy and vape forms. I do not smoke marijuana because I am not able to handle that form and intensity of the delta 9 THC. I also have different Terpenes I use that I use in food and drinks that work well also. I also have various industrial hemp flowers that I smoke and find it so very helpful for different symptoms. When I take these things I find that it works kind of like a drain cleaner, my brain just opens up and it just feels so free, I can think clearly and the stress, anxiety, depression or whatever just dissipates. I have to pay attention to how much I take at a time for too much tends to go overboard and then brings in other or more intense symptoms so it is really a matter of keeping things balanced and being mindful of what is going on within myself. The only negative effects I’ve ever had was when I simply overdid the dose and then just suffered a lack of sleep or too much the next day and an occasional headache but this was all gone relatively quickly with no long term effects that medication does and it is all none addictive.
I am Autistic and have ADHD and a lot of trauma so I do get triggered often and am so glad to have discovered these non medication alternatives to help when the stress and anxiety become too much for me to handle.
@BennyDavidson-py6mc I wouldn't want to lose or suppress my ADHD neurotype. While I can experience difficulty in some areas, it brings me joy, as well, and is an essential part of who I am. What do you mean specifically when you say psilocybin has relieved your ADHD?
❤AWESOME ❤ BEST VIDEO EVER THANK YOU SO MUCH ❤
I would love to hear more details about your trips! I have taken mushrooms several times in the past and I have had all good experiences. However, I haven't taken them since discovering I am autistic and getting my diagnosis. Now, for some reason I do not yet know, I am very scared to take them! I think it ultimately could be very healing for me to face that fear.