Magic Mushrooms VS. Depression

 Depression: 

Sadness is a perfectly normal reaction to life’s struggles, setbacks, and disappointments. Many people use the word “depression” to explain these kinds of feelings, but depression is much more than just sadness.  Depression is the overwhelming feeling of sadness when everything in your life seems to be going right.  However,  individuals struggling with depression do not feel sad, instead they feel empty, lifeless, apathetic, or even angry, aggressive, and relentless. 

Whatever the symptoms, there is a very clear distinction between depression and a feeling of sadness. Depression negatively influences people's day to day lives as it interferes with their ability to work, study, sleep, eat, or even enjoy themselves. The overwhelming feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense with little if any relief.

Over 3 million people suffer from depression in the United States alone. Depression is a mood disorder where one feels sad and experiences consistent loss of interest. Depression is treatable through a medical professional with a medical diagnosis. The reason as to why depression is so common is because the chemical imbalances a brain along with stressful life events are the perfect combination that causes people to develop depression.

Many of these stressful life events, such as losing a family member (aka: a loved one) happens all the time and is considered a part of life. Major depression can lead to a range of emotional and physical conditions. Individuals with major depression often are unable to sleep or concentrate on tasks. They also experience changes in appetite, decreased energy level, and thoughts of suicide. Medications (for example citalopram and paroxetine) that act on the chemical imbalance in the brain are also useful treatments for major depression.

Depression comes in many shapes and forms. The different types of depression have unique symptoms, causes, and effects. Knowing what type of depression you have can help you manage your symptoms and get the most effective treatment. It is normal, in life, to feel sad and happy according to whatever is happening during different periods of a lifespan. It is when feelings of hopelessness, isolation and despair paralyze an individual from living a healthy normal life that is what living with depression feels like. No matter how hopeless one feels, anyone can get better. Understanding the signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment of depression is the first step to overcoming the problem.

Types of Depression:

Major depression is characterized by the inability to enjoy life and experience pleasure. The symptoms of major depression are constant, ranging from moderate to severe. Left untreated, major depression typically lasts for about six months. Some people experience just a single depressive episode in their lifetime, but more commonly, major depression is a recurring disorder. Recurring mild depression is known as Dysthmia. Individuals who suffer from dysthmia feel moderately depressed most days with brief periods of normal mood.

Symptoms are not as severe as major depression, but it's symptoms tend to last much longer. It is very possible for people to experience major depression as well as dysthmia at the same time. This is known as 'double depression'. Many who struggle with dysthmia feel as though they have always suffered with depression or believe that this 'continuous depressed state' is normal. Dysthmia can in fact be treated even if the individual has not been diagnosed and treated for many years.

Cyclic mood changes called 'episodes' that vary from severe depression alternating to manic (euphoric) are characteristic of bipolar disorder (aka: manic depression). Because episodes tend to alternate, many tend to develop impulsive behaviors, hyperactivity, rapid speech, and a minimum to no sleep. Usually the altering of these two extreme moods is gradual. Each manic or depressive episode last only for several weeks. When depressed, a person with bipolar disorder exhibits the usual symptoms of major depression.

Symptoms: 

There are many symptoms to look out for to know if you are suffering from depression. A feeling of hopelessness/helplessness where an overwhelming feeling that nothing will get better and that there is nothing to do to change it. Losing interest in daily activities such as hobbies, past times, and any form of social life. Many times this is associated with losing the ability to feel joy and pleasure. Weight and appetite fluctuations are a big red flag for depression.

Inability to sleep, insomnia, or waking early and even oversleeping are signs of depression. Feeling fatigued, sluggish, and physically drained. When the whole body feels so heavy that performing daily tasks are exhausting and take longer to complete.Feelings of agitation, restlessness, or even violent behavior indicating a low tolerance level, very short temper, and everyone/everything anger you.

Self loathing is also a symptom where an individual has very strong feelings of worthlessness or guilt. Difficulty in concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things are also common in have a loved one with depression, take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously and learn to recognize the warning signs. Extreme cases of depression, individuals will feel as though their lives are not worth living and is a major risk factor for suicide.

Introduction:

Magic mushrooms have lifted severe depression in a dozen volunteers in a clinical trial, raising scientists’ hopes that the psychedelic experiences beloved of the Aztecs and the hippy counter-culture of the 1970s could one day become mainstream medicine. According to what history tells us, humans have been consuming psychedelic mushrooms for thousands of years. However, it wasn't until the 1950s that scientists began examining psilocybin and its possible therapeutic properties.

In the first theory, the memory of the “trip” — which can be a profound and extremely meaningful experience — could have a strong psychological effect on people, lifting their moods for months at a time. Alternatively, there may be a biological explanation: It’s possible the binding of psilocin to the serotonin receptor sets off a cascade of yet-unknown chemical reactions that persist for weeks or months.

  Magic Mushrooms:

Magic mushrooms are known to cause the mind to experience a recreational hallucinogen effect. Studies have recently shown that these mushrooms can have a powerful pharmaceutical effect for people diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. Mushrooms from the genus Psilocybe contain psilocybin which is broken down by the human body into psilocin.

This psychedelic substance then crosses the blood-brain barrier and binds to a specific serotonin receptor known as 5-HT2A. A great change in consciousness occurs that is describe by people as a mystical event, a spiritual journey, or  a 'trip'. Psychedelic compounds in LSD, ayahuasca, and mescaline bind to this same receptor. (A)

It is illegal to buy Psilocybin for personal use in US and is subsequently extremely difficult in obtaining psilocybin for research studies. If the results from this pilot study show positive results, patients suffering from severe depression will be able to take doses of psilocybin with psychological support after they have been screened thoroughly and properly for the treatment.

The ultimate goal is to treat patients whose symptoms can be decreased through treatment-resistant depression at least temporarily for now. There definitely needs to be much more research before this treatment can be used safely and properly by the 15.7 million people who are struggling with depression. Once psilocybin becomes FDA approved, it is predicted that this will be the new treatment for depression. (A)

Research: Study No. 1: 

Six men and six women with chronic, treatment-resistant, moderate to severe major depression consented to take two different doses of psilocybin (10 mg and 25 mg), separated by one week. There was no control group, and the participants and in what’s called an “open label trial,” the investigators all knew that they were either taking or administering psilocybin. During the dosing sessions, participants relaxed on a bed in a room with dim lighting and listened to music through earphones. Supervisors monitored their blood pressure, heart rate and the psychoactive effects of the compound intermittently for up to six hours after they took the pills, while psychiatrists offered support but mostly let patients have their own “inner journey,” as the study put it, without interruptions. (A)

Results:

None of the participants experienced serious or unexpected negative side effects that required medical intervention from the dosing, though some reported mild anxiety, confusion, nausea or headache. The psychedelic effects peaked about two to three hours after dosing and then became negligible after about six hours. Most significantly, eight of the 12 patients responded extremely well to the psilocybin, meeting the criteria for remission from depression one week after the two treatments. After three months, five of them remained in remission, while another two continued to show improvement in their depression symptoms compared to baseline. Overall, all 12 patients showed at least some improvement in their symptoms for up to three weeks after the dose. (A)

The results seem promising, but there are some caveats. The overall positive response to the dosing treatment could in part be chalked up to the fact that the participants actively sought out the psilocybin trial and were probably expecting the medicine to work on some level, creating a bias in favor of the intervention. Indeed, five of the participants had already tried psilocybin at least once — one just six months before the experiment, others ranging from 14 to 48 years prior. His past experience with a drug and its presumed positive effects could increase suggestibility and expectancy in people, which could affect the results. Double-blind trials in which neither patient nor therapist knows which intervention they received or administered, as well as the inclusion of a control group, could address these issues in future experiments. (A)

Concluding Remarks:

These results gives hope for people with depressive symptoms for treatment-resistant depression which is a condition that does not respond to traditional antidepressant medication and therapy. Before the experiment, participants of the study reported that they had tried at least two courses of traditional antidepressants that were unsuccessful for them. Eleven of these participants received some kind of psychotherapy where the average amount of years of psychotherapy for depression was 18 years.

 

Because depression can be so chronic and relentless the possibility of psilocyin could soon be the huge shift in psycho-pharmacological treatment for depression. Especially since it works so quickly and the length of time it worked. The trips can sometimes be negative and extremely scary for some people and patients with treatment-resistant depression seeking psychological insight with a less exciting trajectory might consider the slow route offered by traditional dynamic psychotherapy.

 

Links:
(A) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/magic-mushrooms-show-promise-in-first-ever-depression-treatment-trial_us_573a5c2be4b077d4d6f3d5fd
(B)https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/may/17/magic-mushrooms-lift-severe-depression-in-clinical-trial
(C)https://projecthelping.org/the-symptoms/
 http://kissthemgoodbye.net/movie/thumbnails.php?album=566&page=10

Factory Girl: Pain Treatment without Addiction

The Question: Are doctors unknowingly feeding into their patients' addictions? The Answer: Has never been simple.

A patient is prescribed painkillers for a chronic condition or injury and ends up dependent on highly addictive opiate drugs. Chronic and debilitating pain, which strikes millions of Americans, can be managed safely without the long-term use of addictive painkillers. New alternatives to opiate drugs — including injections, implants, and non-medical physical therapies can all offer relief without posing a dependency risk.  Patients that suffer with chronic pain, have debilitating lives causing them develop depression, isolation, loss of job, loss of income, and feelings of worthlessness and helplessness, and how it can affect relationships. Unfortunately, many chronic pain sufferers turn to opiate drugs, such as OxyContin, and become addicted. At some point, the drugs are taken for more than just pain relief. (C)

Addiction to opioids is a chronic medical conditions. It occurs in people who are susceptible to brain changes. Once an individual has developed a narcotic addiction the road to recovery is a long and painful one. With the aid of drugs such as buprenorphine (aka: naloxone) and naltrexone, traditional therapies such as methadone, as well as 12 step programs can lead to successful recovery. (B)

It is difficult to discuss the nations' over reliance on opioids meanwhile treating debilitating pain. A study conducted by Community Care was to address this problem on a patient by patient basis. Out of the 1,200 patients 70 percent receive opioids as part of their 'pain management program' including non-narcotic drugs, physical therapy, injections, and appointments with a psychologist. (A)

From the New York Times article, 'Treating Pain Without Feeding Addiction at 'Ground Zero' for Opioids' had me coming back to the question of the source of many addictions throughout the US.  The physicians were interested in talking about any illness that their patients often times miners, waitresses, as well as other professions that were physically painful to the body. The patients, however,  only verbalized their pain and plead for opioids such as Vicodin and Percocet. These pharmaceutical drugs help with chronic pain but for the most recent year as have given birth to an epidemic of addiction and many overdoses. (A)

Many of the physicians from the organization felt inclined to prescribe these drugs because such towns are small where they grew up with their patients. It was difficult for them to deny their patients of treatment. The community Care decided to hire an anesthesiologist to treat chronic pain, relieving the primary care physicians and nurses of this duty and allowing them to concentrate on patients that they were comfortable conditions to treat. (A)

 

Once the addition to narcotics has fully formed and changed the persons brain, a physical dependence also forms along with it. Prescription drugs begin to alter the very circuits responsible for a person's mood and reward behaviors. When taken for long periods, almost every system of the body is affected as well. So whenever the drugs are cut off, the individual begins to experience 'opioid withdrawal symptoms' that include craving for drugs, diarrhea, large pupils, yawning, abdominal pain, chills/goose bumps, nausea/vomiting, body aches, agitation and severe negative mood swings. (B)

Opioid withdrawal is so difficult to endure that many times medications are given to prevent the symptoms during withdrawal symptoms during detox so that people can ease out of their physical dependence on opioids. Withdrawal of opioids are so difficult that it is often times the main reason people relapse and continue prescription drug abuse. The syndrome of opioid withdrawal itself is intensely unpleasant and makes people with well established narcotic addictions will do anything to avoid this feeling. Withdrawal lasts from hours to several days to weeks, depending on how long and how much a person has used their drug of choice. After the intense initial symptoms subside, some physical and mental discomfort may persist for weeks. (B)

Methadone, a long acting opioid drug, is a well known medication used for opioid withdrawal symptoms. This drug activates the opioid receptors that are stimulated by the very narcotics being used. This effectively removes any withdrawal symptoms during detox. Using the proper dose of methadone, the drug cravings are eased without causing a euphoric feeling. The dose is then slowly tapered off, allowing the person to become physically independent of the drug without the symptoms of withdrawal. This drug is the most effective known treatment for narcotic addictions. (B)

Other medications such as Buprenorphine and Naloxone (suboxone) are also used for detox from prescripion drug addiction. Buprenorphine functions in activating opioid receptors, reducing drug cravings, and preventing withdrawal. Naloxone, helps prevent missuse of the medication. Clonidine is a blood pressure medicine that acts on the brain.  Clonidine reduces the effects of the "fight or flight" response, which is over-activated during opioid withdrawal. However, clonidine does nothing to reduce drug craving, and is mostly ineffective when used alone.(B) 

"Rapid detox" programs claim to accelerate the process of detox and opioid withdrawal by giving large doses of opioid blocking drugs. Some programs place an addict under general anesthesia during the detox process. These programs have not proven to be more effective than traditional methods of detox, and may be more dangerous. (B)

The problem with opiates being used to control pain is that once the painful problem (broke bone) has healed and the need to opiate pain medicine is no longer needed, patients tend to experience a sense of energy or sense of well being from these very same drugs. This is where the addiction begins, as these patients start taking the medication to treat non-medical issues.

 In order to reduce the risk of addiction from body aches such as back pain, arthritis pain, or even pain from surgery, there needs to be drugs that are less addicting and less harmful. The goal is to find a way to manage chronic pain without harming something else within the body (ie the brain circuits).

Chronic back pain may get better with massage, heat, yoga, physical therapy, other non-opiate medications, other non-steroidal medications, muscle relaxants, other classes of medications. Anticonvulsants help with chronic pain [as well as] nerve blocks, injections epidurals, and different kinds of injections and implantable techniques. (C)

Links:
(A)http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/12/us/opioids-addiction-chronic-pain.html?_r=0
(B) http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/breaking-an-addiction-to-painkillers-treatment-overvew
(C)http://www.newsmax.com/Health/Health-News/chronic-pain-relief-addiction/2013/12/27/id/544030/

*Please note! These images are not mine. They were found on various tumblr sites! If any are yours please let me know so that I can give you credit for them! Also the people in the images have no relation to the diseases, illnesses, or cancers I write about. Thanks so much & enjoy~