Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia are also common in young people and can cause serious and life-threatening complications if not treated properly.
Several clinical trials are examining the effects of psilocybin mushrooms, or “magic mushrooms,” on patients with OCD, conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression.
What is Anorexia Mental?
Anorexia nervosa is a serious eating disorder that is characterized by excessive food restriction , excessive fear of weight gain, and disturbed body image . People with anorexia nervosa typically have significantly below normal body weight for their age and height, and they may have obsessive thoughts about food, weight, and physical appearance.
People with anorexia nervosa may also engage in compensatory behaviors such as self-induced vomiting, laxatives, diuretics, excessive exercise, and fasting to prevent weight gain. Anorexia nervosa is more common in women and young girls, but it can also occur in men and boys.
Anorexia nervosa is a complex illness that has serious physical and psychological consequences. It can cause health problems such as weight loss, anemia, menstrual problems, osteoporosis, fatigue, and heart problems. It can also cause psychological problems such as anxiety, depression, and self-image disorders.
What is the treatment for anorexia nervosa?
While there are ANSM-approved drugs for bulimia nervosa and binge eating, there is nothing for anorexia nervosa and the disorder has one of the highest death rates of any disease. psychiatry in young girls.
However, there are several treatment options for anorexia nervosa, which may include:
- Psychotherapy: Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered the first-line treatment approach for anorexia nervosa. CBT aims to help people with anorexia identify and change the negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to their eating disorder.
- Family therapy: Anorexia nervosa often has a big impact on family members, and it can be helpful to work with a family therapist to help improve relationships and family dynamics.
- Medication: There is no specific medication to treat anorexia nervosa, but medications can be used to treat associated symptoms, such as anxiety and depression .
- Hospitalization: People with severe anorexia nervosa may need hospitalization to stabilize their physical condition and to receive intensive care for their eating disorder.
It is important to note that treating anorexia nervosa can be a long and difficult process , and it is important to see a qualified mental health professional to get proper treatment for this condition.
The role of psilocybin in the treatment of anorexia?
A clinical trial at the University of Arizona examining the effects of psilocybin mushrooms , or “magic mushrooms,” on patients with OCD . The study is part of a burgeoning field of mental health research that has so far focused primarily on disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression; now, more and more researchers are seeing new potential to help patients with eating disorders as well.
“I came to a place of peace with it,” Schendel (a patient) says of her relationship with food and her body.
September 2020, the scientific journal Eating and Weight Disorders - Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity published the first quantitative analysis of the psychological effects of psychedelics in people with eating disorders. The data " demonstrate strong evidence for improvements in measures of depression and well-being following a psychedelic experience ," the researchers wrote.
There is no single cause for eating disorders and disease profiles vary widely, but certain characteristics are common and help explain disease resistance to treatment.
Eating disorders have a strong genetic basis that is closely linked to factors such as life experiences, personality characteristics, and socio-cultural influences.
Therefore, the researchers suggest that a full recovery may require not only a change in diet or exercise, but also in the way patients think.
Psychedelic drugs are known to quiet activity in the brain's default network , a group of interconnected structures involved in various cognitive processes related to introspection and introspection. In patients with eating disorders, this network often maintains a negative self-image and encourages the repetition of maladaptive behaviors related to eating and weight control.
" The disorder invades neural systems in a pathological way ," says one researcher. " No drug we have right now can break those bonds. Psychedelics seem to be able to facilitate that ."
A psychedelic experience that disrupts the neural connections that dictate thought patterns can be a powerful break for people who are, for example, stuck in a pattern obsessed with how their bodies look.
Additionally, psychedelic experiences often enhance feelings of mind-body connection, helping patients revert to physiological cues, such as hunger cues, says Ben Greenberg , an American clinical psychologist .
But the impact of mushrooms does not end during the journey itself. Lasting effects can manifest in the following weeks and months as users explore what happened during the psychedelic experience.
Meg Spriggs , a scientist at the Center for Psychedelic Research at Imperial College London , calls this the post-acute phase: "After psychedelic exposure, the brain is more malleable and plastic" and possibly able to generate new neural connections and new thought patterns.
However, the research is still in its infancy. A team at UCSF is currently receiving regulatory approvals for a new study that may be the first to examine the effects of psychedelics on young adults with anorexia nervosa.
it is important to make sure that these drugs are safe and effective for them. . Because " side and adverse effects are remarkably rare " with psilocybin use, and because psychedelic research is " slowly beginning to trickle down to more medically vulnerable populations ," researchers hope to help with their work young adults.
The Importance of Set & Setting
In psychedelic medicine, “Set and setting” – the first referring to the state of mind and the second to the environment – are essential to provide a safe context for a productive journey . Under the right conditions, brain plasticity can enable a positive effect.
the rituals, combined with the peaceful natural environment and community setting, help participants open their minds to the newness and wonder of the experience and surrender to the realizations that may emerge.
The Microdosing of Truffles with Psylocibin
Microdosing psychedelics involves taking very low doses of these substances, usually lower than those used for "trip" type experiences, with the goal of enhancing cognitive and emotional performance. The substances most commonly used for microdosing are LSD and psilocybin, although other psychedelics such as mescaline and ibogaine have also been used.
Microdosing has been described as having beneficial effects such as improved creativity, focus, energy and productivity, as well as reduced symptoms of disorders such as depression, anxiety and PTSD . However, it is important to note that research on microdosing is still very limited and there is not yet conclusive scientific proof of its effects.
As Greenberg explains, psychedelic treatment does not erase the impact of trauma, and " trying to maintain the illusion that 'I'm completely done with this' can be dangerous territory ." ," he adds.
While psychedelics appear to be one of the most promising interventions for people struggling with eating disorders and poor body image,
Kaplan of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health warns it's too early for celebration. But he remains hopeful. "Based on the neurobiology of anorexia and how we know psychedelics work, it seems reasonable to believe that it might work."
As Downey points out, psilocybin acts on the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor , which is "thought to be highly variable or mutated in anorexia nervosa" .
Conclusion :
Given the inadequacy of available treatments for patients with anorexia nervosa and the high mortality rate of this disease, there is nothing to lose.
It is important to see a mental health professional to get proper treatment for this condition.
Sources:
https://www.thecut.com/2023/01/magic-mushrooms-eating-disorder-treatment.html
It is important to note that most psychedelics are illegal or restricted substances, and their use should be done with caution and under qualified medical supervision. It is important not to undertake microdosing without the advice of a health professional and to respect the laws in force in your country. It is also important to remember that the effects can vary from person to person and it is important to be alert to your own reactions.
