Studies suggest psilocybin acts as a "lubricant for the mind" that allows people to escape a cycle of depressive symptoms
One study gave 19 patients a single dose of the psychedelic ingredient psilocybin. Half the patients ceased to be depressed and experienced changes in their brain activity that lasted about five weeks

The team at Imperial performed fMRI brain scans before treatment with psilocybin and then the day after (when the patients were "sober" again).
The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, showed psilocybin affected two key areas of the brain.

The amygdala - which is heavily involved in how we process emotions such as fear and anxiety - became less active. The greater the reduction, the greater the improvement in reported symptoms.
The default-mode network - a collaboration of different brain regions - became more stable after taking psilocybin.
Dr Robin Carhart-Harris, head of psychedelic research at Imperial, said the depressed brain was being "clammed up" and the psychedelic experience "reset" it.

BBC News - Magic mushrooms can 'reset' depressed brain [bbc.com]

Yes. I did a lot of psychedelics back in the day, and it definitely changed me and shaped my thinking. There's a book out now buy Michael Pollan called "How to Change Your Mind" about psychedelics. He researched them thoroughly and took them several times and writes about what he discovered.

I did alot of acid from 76 to 94. For me, it was a mind enema. It cleaned out all the bullshit for about 8 hours. There was an incredible amount of laughing and food tasted like aluminum foil. Great times.

Back in high school days, I used to eat acid like pez. I got to the point that I didn’t need it anymore, I saw reality just fine without it. That was decades ago, I think I’m ready to do some more.

I've heard this from multiple sources, including my own wife, who tried everything once or twice it seems, in her salad days. The only thing I took her up on was pot. Didn't see what all the fuss was about though. Even she felt it didn't impress her like she remembered it doing years ago.

I'd try LSD in a properly controlled situation (known dosage and purity, professionally administered). It's too bad that society has overreacted in outlawing that kind of research.

I tried them a handful of times when I was in my twenties. Twenty years later, I'm finding myself curious again because of the beneficial effects I've been reading/hearing about. Still doing the internal debate.

Please do not take any more! "The language of the trees"......??!???!?

No thoughts other than I have never had any interest. My reality is crazy enough as it is.

I read every single one of Carlos Castaneda's books. They were great.

I tried mushrooms one time while camping. We were in the middle of no where and the first time I had ever tried anything like that. It was all well and good at first. Then out of no where the cops showed up. I was flipping. My buddies did all the talking and the cops eventually left. But I didn't stop flipping out until the next morning. Every little noise I heard I thought was the police. I didn't want a fire going or any food being cooked. I tried running off into the woods but my friends talked me out of it. Needless to say it was a bad trip. I haven't touched anything like that since.

I experienced a lot in my prime, tried just about everything that didn't imply needles. Some were bad idea from the start (pcp) but taught me a lot about researching before trying...

Best experiences were with mushrooms (Psilocybin). I do agree that it can be enlightening, and can widen consciousness perceptions. I can relate to your comment about "knowing you were hallucinating", for me that was part of the enlightening, being aware of my own consciousness being altered gave me new perspective on the very notion of "awareness".

I did a lot of different variations of acid from 96-2005. Taking some breaks here and there. It was definitely an amazing, mind-opening experience. I was lucky enough to never have a "bad trip" and I do not oppose to trying in any way.

I added a great book I read I think in 2003, that was lots of fun in RE: LSD experiences and thinking.

Was tripping on LSD one night with some friends. We were camping out by the river. The one thing that stands out from that night was my friends black teeth. We had gone to the store to buy beer and under those fluorescent lights her teeth were nasty, and so stained they looked black. This was over 30 years ago.

No, drugs are risky. I don't need drugs to experience anything I choose to experience. I just need a quiet space.

I am currently reading How to Change your Mind by Michael Pollan. Very interesting. There is much buzz about all these drugs lately like in the 1950s when first discovered. Outlawed in 1963 but some research continued. Bill Wilson of AA originally thought it should be part of the protocol. I think if it can do some good for anxiety, depression, OCD, schizophrenia, PTSD, addiction or other mental trauma then we need to keep an open mind.

For me, it was the same. I never saw reality, nature and humor in quite the same way as before. It was a enriching experience and I am better for it, but I don’t want to do it again, as bad trips are really bad!

It is suggested that psilocybin mushrooms are what could be "the missing link" in human evolution. Causing us to expand our mind and work as better hunters and members of organized civilizations. Psychedelics help to dissolve the ego and give you sense of unity with others, the world, and the universe. I've had profound experiences on psychedelics and would advocate highly for them.

Definitely had some experiences in my early twenties with shrooms, LSD and mescaline. I always wanted to try peyote-never got my hands on it. I thought my safe window to do psychedelics had long since passed. It is seeming to pop up more about the benefits, ayahuasca is the most intriguing to me. I’m just not sure how I’d react at this point in life.

i can't believe no mention of salvia

LSD used to be my drug of choice when I was younger. You can have some amazing times with it! It's been years since I've indulged in anything besides alcohol though.

(I'm not advocating) LSD and psilocybin are much less lethal than alcohol and also non-addictive according to many studies.
as for harm caused by drugs, these 2 are also way safe.

I would be afraid to try anything like this. I just do not know enough about the brain and possible adverse effects later on.

Trying microdosing. Just started so no reports. Anyone else?

Hey i've done shrooms and changa, never LSD. The trips too long for me

Within the context of a culture/society that values and honors them and considers them "sacred", under the guidance of a teacher/healer/guide who is fully trained and vetted, with a substance that is fully understood and properly sourced, prepared, dosed, etc. and with the "correct" mindset, ABSO-FUCKIN-LUTELY!

Without those elements, forget it. (For discussion of comparable dynamics, see the recent post by "Anonymous" on the "cost" of superficial yoga/meditation practice, as bastardized by Western captains of industry and heedlessly ingested by certain strains of shallow trendsters.)