An expert in the psychedelic experience would likely say that through this experience you learned both the nature of depression and how to grow beyond it.
These things are not "recreational." Their effects are difficult to predict, highly individual, and while often transformative are not always pleasantly so. Yet I've found both myself and with most people I've known who have used these things, the effects tend to be on balance positive.
The only exception is people who chronically abuse these substances. Using them irresponsibly, repeatedly, and carelessly can indeed destroy your mind. I've seen it.
I had an interesting experience myself many years ago that was very beneficial.
When I was younger I was often an underachiever. When I tried I scored off the charts, and when I found things I liked (like programming) I would self-educate to the amazement of adults (was doing 6502 machine code at 8). But I just didn't have any desire to do anything "out there" that was strong enough to motivate me to deal with the annoying hoops you have to jump through to get there. I always hated school and did poorly at it, and had no idea what I wanted to do. I think I really dreaded growing up.
After the experience, all that changed and rather abruptly. I returned to college after having left, and my GPA went from <2.0 before to >3.5. My first quarter back was full of A's and B's, not C's and D's, and this mostly continued through to the end. I did change major, from CS to biology, because I'd had this huge epiphany about how if you want to understand AI you have to understand how life actually does intelligence. So I proceeded to finish all my bio prereqs in accelerated time and still managed to finish with a high GPA in 2 years. Then I went into research, biotech, and eventually got into startups (but that's another story).
I ended up working in CS, but the bio-inspired intelligence research is still a strong interest of mine and I follow the literature pretty religiously. I might go back to it if I'm ever able to make a gig out of it. In bio I also learned a lot of math and science stuff that I've used on a regular basis since then for other purposes, as well as a uniquely biologically-informed way of looking at complex systems and economies and such.
Ever since that experience, my output increased astronomically in every area. I also became more socially active and generally more positive.
Still, any time someone asks me about psychedelics I always give them both a dose of optimism and a dose of caution. As I said I've seen "acid casualties." These things are powerful and should not be used without respect. I haven't personally touched these things in many many years, and haven't had much interest in doing so. I feel like whatever benefit I was able to get has already been achieved.
Edit: I wasn't trying to make some point against the original commenter, just relating my own experience. If you delve into the literature you'll find an enormous variety of experiences both positive and negative.
These things are not "recreational." Their effects are difficult to predict, highly individual, and while often transformative are not always pleasantly so. Yet I've found both myself and with most people I've known who have used these things, the effects tend to be on balance positive.
The only exception is people who chronically abuse these substances. Using them irresponsibly, repeatedly, and carelessly can indeed destroy your mind. I've seen it.
I had an interesting experience myself many years ago that was very beneficial.
When I was younger I was often an underachiever. When I tried I scored off the charts, and when I found things I liked (like programming) I would self-educate to the amazement of adults (was doing 6502 machine code at 8). But I just didn't have any desire to do anything "out there" that was strong enough to motivate me to deal with the annoying hoops you have to jump through to get there. I always hated school and did poorly at it, and had no idea what I wanted to do. I think I really dreaded growing up.
After the experience, all that changed and rather abruptly. I returned to college after having left, and my GPA went from <2.0 before to >3.5. My first quarter back was full of A's and B's, not C's and D's, and this mostly continued through to the end. I did change major, from CS to biology, because I'd had this huge epiphany about how if you want to understand AI you have to understand how life actually does intelligence. So I proceeded to finish all my bio prereqs in accelerated time and still managed to finish with a high GPA in 2 years. Then I went into research, biotech, and eventually got into startups (but that's another story).
I ended up working in CS, but the bio-inspired intelligence research is still a strong interest of mine and I follow the literature pretty religiously. I might go back to it if I'm ever able to make a gig out of it. In bio I also learned a lot of math and science stuff that I've used on a regular basis since then for other purposes, as well as a uniquely biologically-informed way of looking at complex systems and economies and such.
Ever since that experience, my output increased astronomically in every area. I also became more socially active and generally more positive.
Still, any time someone asks me about psychedelics I always give them both a dose of optimism and a dose of caution. As I said I've seen "acid casualties." These things are powerful and should not be used without respect. I haven't personally touched these things in many many years, and haven't had much interest in doing so. I feel like whatever benefit I was able to get has already been achieved.
Edit: I wasn't trying to make some point against the original commenter, just relating my own experience. If you delve into the literature you'll find an enormous variety of experiences both positive and negative.