Shrooms
“Shrooms,” or psilocybin-containing mushrooms, are naturally occurring psychedelic fungi known for altering perception, mood, and cognition. They primarily act on serotonin receptors in the brain, which can lead to changes in consciousness and emotional processing. Research interest has grown around their potential mental health effects, though experiences and risks can vary widely between individuals.
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This page summarizes anecdotal reports and community observations, not medical evidence. Reports may be incomplete, biased or inaccurate and are not medical advice or recommendations. “Risk” here refers to how frequently severe or prolonged symptom worsening is reported, not to proven causation or population-wide probability. Individual responses vary widely, and absence of issues in some users does not rule out significant reactions in others.
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Within PFS/PSSD/PAS communities, psilocybin is discussed in relation to its potential interactions with serotonergic signaling pathways. Psilocin produces psychedelic effects primarily by activating serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (with involvement of other serotonin receptors as well). Psilocybin delivers a large, direct perturbation to serotonin signaling (especially 5-HT2A). These mechanisms may interact with pathways involving serotonergic signaling, particularly 5-HT2A receptor activity, that are often discussed in relation to PFS / PSSD / PAS. (pmc) (pmc2) (theguardian)
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Mixed Reports: Symptom Worsening & Improvement in Some Users (for PFS/PSSD/PAS):
Among individuals with established PFS, PSSD, or PAS, psilocybin is commonly described as unpredictable. Some users report temporary improvements in mood or anhedonia, while others describe symptom flares or crashes involving anxiety, sleep disruption, emotional blunting, cognitive changes, or alterations in sexual symptoms. While there are anecdotes describing both permanent baseline declines and claims of lasting improvement, outcomes appear highly individual, leading many within these communities to view shrooms as carrying moderate risk.
For individuals without these conditions, psilocybin use is increasingly common, but experts have warned that unregulated/recreational use can carry meaningful mental-health risks (including anxiety, insomnia, depersonalization, and HPPD in a subset), particularly for vulnerable users. (Guardian)
Evidence basis: Mechanistic understanding of serotonergic psychedelics; reports and expert commentary on adverse psychological outcomes; anecdotal reports (online forums, self-reports); no controlled studies examining PFS/PSSD/PAS-specific outcomes.
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Mixed: Crash / Baseline Drop & Sustained Improvements
Crash / Baseline Drop (Reported)
Mixed: Crash / Baseline Drop & Sustained Improvements
Cure / Recovery Claim
Public comments reflect individual experiences and opinions. They are not medical advice and may not be accurate or representative.