Psilocybin mushrooms have been around for thousands of years, but can you get addicted to mushrooms? People used these substances during religious rituals because they used to believe that psilocybin or ‘magic’ mushrooms brought them closer to God. There was a belief that psilocybin mushrooms could help a mortal become immortal and talk to God.
However, magic mushrooms or ‘shrooms’ are popular today because of their hallucinatory and euphoric effects. Contrary to popular belief, magic mushrooms are not safe.
Despite being a naturally occurring substance, using magic mushrooms can make an individual vulnerable to many physical and mental health-related risks. Magic mushrooms come in over 100 species and varieties. All these mushrooms contain psychoactive chemical compounds that can make an individual ‘high’ and experience euphoria and hallucinations.
In this blog, we will explore the answer to the question: ‘Can you get addicted to mushrooms?’ along with other questions like: ‘How can you get addicted to mushrooms?’˘, and the consequences of mushroom addiction in the long and the short run.
Can you get addicted to mushrooms?
There is a high potential for abusing psilocybin mushrooms. Just because mushrooms naturally occur in the environment does not mean they are fit for consumption. Now, one might wonder, despite misusing these substances, can you get addicted to mushrooms? The answer is yes.
About 9.68% of the total adult population of the United States have used psilocybin mushrooms in their lifetime. Magic mushrooms can manipulate the neurotransmitters of the brain, causing them to produce abnormal levels of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the brain. This abnormal production of these feel-good hormones can result in an individual getting ‘high.’ With regular use of mushrooms, an individual can become addicted to magic mushrooms as their brain will become dependent on magic mushrooms to produce these hormones.
Since addiction to mushrooms is quite common worldwide, an individual who is addicted to magic mushrooms will typically showcase the following symptoms:
- They will invest an unusual amount of time and energy into locating this substance.
- They will start using this substance as a means to cope with the daily stress of their lives.
- They will continue to use and abuse this substance despite being fully aware of the harm it is causing to their personal and professional lives.
- They will develop a tolerance to this substance. Developing mushroom tolerance means that low doses of magic mushrooms will not affect an individual, and they will be required to use high doses to feel the same effect.
- They will develop a dependency on magic mushrooms, meaning that they will need to use this substance to function normally.
More often than not, substance abuse disorder can open doors to various other mental health disorders. As a result, an individual will have to undergo treatment in a rehabilitation facility to get rid of their mushroom addiction and other mental health disorders that stem from addictions. Moreover, if an individual is addicted to or dependent on mushrooms, they will undergo withdrawal symptoms when they cease the use of mushrooms.
In the next section of this blog, we will discuss how can you get addicted to mushrooms.
How can you get addicted to mushrooms?
It is no secret that psychoactive substances like psilocybin mushrooms can cause dependency. An individual who is dependent on psilocybin mushrooms will also be psychologically dependent on these substances. They will think that they cannot function without these substances in their system.
Even in cases of psychological dependence, an individual can experience nasty withdrawal symptoms. They may be tempted to use this drug just to ease their withdrawal symptoms. In most cases, this gives birth to an addiction to magic mushrooms. Mushroom addiction is one of the most common addictions. Over 32.2 million people are abusing magic mushrooms to get ‘high’ worldwide.
Lastly, individuals who have experienced a traumatic childhood, immense stress, and friction with their loved ones and colleagues may be tempted to use magic mushrooms to ease their anxiety throughout the day. Since mushrooms are easily accessible, many individuals are tempted to use these substances to feel relaxed.
Complications of using psilocybin mushrooms
Long-term Consequences
Like any other substance, mushroom addiction can lead to long-term effects on the physical and psychological health of an individual.
An individual who abuses psilocybin mushrooms for a prolonged period starts getting nauseous and hallucinating even without these substances in the system. Since magic mushrooms can hamper the brain’s ability to naturally produce essential hormones like dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, their brain starts functioning abnormally.
The effects of magic mushrooms or shrooms can be much worse when these substances are combined with other intoxicants, such as alcohol. The following are the long-term effects of using psilocybin mushrooms:
- Tolerance to psilocybin mushrooms: With prolonged use, an individual can develop a dependency on magic mushrooms as their brain will get habitual to functioning with mushrooms in the system. This is a dangerous condition, as an individual can experience unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when they cease the use of mushrooms.
- Weak immune system: Magic mushrooms attack an individual’s immune system over time. As we all know, the brain is responsible for the healthy functioning of the entire body. Magic mushrooms hinder the brain’s ability to perform regular functions and can weaken the immune system over time.
- Physical and health complications: Individuals who abuse psilocybin mushrooms tend to experience chronic headaches and nausea, along with the complications of the digestive system.
Therefore, the answer to the question: ‘Can you get addicted to mushrooms?’ is not only a confirmed yes, but mushroom addiction can cause immense harm to the overall health of an individual.
Short-term Consequences
Now that we have understood the answer to the question: ‘Are mushrooms addictive?’, it is crucial to understand the short-term consequences of this substance as well.
Short-term effects of psilocybin mushrooms can manifest immediately after using magic mushrooms. One might think that the short-term effects of magic mushrooms will not be as dangerous as the long-term effects of mushrooms. However, this is not the case. The short-term effects of magic mushrooms can be fatal as well.
An individual can showcase the following short-term effects after taking psilocybin mushrooms:
- Dilated pupils: An individual who has taken psilocybin mushrooms can experience blurred vision due to dilated pupils.
- Nausea and vomiting: Nausea and vomiting are one of the most reported side effects of psilocybin mushrooms.
- Poor motor coordination: Magic mushrooms can affect the coordination skills of an individual and can result in poor motor function ability
- Increase in heart rate: Psilocybin mushrooms can almost immediately increase an individual’s heart rate and blood pressure. People who are already suffering from cardiovascular diseases are at risk of a heart stroke.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you get addicted to magic mushrooms?
Yes, an individual can quickly get addicted to mushrooms as these substances impact the brain’s ability to produce essential hormones like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine.
2. What are the immediate effects of psilocybin mushrooms?
An individual can experience an increased heart rate, difficulty in breathing, nausea, vomiting, dilated pupils, and blurred vision almost immediately after taking psilocybin mushrooms.
Conclusion
The mushrooms hold immense potential as a natural treatment option for substance abuse and mental health patients. We at Relevance Recovery help our patients with mushroom therapy treatments to cure mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Psilocybin mushrooms prove that not everything from nature is a boon. Psilocybin or magic mushrooms are responsible for ruining the personal and professional lives of many healthy individuals. These substances can result in many substance abuse disorders. Moreover, people who abuse magic mushrooms can experience health complications such as poor digestive systems, poor coordination skills, and cardiovascular complications. Psilocybin mushrooms have no certified medical use, and it is best to stay away from this substance.
