Awesome posts/ers in this thread.
There's far more understanding and support expressed here than what I ever experienced when trying the institutionalized "experts" system.
@Thasubliminal -excellent post.
Seems sorta similar, in some respect, to the "Disidentification & Centering Exercises" I've been practicing for a while now.
Now on the subject of "drugs", and obviously just my opinion.
I reckon the artificial concoctions are essentially slow release poisons, designed specifically to temporarily mask some symptoms while creating others.
As well as creating absolutely unnecessary dependancy issues, leading to requiring more potent artificial concoctions and more reliance upon poisons, and thus translating to profit for the big pharma chemical peddling system.
Totally unlike naturally occurring "drugs",...like Cannibis, and Psilocybin/Psilocin mushrooms.
I'm sure it could be argued that these are no different than the big pharma shit, but I would strongly disagree for many reasons, though predominantly based on principles of individual responsibility.
Imo, it is entirely the responsibility of the individual who chooses smoking herb, or dosing shrooms, whether they acknowledge or disregard this inherent duty of self.
Either way, the individual cannot avoid inevitable accountabilities for their own decision whether it be wisely practicing responsibly for beneficial purpose, or instead foolishly/ignorantly abusing and potentially causing negative effects to self, often likely also to/for others too.
One of the most beneficial things I've done, specifically regarding personal mental struggles, is dosing shrooms.
Though I treat it as a sort of yearly sacred practice.
Like, I'll prepare mentally, months in advance of mushroom season, by trying to identify and/or setting intention to delving into the hidden shadow aspects of self.
FYI-Almost shroom season here, so I'll again be doing this within the coming weeks.
The practice: When the time seems right, usually weather dependent, I'll pack a flask of reasonably hot water, some trail mix, drinking water, and nothing else other than wearing sufficient clothing, then I head out to a special native bush reserve in the afternoon.
Once there, I first scope out a sweet spot to meditate, then go for a wander through the bush foraging the local variety of perky light blue shrooms.
Once I've collected enough, usually a good couple of hand fulls, I'll head back to the chosen spot and jam them in the flask of hot water, letting them soak for a bit.
It'll be after sunset by this point, while they soak I'll meditate in preparation, eventually downing the entire flask and simply continuing mediation throughout the night.
Really no point in attempting to describe details of my previous psychedelic experiences, other than to say that these were incredibly profound and immensely beneficial.
Doing this practice for over two decades has enabled me to consciously confront difficult things, including those stemming from childhood that I would have otherwise been ignorant/incapable of, imo due to being deeply repressed, having been caused by severe, prolonged, repetitious abuse/trauma.
Frankly, most of the previous issues I've confronted, I had no prior awareness of, they were just completely blocked/buried far beyond conscious awareness.
