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Better Living Through Well Being
Enthusiasm, interest and pursuit of scientific and medical research on the psychiatric application of psychedelic compounds has exploded in recent years such that this current phase is declared a “renaissance period for psychedelic research.” Published clinical trials now exceed a thousand with the largest representation being those participating in psilocybin studies.
Psilocybin is a naturally recurring compound derived from fungi with mind-altering qualities similar to those of LSD and mescaline. Most study participants experience profound alterations in perception, emotions, and sense of self, often including experiences that are felt to be of great personal and spiritual significance. Because the drug raises blood pressure and heart rate and can cause incapacitating and sometimes overwhelming psychological effects, researchers caution that it should only be used in controlled settings and in conjunction with medical and psychological evaluation and careful preparation. The January 2025 issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry is titled “Special Issue on Psychedelics.” The authors provide an overview of the current state of research regarding psychedelic treatments for psychiatric disorders. This issue of the Journal addresses many of the ongoing challenges and looming questions in the field of psychiatric psychedelic research and treatment. These include issues relevant to basic pharmacology and effects on neural circuits, evidence of clinical efficacy, methodological challenges/limitations of existing research, and factors pertaining to public health and policy considerations. Though the field has grown tremendously in the past 30 years, there are still numerous obstacles to overcome before psychedelics might one day become mainstream psychiatric treatments. **************************************** Perception Box is a metaphor for our subjective experience of reality. It’s an invisible ever-present mental box each of us lives inside that colors and shapes everything we experience. This box tends to inhibit our ability to understand one another and ourselves, which can leave us feeling fearful, disconnected and isolated. By going inward and questioning the beliefs that hold us back, we learn to see them for what they are -- often moments of confusion we never unpacked. Thus the walls of our own Perception Box are expanded, helping us see beyond our beliefs to participate more fully in the beauty of life. Unlikely Collaborators has awarded a Spark grant to fund an innovative research collaboration between the Institute for Advanced Consciousness Studies (IACS), Andrew Holecek, and Sky Cave Retreats. This groundbreaking project aims to explore the intersection of consciousness, mental well-being, and the monumental potential of dark retreats, which involve spending time in complete darkness to facilitate profound shifts in perception and consciousness. This collaboration brings together cutting-edge consciousness research and timeless contemplative practices to be conducted at Sky Cave Retreats, and promises to break new ground in characterizing deep states of consciousness induced by prolonged dark exposure and how such non-pharmacological experiences can drive personal and societal transformation. The study will utilize EEG and peripheral measurements to provide the first comprehensive scientific characterization of the rapid psychospiritual shifts brought about by dark retreats. It provides a unique path to investigate non-pharmacological routes to transformative states at a time when psychedelic research dominates discussions of consciousness exploration. **************************************** These guidelines do not propose diagnostic or staging criteria for these diseases, which continue to evolve. Rather, they provide a framework for a high-quality process tailored to each individual patient that enables clinicians to establish a diagnostic formulation. Some details for the guidelines will likely require modification as new tools and biomarkers become sufficiently validated for appropriate clinical use in real-world practice. The workgroup leveraged best evidence and practices to empower persons with memory of thinking symptoms or concerns and their loved ones, clinicians, and health systems to engage in a person-centered process that will enhance knowledge, appreciation and autonomy for the person with a potential illness and facilitate doing what is right for them. **************************************** * Global reforestation organization collaborates with electrical industry leader to plant 10,000 trees across the United States. * Fully solar-driven, autonomous atmospheric water generator has been developed using advanced aerogels. * Seasonal self-discovery guide provides practical framework for creating a meaningful life in a world of shifting expectations. * Company unveils big topics of global optimism driven by entertainment, AI and healthcare. * “Social Connection in a Modern World” report reveals scale of the loneliness crisis in America’s loneliness epidemic. * National Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) takes major step in changing how we provide care for seniors. * New discovery guides future research into eye and balance disorders among newborns and young children. * Americans are projected to spend over $12 billion less on gasoline in 2025 compared to 2024. ***************************************
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Better Living Through Well Being
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