Once dismissed as countercultural or dangerous, psychedelics are now being re-examined in labs, clinics, and universities around the world. Substances like psilocybin (from magic mushrooms) and LSD are making their way from the fringes of society into mainstream conversations about mental health. Could they offer a new path forward for conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, or addiction?
The evidence so far suggests it is worth paying attention.
A Reset for the Brain
In his bestselling book How to Change Your Mind, Michael Pollan explores how psychedelic-assisted therapy appears to “reset” the brain. Clinical trials have found that even a single, carefully guided psilocybin session can bring significant relief to people suffering from treatment-resistant depression, trauma, or compulsive behaviours.
Pollan’s message is not about promoting casual use. It is about understanding how these compounds, when combined with professional guidance, can unlock emotional healing that talk therapy or medication alone sometimes cannot reach.
Science Note
A landmark 2022 study at Johns Hopkins University found that two psilocybin-assisted sessions produced significant reductions in depression symptoms, with effects lasting more than a year for many participants.
What Psychedelics Do in the Brain
Neuroscientists believe psychedelics reduce activity in the default mode network (DMN), the part of the brain responsible for self-reflection, rumination, and the “story of me.” In depression, the DMN often becomes overactive, trapping people in cycles of negative thought.
By quieting this network, psychedelics appear to allow new connections to form across the brain. For some, this opens a window of clarity, a sense of expanded perspective, and in many cases, the ability to confront painful experiences with less fear.
Insight
Brain imaging studies show that psychedelics temporarily increase “neuroplasticity,” the brain’s ability to form new connections. This may explain why many people report long-term shifts in perspective, emotional resilience, and even personality after guided use.
Nordic Research and Personality Shifts
In Sweden, researchers such as Petri Kajonius, David Sjöström, and Anneli Claesdotter have explored how psychedelics affect individuals in therapeutic or self-exploratory contexts. Their findings suggest increases in openness and reductions in neuroticism, two traits strongly linked to well-being.
In other words, psychedelics may not only alleviate symptoms, but also reshape the way people approach themselves and the world.
Not a Magic Pill
Despite the hype, psychedelics are not a cure-all. The experience itself is only one piece of the puzzle. Mindset (“set”) and environment (“setting”) play a critical role. Integration — the therapy, reflection, and support that follows — is often where the real change takes root.
There are also risks. Psychedelics are not appropriate for everyone, particularly those with certain psychiatric or medical conditions. Without skilled guidance, the experience can be destabilising rather than healing.
Where We Are Now
Governments and health organisations are taking notice. Clinical trials in the US, UK, and Europe are expanding rapidly. In Sweden and other Nordic countries, researchers are advocating for more funding and regulation to explore these treatments safely.
The FDA in the US has already granted “breakthrough therapy” status to psilocybin and MDMA for certain mental health conditions, signalling a shift in how seriously these treatments are being taken.
A New Chapter in Mental Health?
Are psychedelics the future of mental health care? Possibly. What is certain is that the conversation has changed. Once taboo, these compounds are now being studied through the lenses of neuroscience, psychotherapy, and even spirituality.
Whether you are curious, cautious, or sceptical, this is a space worth watching. At a time when mental health challenges are rising worldwide, new tools — especially those that combine science, therapy, and human connection — may be not only helpful, but necessary.