Testimonials
Real testimonials from real Iowans,
listed in the order they were submitted.
"Initially skeptical and cautious, I delved into psychedelics (psilocybin, LSD, MDMA) many years ago in hopes of exploring and healing the traumas from my past that were affecting me negatively far into adulthood.
With the respectful, intentional, and sporadic use of these medicines, I have undoubtedly grown personally and professionally. With no side effects to report, these sacred medicines were the primary factor in lifting my depression completely, lessening my anxiety, and helping stabilize my mood.
Another thing worth mentioning during my use of psychedelics is the gradual shift into a healthier lifestyle: daily meditation and yoga, complete abstinence from alcohol, healthier/cleaner eating, minimal caffeine consumption, severing toxic relationships, and being more physically active.
Having worked for over a decade as a nurse in healthcare (particularly corrections and mental health), I have seen firsthand the worsening and growing prevalence of mental health within our communities.
To avoid underground use and criminalization of those who choose to try more effective ways of healing, psychedelics should be reconsidered for the benefits they can provide in healing and exploring our consciousness - which should be a right for everyone, not just those suffering from mental health.
These medicines allow people to connect and shift their perspectives on their health, potentially saving much money in healthcare costs for taxpayers."
– JM (February 2023)
"I’ve used psilocybin mushrooms on 9 separate occasions, with doses ranging from microdoses to 7 dry grams.
These occasions have produced a wide variety of inner, subjective experiences. Overall, these experiences have profoundly affected my relationship to myself, others, and life in general in positive ways.
My mushroom experiences haven’t always been easy, because they have elicited some challenging states of consciousness, but I’ve always come out of a mushroom trip with increased levels of sensitivity, gratitude, compassion, awe, creativity, and other life-affirming feelings.
One of my most profound experiences occurred on ~4.8 grams of ‘Cubensis Cambodia.’ While lying down in my bed with my eyes closed, I literally felt like I was back in my mother’s womb. It was like I re-lived that prenatal phase of my life. It was extremely surprising, real, and intense. If the trip didn’t move on to other phases, I believe I could have continued to re-experience the various phases of prenatal life, and eventually re-experience my own birth. (For those interested, Stanislav Grof, M.D. has done extensive research on the potential therapeutic effects of re-experiencing one’s prenatal and perinatal existence.)
Mushrooms have led my body to spontaneously stretch and perform various yogic postures, which allowed me to release some pent up energy in my body. These physical experiences have had a very cleansing effect on my entire being.
Mushrooms have also helped me see the arbitrary nature of my mental patterns and ego-constructed narratives. Frankly, these realizations haven’t always been comfortable or easy, but I think it was overall beneficial to see myself from a broader perspective, because it helped me not take my own thoughts too seriously and open up to other perspectives.
The last time I took psilocybin mushrooms was a few years ago. I took ~7 dry grams. To put it mildly, the experience was incredibly profound, intense, and mostly beyond my capacity to describe with words. I haven’t felt a desire or need to take mushrooms again since this experience, because I feel like I got what I was looking for, and I believe I’ll always be changed from the experience (for the better). It was very humbling and shattering, and I subjectively experienced a glimpse into ‘the hell of living to satisfy oneself above others.’ I also experienced a reset of my mental patterns due to seeing how arbitrary they were; this almost felt like an inner rebirth of sorts. The day after this trip, I spontaneously composed this instrumental acoustic guitar piece. I feel that this piece better portrays aspects of my experience than words alone.
Here are some misc. insights that my mushroom experiences have led me to:
- The key to life is to accept everything and fully surrender to love and service.
- I have the power to positively touch each being I interact with.
- Kindness and selfless service are the most important things in life.
- In some mysterious, mystical way, our physical reality is an incarnation of love.
- I always have a choice to be a creator or a victim.
- + many more personal insights and realizations.
I fully support the decriminalization (and eventual legalization) of psilocybin on both the state and federal levels. While I fully realize that psilocybin is certainly not for everyone, it can serve as a potent medicine and/or catalyst to explore consciousness for MANY people, and no one should be treated like a criminal for the peaceful use of psilocybin mushrooms for medical, religious, or personal reasons.
I’m thankful that psilocybin helped me heal in various ways, and I want other Iowans to be able to do the same without the risk of legal repercussions."
– CT (February 2023)
"I am a mental health professional in Iowa and an advocate for the legalization of psychedelic and plant medicines, and specifically psilocybin.
I am well aware of the impact of addiction on individuals and families in our state, and I can say with certainty that these medicines do not belong in the same class as drugs like heroin or meth.
I have seen firsthand the life-enhancing and, yes, even life-saving potential of plant medicines. I have seen mushrooms alleviate depression and anxiety effectively with no side effects, something that I cannot say for traditional pharmaceutical treatments.
I trust these medicines deeply, from my own personal experience and because I trust the thousands of years of experience that our indigenous brothers and sisters have working safely with these sacred medicines.
Mushrooms need to be decriminalized so that the people of Iowa have access to this safe, natural, powerful medicine."
– MM (February 2023)
"My experience with psilocybin enlightened me to a level of connectedness with others and nature that I previously didn’t perceive, and it helped me recognize the rat-race nature of society as separate from our true selves.
It was a peace-bringing, joyful experience that I am thankful for and recommend everyone have access to."
– Christina, a wife, mom, and sister in Christ from NE Iowa (February 2023)
"Hopefully I am one of many who you will hear from about the benefits of psilocybin, but until it is made legal, I fear that no one will be able to benefit from this treatment.
I have had problems with alcohol, depression and anxiety for over 20 years. I have been to multiple treatment centers, tried treatment programs (AA and the like), and nothing could ever help me over a long period of time. After my therapist and my family doctor declined my request to help me obtain a medical cannabis card (I have been diagnosed with PTSD, and thought cannabis would help), I turned to the internet, and obtained one.
Shortly after that I started to read about the benefits of psilocybin for all sorts of ailments and disorders. I started microdosing psilocybin last summer, and my life has changed dramatically. I no longer have a level of anxiety that keeps me from enjoying my life, I feel like my stress levels and eating habits are finally coexisting resulting in a 65lb weight loss, I am regularly volunteering and doing things I love, I am more outgoing, I am able to learn new things and flourish in a new job! I sleep much better, and my relationships in all areas of my life have improved. I feel more conscientious, tolerant, and empathetic. And the best part is I no longer feel the need to use alcohol to numb any part of my life. Something changed in my brain and I am sure psilocybin is why.
I WISH my therapist would not have declined my request for help to seek other forms of treatment, but it did lead me to the place where I am today. If more people had access to this type of therapy it would help so many people!! I think that mental health counselors should support this in Iowa. I know it’s a long road to get it legal and get support, but I am proof that, when nothing else works, psilocybin did."
– Lindsay L. (July 2023)
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