Debunking 5 Myths About the Impact of Psychedelics

Welcome to The Psychedelic Blog. I write about the impact Psychedelics on Grieving, Relationships, Culture, and Death. This week, I’m debunking 5 common myths associated with the impact of Psychedelics. Contrary to popular belief, Psychedelics don’t automatically turn people into pacified hippies playing banjos without a care in the world. In fact, without doing the inner work or if we make the experience solely about ourselves, their impact can be minimal, or worse.

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Intro

We’re in the early stages of these medicines’ inevitable rise to ubiquity, and during this time, it’s common to hear outlandish statements from people who have no direct experience with Psychedelics. Recently, I heard a well-known author on a popular podcast say, “I’m worried about Psychedelics becoming legal because a lot of people are going to change.” Tell me you’ve never had a mystical experience without telling me you’ve never had a mystical experience. Statements like this—though common—are utterly absurd. Let’s break down why:

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Myth #1: They Change Us

No, they reveal who we truly are. Psychedelics deprogram us from years of culturally ingrained behaviors and remind us of who we were as children. They take off the mask. They wake us up to the reality that much of what we pretend to enjoy is a direct result of government & corporate propaganda, rather than what genuinely brings us joy. Case in point:

This awakening came easily for me—I’ve always felt like an outsider. I never actually enjoyed drinking, and I never quite understood activities like fantasy football, golf, or why people love to discuss real estate & interest rates. Now, I no longer have to pretend to be interested. For others, this transition can be more challenging. Certain activities may no longer bring the same joy they once did. But make no mistake, they haven’t changed—they’ve simply returned to the essence of who they truly are.

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Myth #2: Psychedelics Kill the Ego

Only temporarily. The ego is an evolutionarily adapted behavior—it’s a necessity. It helps us survive, drives us to work hard and provide for our families, and pushes us in the gym, leading to better health.

By momentarily loosening the ego's grip, Psychedelics create space for clarity. This clarity fosters awareness, allowing us to reflect on past decisions that may have been driven purely by ego. Often, the choices we regret most stem from egoic desires rather than what was genuinely best for ourselves and our loved ones.

We need the ego, but it also needs to be kept in check. Look at any deeply unhappy person, and you’ll often find someone so consumed by ego that they can’t see the forest for the trees. The people around them become mere characters in a story where they play the self-appointed protagonist. Life turns into a rat race to be won, rather than a dance to be enjoyed. I can assure you, the latter is far more fulfilling.

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Myth #3: We Stop Playing Status Games

Not quite. Psychedelics help us decide which status games are worth playing. In our twenties & early thirties, we want it all—the big house, the luxury cars, the lavish vacations. Without realizing it, we’re playing multiple status games at once, which are 1) impossible to truly "win" and 2) unlikely to fulfill us. Just because something is hard to get doesn’t mean it’s intrinsically valuable.

Psychedelics activate a profound level of self-awareness, allowing us to see these games for what they are. We begin to reflect on the sacrifices we’ve made while chasing them, and this introspection helps us understand which status symbols are truly worth the effort. For some, that might mean stepping away from all of them; for others, it could mean embracing certain pursuits with newfound clarity. What matters is that we’re no longer wasting our lives playing someone else’s game.

I still play status games, but now I’m aware of it. And I only play the ones that bring me joy. A big house? I’m apathetic. But CrossFit? I’m all in. I strive to win every single day, obsessively refreshing the leaderboard to check my ranking. The key is that the juice must be worth the squeeze. Psychedelics help us understand how much we’re squeezing and whether we even like the juice.

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Myth #4: Psychedelics Tame Us

They don’t tame us—they make us more in control. We become more aware of our inner "monster," but make no mistake, the monster is still there. As it should be. If I’m walking to my car after a movie and someone attacks me, my repeated journeys to the other side won’t inspire me to have an intellectual discussion about what led them to act that way. I will defend myself.

By enhancing self-awareness, we become better at understanding our own character flaws. If we tend to be easily offended, prone to jealousy, or quick to anger, powerful Psychedelic experiences can drive significant change. The more people who "wake up"—a phrase used to describe the transformation after a journey—the more peaceful a culture we can collectively create.

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Myth #5: They Make Us Better People

Sometimes, they make us worse—much worse. Spiritual inflation, a Messiah complex, or simply becoming the most insufferable guest at a dinner party, endlessly waxing poetic about their Bufo journey (I’ve managed to offend myself). Without proper integration or if we make the experience solely about ourselves, a Psychedelic journey won’t make us better people. It might just make us unbearable.

The greatest risk to the Psychedelic movement is a self-obsessed culture that continues to turn inward. I’ve written before about the perils of "therapy culture," and if these experiences remain purely about individual growth, their broader societal impact will be lost. Still, I’m optimistic that won’t be the case. Reflecting on my own journey, I once viewed the world through a deeply egocentric lens. Psychedelics shifted that perspective, and I’m confident they can do the same for many others.

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Closing Thoughts

We need to dispel the misconception that Psychedelics fundamentally change who we are. The experiences they provide are magical, but like any illusion, they are fleeting. Eventually, we return to baseline reality and resume our everyday lives. However, if we put in the work, we come back more aware—of our relationships, careers, health, and overall sense of purpose. Once we’ve taken the steps to heal ourselves, we can start showing up for others. That’s where the true beauty of Psychedelics lies: in helping us connect more deeply with the world around us and making us more capable of contributing to it.

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