Zachary Boulanger

What Mania Really Feels Like

If you take the time to visit my profile, you'll notice there are pages of odd poems and nonsensical selections from my notebook. These were all posted when I was recovering in the hospital from my first, and hopefully only manic episode. Most of them make no sense to me looking back, but I know the headspace I was in when writing them was that of a driven artist trying to convey some sort of message and longing to find peace in his mind. See, before it happened to me, I couldn't define the words "manic" or "mania". Though sometimes used as a generic descriptor for an over-excited mood, mania is a symptom of certain mental health issues. In my case it's Bipolar disorder. The following is a description of what I went through (and still am dealing with residually) mentally, physically, and spiritually during my manic episode.

Zachary Boulanger

Published 14 days ago in Psyche

The Healing Powers of Psychedelic Drugs

There are substances found in nature that have been used in many spiritual traditions and various healing ceremonies as medicine for thousands of years that are known widely as “psychedelics”. This term was coined by one of the first researchers to study Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD), Humphry Osmond in 1957. The word derives from the two Greek words “psyche” (mind) and “dele” (manifesting) in reference to how the substances literally manifest in the mind. In the mid-1900’s psychedelic compounds were deemed by many governments around the globe as having no use in society, and therefore made illegal. However, studies done before they had been associated with politics and a cultural movement, showed tremendous power in enhancing human life. Specifically in the treatment of mental illnesses such as addiction and depression. As a cultural shift is taking place more people have opened their eyes to the benefits that psychedelics have, previous research is starting to be accepted, and new research is being done to validate it and find out precisely how these substances can be used to benefit humanity. Psychedelic substances have allowed researchers to find breakthroughs in PTSD treatment, anxiety relief and depression in those with life-threatening illnesses, and new ways to treat addiction. Psychedelic substances have the power to treat and eliminate mental illnesses when combined with education and psychotherapy, and can even replace currently prescribed medications.

Zachary Boulanger

Published 17 days ago in Potent