depression | The Burgundy Zine

May 28, 2021

How Entheogenic Plants & Fungi Affect Memory

A major area of psychedelic research is its potential clinical applications in psychiatry. In particular, a major area of study has concentrated on the potential therapeutic effects of shrooms, acid, and MDMA for treating post-traumatic stress disorder.

“Memory plays a central role in the psychedelic experience,” begins a 2020 Psychopharmacology review. “The ability for psychedelics to provoke vivid memories has been considered important to their clinical efficacy.”

Throughout their review, the researchers found that psychedelics enhance autobiographical memory recall, which has therapeutic potential for overcoming traumatic experiences. However, psychedelics also have a dose-dependent effect of impairing memory task performance.

January 6, 2021

5-HT2A: From Psychedelics to Psychiatry

“Serotonin” (5-HT) is more than just a buzzword tossed around by Gen Z and Millennials when something benign boosts their mood.

The beloved hormone has an array of functions throughout the body, with seven types of receptors nestled in your brain and peripheral organs. Each of these receptors has subtypes with labels A through D, as well.

But there’s one serotonin receptor that’s often shrouded in mystery and intrigue — the 5-HT2A receptor. This is the serotonin receptor infamous for its role in the psychedelic experience.

But there’s hardly any discussion of its functions beyond its role in tripping your face off and how that’s tied to your mental health.

August 27, 2020

How Online Counseling Can Help You Manage Quarantine Mood Swings

Summer’s over but the coronavirus pandemic appears to have no end in sight. Case numbers are still on the rise, schools change their plans for reopening every other day, social injustice continues to take more victims, and 10.2 percent of Americans remain unemployed.

Oh, let’s not forget to mention there’s an incredibly important presidential election looming over our nation, too.

Needless to say, 2020 has left us in a global fugue, confined to our homes and a prisoner of our minds, using moods like chalk to tally down the days spent in quarantine. After all, the varying emotions seem to be the only way to tell the days apart anymore.

June 4, 2020

Humans: They Come and Go as They Please by Ela Kaimo

Ela Kaimo shares a touching, emotive story from the perspective of a cat.

February 25, 2020

Patching Up the Blues with Nicotine

Whether it’s a bandaid over a bullet wound or a patch over an underlying mental health condition, researchers have been studying the effectiveness of treating depression and attention-deficit disorder with nicotine patches.

Which leaves one to wonder which is the lesser of two evils – a dependence on nicotine, a highly addictive substance, or grappling with depression and ADHD?

February 20, 2020

How Mental Health Affects Sleep by Sleepopolis

Experts from Sleepopolis teach us about the impact mental health has on sleep.

January 22, 2020

It’s Been Here by S. Anne Kelln

S. Anne Kelln of Running in Shadows shares her personal experience with depression and suicide.

TRIGGER WARNING: This post discusses topics including: suicide, mental illness, hospitalization, and child abuse.

January 7, 2020

Electroconvulsive Treatment Experience by Fishspit

Fishspit shares his experience with electroconvulsive therapy in an excerpt from his piece, “My Electro-Convulsive Treatment Experience.”

November 22, 2019

All-Natural Alternatives to Anti-Depressants That Deserve A Try by The Green Ace

The Green Ace shares natural, alternative remedies to help treat depression.

October 14, 2019

The Role of Serotonin in Your Daily Life

Serotonin is a hormone associated with mood regulation and well-being, but its functions go far beyond that.

Countless research over the last few decades has linked serotonin to regulating stress, long-term memory recall, sleep, digestion, blood pressure, and body temperature.

The hormone has also been critical to furthering the understanding of various neurological, behavioral, and emotional conditions, such as depression and migraines.