In South Africa, a former ballet dancer and horseback rider struggled for years with anorexia. After undergoing in-patient treatment and regular therapy, she tried psychedelics, and that’s when she got her first meaningful glimpse into what her mind would be like without anorexia. So is this actually a potential treatment? Early research suggests it could be. And now, at the University of California, San Francisco a new study is underway, exploring whether psilocybin might help young adults with severe anorexia. 

If you or someone you know are struggling with an eating disorder, help is available. Please call the National Alliance for Eating Disorders Helpline at 866-662-1235. 

And for 24/7 support, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, or text “HOME” to 741741 to reach the crisis text line.

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Co-produced by PRX and the UC Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics, Altered States is an award-winning podcast, taking home a 2025 Signal Award for Science and the 2026 Webby Award for Science and Education. To learn more, visit us our website.