It may simply be that the intense disruption of a 5 hour long experience of chemically-induced novel pleasures - in people who'd long forgotten any form of enjoyment at all - while also being under special attention from caring professionals, is Very Nice Indeed. And that very nice experiences are the most direct salve that exists, when it comes to ameliorating a lifetime of unpleasant ones.

"I can say wth certainty that I became a very different person at some point in those early to mid twenties" - not to discount that, but I do suspect many developing adults (LSD or not) might make similar claims about distinct periods of mental change as they work their way into early adulthood.

Unfortunately life isn’t a triple-bling placebo controlled study.

There isn’t a cohort consisting entirely of otherwise identical yous we can use to retrospectively assess the outcomes of single-changes.

And besides, it’s not like one or any number of psychedelic experiences, results in a perfect human experience free of suffering or what have you.

> I can say wth certainty that I became a very different person at some point in those early to mid twenties

Let's be fair, most people do.