Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity • Hacker News Board

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#141

Post by Fnoord » Sun, Jul 22, 2018, 7:47 PM UTC

ta1234567890 wrote: post #140

Fnoord wrote: post #92

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> In my opinion, it would be more accurate to compare psychedelic drugs to activities like meditation and fasting I've done all 3 of these (meditation as in mindfulness), and I disagree. Of these 3, meditation is the most harmless. It is relaxing, not discomforting (I'll hook into this again at the end of my post). Someone can start meditating or fasting without guidance (though I recommend guidance in both cases, es…

> It is relaxing, not discomforting Meditation practice is not relaxing at all. The effect after meditating might be in part feeling relaxed, but in general meditation is pretty hard work. This is probably a very common misconception, you see all the pictures of people meditating at the beach in front of a beautiful sunset and think that meditating is like going to the spa, when in fact meditating is much more like t…

For me mindfulness is far more relaxing than studying, watching a TV series, working, programming, etc (all "active" things). Never mind socializing which is the opposite of relaxing to me, ALWAYS (autism-related). Although it differs per technique (some are easier and fit me more than others).

Especially the effect after it makes that work more fruitful, since for various hours I'll be less tense and more focused. For example, it'd make socializing more relaxing.

Those are 2 very valid reasons for me to call it relaxing. Then again, I find running and listening to certain music also relaxing. Because after a while, I get in an automated flow ("trance") akin to meditating.

The 3rd reason is that if I'm rather tired, mindfulness can potentially get me to sleep. I often (almost daily) do it before I go to sleep, and it aids me to get to sleep. I much prefer it over: overthinking, fantasizing, or masturbating/sex.

Its already painful for me to meditate whilst sitting instead of lying but one gets used to that. Its just untrained muscles getting trained. As long as you don't strain yourself, you're fine.

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#142

Post by CynicalDio » Sun, Jul 22, 2018, 7:48 PM UTC

juskrey wrote: post #126

moyya wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can echo this sentiment, as a normally soft-spoken guy who was arrested while completely out of his mind on psilocybin. My perception of reality was utterly shattered; I thought I had died and that my mind was transported into a realm of eternal torture. I'll never forget the dread I experienced while being forced to the asphalt and handcuffed by police officers on the side of the road. They took me to a hospital w…

Sounds like it was a fake LSD, more like dxm or something

It is entirely possible that this was real LSD. To believe that the "real" stuff can't cause these kinds of psychotic episodes is absolutely naive. It is also very unlikely DXM would ever be passed off as LSD, the dosage range is in the 200-800mg area and as such is IMPOSSIBLE to fit on any standard blotter. DXM is also a disassociative drug primarily effecting the NMDA receptor sites in the brain whose effects are markedly different from the sertonergic-centric tryptamine effect produced by LSD and related substances.

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#143

Post by bfuller » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 1:52 AM UTC

tranchms wrote: post #37

tibbon wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve seen a friend become semi dependent and kinda disassociated from reality after multiple times a week use of various research chemical psychedelics. It seemed to bring out some underlying bipolar like condition. Anyway; also a strong proponent, but I’ve seen the potential harm as well. On the balance it seems worthwhile for many people, and good for many people to try a little LSD at least once.

Research chemicals are dangerous. They’re mostly all synthetics derived from amphetamine class of drugs like MDMA. 2CE. 2CB. 2CI. Etc. and countless others. No one taking them know what it truly is. They are dangerous. And more ubiquitous than LSD-25. You can never be sure what you’re getting. You can OD and have a psychotic episode. I do not classify them as therapeutic psychedelics, and always advise against. If yo…

>And more ubiquitous than LSD-25.

that is CERTAINLY false.

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#144

Post by bfuller » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 1:57 AM UTC

pdgonzalez872 wrote: post #8

tranchms wrote: post #7

I’m a huge proponent of safe psychedelic use, specifically LSD. I was massively depressed and suicidal growing up (I had family problems, and two of my best friends killed them selves at 13 and 17). I dropped out of high school. I experimented with LSD and mushrooms around 17/18 years old. And while I didn’t realize it then, my life massively changed for the better. Maybe I grew up. Maybe I took responsibility for my…

So how do I get to experiment with this in a controlled and legal way these days?

Look into 1-PLSD

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#145

Post by Aspyre » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 2:52 AM UTC

throwaaaay wrote: post #57

tranchms wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Research chemicals are dangerous. They’re mostly all synthetics derived from amphetamine class of drugs like MDMA. 2CE. 2CB. 2CI. Etc. and countless others. No one taking them know what it truly is. They are dangerous. And more ubiquitous than LSD-25. You can never be sure what you’re getting. You can OD and have a psychotic episode. I do not classify them as therapeutic psychedelics, and always advise against. If yo…

Anecdotally I’ve consumed 50-75 100mcg doses of 1P-LSD over the last year and found it almost indistinguishable from LSD. Not to mention easier and safer to obtain (directly from a research lab). Obviously there is no research on long term effects at this point, and there may never be, but for my personal therapeutic rituals it’s affectiveness is the same. It’s also worth noting that I’m not microdosing, which you ma…

Cool! Glad to see mention of 1P here. I'm a fan of it myself.

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#146

Post by ionised » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 10:25 AM UTC

juskrey wrote: post #126

moyya wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can echo this sentiment, as a normally soft-spoken guy who was arrested while completely out of his mind on psilocybin. My perception of reality was utterly shattered; I thought I had died and that my mind was transported into a realm of eternal torture. I'll never forget the dread I experienced while being forced to the asphalt and handcuffed by police officers on the side of the road. They took me to a hospital w…

Sounds like it was a fake LSD, more like dxm or something

It could have just been LSD.

Going into a trip with anything weighing on your mind, or any stresses or worries can lead to a bad trip.

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#147

Post by acct1771 » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 11:58 AM UTC

tranchms wrote: post #39

psychedictic wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone does not need to have a "family history of mental disorders" to become an acid casualty. Some people simply have a bad reaction to the chemical and there isn't a reliable way of knowing in advance how a person might react to it.

How do they know if what they’ve taken is actually LSD-25, and not some research chemical? Research chemicals pawned off as LSD is more common than ever. They are dangerous psychotic inducing deugs.

Test kits, test kits, test kits, TEST KITS. This whole thread needs test kits.

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#148

Post by tibbon » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 3:40 PM UTC

tranchms wrote: post #37

tibbon wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve seen a friend become semi dependent and kinda disassociated from reality after multiple times a week use of various research chemical psychedelics. It seemed to bring out some underlying bipolar like condition. Anyway; also a strong proponent, but I’ve seen the potential harm as well. On the balance it seems worthwhile for many people, and good for many people to try a little LSD at least once.

Research chemicals are dangerous. They’re mostly all synthetics derived from amphetamine class of drugs like MDMA. 2CE. 2CB. 2CI. Etc. and countless others. No one taking them know what it truly is. They are dangerous. And more ubiquitous than LSD-25. You can never be sure what you’re getting. You can OD and have a psychotic episode. I do not classify them as therapeutic psychedelics, and always advise against. If yo…

It's worth noting that people can know what they are taking (within a statistical certainly) by sending their substances off to somewhere like Energy Control, or another analytical lab for testing. Most people don't do it, but it is possible to know what you've got.

https://energycontrol-international.org/

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#149

Post by tibbon » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 3:42 PM UTC

throwaaaay wrote: post #57

tranchms wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Research chemicals are dangerous. They’re mostly all synthetics derived from amphetamine class of drugs like MDMA. 2CE. 2CB. 2CI. Etc. and countless others. No one taking them know what it truly is. They are dangerous. And more ubiquitous than LSD-25. You can never be sure what you’re getting. You can OD and have a psychotic episode. I do not classify them as therapeutic psychedelics, and always advise against. If yo…

Anecdotally I’ve consumed 50-75 100mcg doses of 1P-LSD over the last year and found it almost indistinguishable from LSD. Not to mention easier and safer to obtain (directly from a research lab). Obviously there is no research on long term effects at this point, and there may never be, but for my personal therapeutic rituals it’s affectiveness is the same. It’s also worth noting that I’m not microdosing, which you ma…

Isn't 1P-LSD the ones that metabolizes into LSD-25?

Re: Psychedelics Promote Structural and Functional Neural Plasticity

#150

Post by posterboy » Mon, Jul 23, 2018, 5:38 PM UTC

tranchms wrote: post #15

cageface wrote: post #12

I am overall pro psychedelics but I have seen them harm people first hand as well. They should be treated with a lot of caution and respect. I totally understand the urge to evangelise them but keep in mind that you're taking on a lot of responsibility when you encourage people to experiment with their brain chemistry.

I hear ya. I’ve yet to see it negatively effect anyone other than a bad trip, which, seen in the right light, can be a therapeutic experience. But I know they need to be respected and understood. I also realize that some people with a family history of mental disorders like schizophrenia, would be better off staying away. Like, some people have used psychedelics, and they go crazy. But how many of those people were c…

> But I do emphasize respecting its use in a profound way.

You did not emphasize in any profound way.

You did imply though that it invariably changes everyone, and never was anyone you know changed for the worse. So it changes everyone for the better. But you ask, surely because you are not sure, whether those who were crazy afterwards had to be crazy to begin with. So, the only thing you really emphasized was your ignorance. What does that mean to you? Everyone is a little crazy to begin with. Thus estimates about sanity are rather distorted and a small sample group not enough, especially if you are biased by preoccupation.