The life-changing effects of hallucinations • Hacker News Board

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#51

Post by throbintrash » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:08 PM UTC

meroes wrote: post #33

throbintrash wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

out of curiosity, how old were you? becuase I've been wondering recently what would have happened if I only tried hallucinogenics for the first time now that my brain is much older?

I was around 25 for both. Is that considered "late/older"? That's an interesting idea.

I would consider it older... it comes down to how quickly does each individual grows up. I think the wisdom teeth are a good paremeter to gauge/compare many individuals together.

people's brains, specifically male brains get to full adulthood around 22-25; iirc women get there a couple of years earlier.

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#52

Post by giantg2 » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:08 PM UTC

sys32768 wrote: post #30

How come these articles never mention the profound effects and aftereffects of bad trips?

It's the inverse affect of TV news. New products have hype or buzz (even if they're previously recycled). The news only shows the bad stuff. I guess it's just how our brains work.

Perhaps from a study perspective they're mostly focusing on the "normal" responses and ignoring outliers. Although I have seen some safety studies on various things that do look at the negatives. Those don't really get shared here (or anywhere really).

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#53

Post by gavinray » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:08 PM UTC

kodah wrote: post #10

I wouldn't call myself a psychonaut yet, but I do love hallucinations. One thing I think the article didn't touch on that I found profoundly interesting is depersonalization. I had a trip recently where I entirely left my conscious reality behind, temporarily, except by a very thin thread. Some context for those that don't follow the fractals, depersonalization isn't super common on things like mushrooms or LSD, but…

The very first piece of advice the internet should give you if you start googling things about psychedelics is "Have benzos".

Benzos are more important than a trip-sitter. If things go south, no human being can contain the possible damage. Benzos will put you right back down to earth. It could mean the difference between 30 minutes of an unpleasant experience or being hospitalized.

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#54

Post by nope96 » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:09 PM UTC

I've never taken hallucinogens, but I had many friends that did:

Best friend and his girlfriend did LSD, the girlfriend had an immediate mental breakdown and was hospitalized. Diagnosed with schizophrenia in the following months, has been a life long schizophrenic ever since.

The best friend developed "schizoid personality disorder" over the next year and was never the same. Both were normal, happy go lucky teens that changed dramatically over a summer.

Another friend took mushrooms several times without issue, but one time had a breakdown afterwards and developed a severe anxiety disorder immediately after that never went away.

I could list about 5 other friends with similar experiences, but the point is, some people have extremely negative reactions to hallucinogens, and I'm glad I never tried them.

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#55

Post by jotm » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:09 PM UTC

kodah wrote: post #10

I wouldn't call myself a psychonaut yet, but I do love hallucinations. One thing I think the article didn't touch on that I found profoundly interesting is depersonalization. I had a trip recently where I entirely left my conscious reality behind, temporarily, except by a very thin thread. Some context for those that don't follow the fractals, depersonalization isn't super common on things like mushrooms or LSD, but…

F benzos, use Gabapentin, Pregabalin or GHB. Out of all of them, etizolam (yeah, I know, it's not an "official" benzo, but afaik it works similarly to alprazolam) was the hardest to quit while having meh effects.

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#56

Post by state_less » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:12 PM UTC

kodah wrote: post #10

I wouldn't call myself a psychonaut yet, but I do love hallucinations. One thing I think the article didn't touch on that I found profoundly interesting is depersonalization. I had a trip recently where I entirely left my conscious reality behind, temporarily, except by a very thin thread. Some context for those that don't follow the fractals, depersonalization isn't super common on things like mushrooms or LSD, but…

I’ve had some depersonalization after I took a large dose of mushrooms at a concert in Alpine Valley. I lost track of myself. I would hear people talk, including my own voice, but none of them was more me than any other. I realized my sense of self or identification with thoughts/vocalizations I call myself was not necessary. The mushrooms seemed to turn the identification part down. I was as much the little girl talking to her father as I was Seth talking to friends. The part of my mind that creates the projections of others was still working, but the identification with any one of these projections had dropped.

Part of my purpose is to know the nature of my reality. I wish for those who are seeking the same to be able to do so legally.

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#57

Post by jotm » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:12 PM UTC

meroes wrote: post #31

I’ve had two hallucinagenic experiences (acid and 2c-I) and I never got any life changing experiences. Is it like hypnosis where you have to believe in it to have it work? I know someone cured of an addiction from her hypnosis so I know these things happen. I would say I absolutely had hallucinations and the experiences were powerful and long lasting, but I’m still aware it’s a trip.

I guess it doesn't work on/for everyone?

I have had extremely realistic hallucinations mostly from side/withdrawal effects, but they were not "life changing".

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#58

Post by throwaway284234 » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:13 PM UTC

hnuser847 wrote: post #8

browheresmychar wrote: post #2

Quoted post unavailable.

I have to agree. Been there, done that, tried most of them over a decade ago. Tripped with friends, tripped in nature, tripped alone, read Timothy Leary and Erowid reports, went to music festivals, etc. Guess what, it didn't cure my depression or catapult me into enlightenment. I actually had pretty horrible anxiety in my twenties for quite a while after I stopped taking psychedelics, to the point where I was afraid…

I have not been there or done that, but just a normal exposure to popular culture and the history of the 20th century led me to the same conclusion.

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#59

Post by gavinray » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:13 PM UTC

jotm wrote: post #55

kodah wrote: post #10

I wouldn't call myself a psychonaut yet, but I do love hallucinations. One thing I think the article didn't touch on that I found profoundly interesting is depersonalization. I had a trip recently where I entirely left my conscious reality behind, temporarily, except by a very thin thread. Some context for those that don't follow the fractals, depersonalization isn't super common on things like mushrooms or LSD, but…

F benzos, use Gabapentin, Pregabalin or GHB. Out of all of them, etizolam (yeah, I know, it's not an "official" benzo, but afaik it works similarly to alprazolam) was the hardest to quit while having meh effects.

There's a difference between acute benzodiazepine/thienodiazepine use, as "break glass in case of emergy" thing, and daily use resulting in physical addiction.

Re: The life-changing effects of hallucinations

#60

Post by xhrpost » Thu, Oct 06, 2022, 6:13 PM UTC

AnthonBerg wrote: post #23

drcongo wrote: post #12

The life-changing effect of LSD for me was a profound shift in the clarity of my thinking, like gaining a new superpower (compared to my prior, foggy brain) overnight. I'll always be thankful for that first trip.

As far as I understand the science, that clarity is in part the perceived experience of reduced inflammation in the central nervous system. Psychedelics are anti-inflammatory. (Profoundly so. The anti-inflammatory effect is orders of magnitude stronger than the effects on the mind, i.e. a dose orders of magnitude smaller than we can directly perceive has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. Which is fascinating as thes…

Is it possible then to perhaps experience some of the effects via other anti-inflammatory supplements that are both legal and maybe carry fewer risks?