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Because they scrambled their brains by taking too many drugs in the name of 'spiritual enlightenment'. I've personally have friends--previously really smart ra

by briga 9y ago

Because they scrambled their brains by taking too many drugs in the name of 'spiritual enlightenment'. I've personally have friends--previously really smart rational people--who've gone off the deep end after taking a few too many hits of acid. Psychedelics can be great and all, and though I've never indulged myself I can see why someone might benefit from doing so. Your neuro-chemistry is altered in such a radical way that you're bound to see yourself and the world from a radically different perspective. The problem with prolonged use, I think, is that that radically altered state eventually becomes your normal state and you lose touch with reality.

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leesec 9y ago
I think this is a wholly unfounded post. Please provide sources if you're going to make bold assertions like: "Your neuro-chemistry is altered in such a radical way that you're bound to see yourself and the world from a radically different perspective." Anecdotally, on my end: I have seen and been involved with many similarly smart people, who were also heavily, heavily involved with psychedelics, to no ill affect.
- Strom 9y ago
  There seem to be two different talking points here and I think we should separate them. First is the one that psychedelics affect neuro-chemistry in a radical way. We can also include the radically different perspectives here. I can confirm the perspective changes based on personal experiences. However there are also studies which track serotonin increase, and studies which document perspective changes in terminally ill patients. Are these really something you're doubting though? If so, I can dig up some of the papers. Second, and I sense this is your main concern, is that people go crazy from this. I haven't seen any studies about this and don't have any personal experience with it. However I can definitely imagine gullible people going crazy with the experiences. The same kind of people who join Scientology and whatnot. They stop being self-critical and start imagining crazy reasons why their experiences are happening. My point being that the going crazy part is a sperate issue from having psychedeleics cause radical neuro-chemistry changes and providing you with different perspectives.
- briga 9y ago
  If psychedelics didn't radically alter your brain chemistry they wouldn't be psychedelics. Many things can alter your brain's chemistry--like exercise, or pain--and I don't see why this claim should appear to be unusual or unfounded. Here's a study I found with 10 seconds of Googling: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-005-2183-9 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-005-2183-.... I'm sure there are many more, better studies out there. I think you're taking my post the wrong way. I didn't say psychedelics instantly turn your brain to mush the second you take them. I'm just saying that they CAN turn your brain to mush, and it does happen to people--especially in people predisposed to mental illness.
- trevyn 9y ago
  >"Your neuro-chemistry is altered in such a radical way that you're bound to see yourself and the world from a radically different perspective." This should be pretty uncontroversial if you add “while you’re under the effects of the psychedelic”. I suspect that long-term effects are more a result of having had intensely experienced these radically different perspectives, and your ability and approach to integrating this experience with the rest of your life.
- scottlocklin 9y ago
  I don't think it is unfounded at all. Over the years I've known many victims of psychedelics. There's a guy in my apartment building who lost his shit on a bad acid trip 10 years ago and hasn't been a productive member of society since then. I've used them, but it's really impossible to say whether or not I have suffered ill effects. No control subject. The author of the original linked essay points out that they produce large permanent changes to personality. That's a really big deal, and potentially very bad.

by briga 9y ago

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leesec 9y ago

I think this is a wholly unfounded post. Please provide sources if you're going to make bold assertions like: "Your neuro-chemistry is altered in such a radical way that you're bound to see yourself and the world from a radically different perspective." Anecdotally, on my end: I have seen and been involved with many similarly smart people, who were also heavily, heavily involved with psychedelics, to no ill affect.

Strom 9y ago
There seem to be two different talking points here and I think we should separate them. First is the one that psychedelics affect neuro-chemistry in a radical way. We can also include the radically different perspectives here. I can confirm the perspective changes based on personal experiences. However there are also studies which track serotonin increase, and studies which document perspective changes in terminally ill patients. Are these really something you're doubting though? If so, I can dig up some of the papers. Second, and I sense this is your main concern, is that people go crazy from this. I haven't seen any studies about this and don't have any personal experience with it. However I can definitely imagine gullible people going crazy with the experiences. The same kind of people who join Scientology and whatnot. They stop being self-critical and start imagining crazy reasons why their experiences are happening. My point being that the going crazy part is a sperate issue from having psychedeleics cause radical neuro-chemistry changes and providing you with different perspectives.
briga 9y ago
If psychedelics didn't radically alter your brain chemistry they wouldn't be psychedelics. Many things can alter your brain's chemistry--like exercise, or pain--and I don't see why this claim should appear to be unusual or unfounded. Here's a study I found with 10 seconds of Googling: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-005-2183-9 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00213-005-2183-.... I'm sure there are many more, better studies out there. I think you're taking my post the wrong way. I didn't say psychedelics instantly turn your brain to mush the second you take them. I'm just saying that they CAN turn your brain to mush, and it does happen to people--especially in people predisposed to mental illness.
trevyn 9y ago
>"Your neuro-chemistry is altered in such a radical way that you're bound to see yourself and the world from a radically different perspective." This should be pretty uncontroversial if you add “while you’re under the effects of the psychedelic”. I suspect that long-term effects are more a result of having had intensely experienced these radically different perspectives, and your ability and approach to integrating this experience with the rest of your life.
scottlocklin 9y ago
I don't think it is unfounded at all. Over the years I've known many victims of psychedelics. There's a guy in my apartment building who lost his shit on a bad acid trip 10 years ago and hasn't been a productive member of society since then. I've used them, but it's really impossible to say whether or not I have suffered ill effects. No control subject. The author of the original linked essay points out that they produce large permanent changes to personality. That's a really big deal, and potentially very bad.