When talking about HPPD with my mate about an hour ago I got quite concerned when he told me that not only did he get the sparkly patterns I get (but much stronger), he also sometimes sees what he referred to as shadow people, which he described as dark figures that he can see but is fully aware they are not real. He said he once even saw his friend's heads flying around the room (which he found terrifying but I'm pretty sure was fully aware it was just HPPD). I think it was that last one that he said was likely brought on by having not smoked any weed (or anything else) for a few days when staying with his Mum). Other one's have just been while sober. A previous one he told me about was colors coming off a lecturer's silhouette which stayed there when he walked out (he was sober btw). While that one sounded a lot more like what a heavy acid user would likely experience, he agreed the previously mentioned ones he spoke of today reminded him more of speed/ sleep deprivation psychosis.
Relevant info:
Previously heavy psychedelic user, now very occasional. A recent break from everything apart from maybe a bit of weed made him think the HPPD may remain for life.
Now only uses speed (amphetamine, used to occasionally use meth) occasionally. Used to take way too much and has given himself speed psychosis (a fairly standard example would be him spraying deodorant all over nonexistent spiders on his walls).
He's tripped hard on Nytol (a deleriant whichcauses symptoms like he has) a few times, almost certain the HPPD didnt start right after that tho lol.
21 years old.
Suffers from anxiety and depression (previously serious but getting much better lately) and has been told he has many Borderline peronality disorder traits.
Doesn't seem to have any schizophrenic traits (I think I'd spot that easily since I know a few sufferers and have a psychology degree).
His mother suffered from psychosis at his age, don't think too badly but not sure. Both brothers autistic.
He does not suffer from delusions, even while tripping or in speed psychosis (although he stops when he get' psychosis.
Regular weed smoker. He gets wds such as crazy dreams, mood swings and insomnia if he stops suddenly (even i he jut switched to hash).
He has quit benzos but has twice taken 25mg quetiapine (once taken to help him out of speed pychosis). It is a strong sedativ for him I know he wouldn't be too keen on having it much but maybe taking one every few week so something when the hallucinations are worst.
Luckily he said he was gonna have way less speed this year (ironically it came up when I said I was cutting down myself earlier in the night). when I told him how worried I was later when he mentioned the "seeing things" HPPD he sounded like he was gonna think about cutting down further. How worrying are these symptoms, how likely are they to go away now he's more sensible (and how much would he have to stop). Also should I try hardest to warn him off daily weed, speed (even though he makes sure he doesnt miss a nights sleep now) or psychedelics. Luckily, despite him not sounding as concerned as he should have done IMO, he acknowledges I have reason to worry (mirror some mild schizophrenic symptoms) and he's one of the few people that would listen carefully to any advice given (and probably at least cut down whatever I said was worst, assuming my research (including this thread) suggests its a cause for concern.
So far advised (while stressing I was no expert and that I ould research it for him since he wouldn;t bother. Also he doesn't seem to think its much worse than standard acid like HPPD of sparkly patterns (can't claim to know it isn't an extention of those, but worried as fuck, espec since I know how two of my friends live's are ruined by schizophrenia).
Definately best to not have speed, espec if enough to not sleep.
Quitting weed would be best, switching to hash instead of miainly skunk would still likely help
bnificial and that getting some CBD oil may help (whether smoking or not). Lack of CBD would be an alternative hypothesis to withdrawal causing him to see thing.
Since I can't imagie him quitting anything 100%. If he asked whether occasional stims, psycedelics, mandy or speed would be worse is there any gd advise (know herd to day. Also would anything that brought it back give him a greater threat of it becoming more than just visuals? If so I'm guessing something preventative like CBD (surprisingly an antipsyhotic) might help it go faster and ,while probs a bit excessive for preventative use, possibly a very low dose quetiapine when its bad, for when instance quitting weed. (like half a 24mg tablet, might help
I will be so thankful for any answers (whether based on knowledge, experience or seeing it happen to other people), hope so much it isn't linked to the beginning of the road to psychosis, but if it is he needs to know asap. I can show him this thread and compile a list of articles for him 2 read, or just look at a few sentences I've highlighted. bit. We're extremely close and talk about personal stuff all the time so it won't seem like I'm overstepping any boundary, he helped me talk thro some problems of my own earlier
P.S. I said i think its best for him to go sober now he experiences that. I also (apart from maybe CBD oil) the most I will advise him to do i see a doc after informing him about the info I've found (currently seems to think it just regular HPPD, is benign and that nothing could help so I would probably need to show him evidence to convince him 2 go 2 the docs or cut anything down too much, again so glad he would listen to me).
Relevant info:
Previously heavy psychedelic user, now very occasional. A recent break from everything apart from maybe a bit of weed made him think the HPPD may remain for life.
Now only uses speed (amphetamine, used to occasionally use meth) occasionally. Used to take way too much and has given himself speed psychosis (a fairly standard example would be him spraying deodorant all over nonexistent spiders on his walls).
He's tripped hard on Nytol (a deleriant whichcauses symptoms like he has) a few times, almost certain the HPPD didnt start right after that tho lol.
21 years old.
Suffers from anxiety and depression (previously serious but getting much better lately) and has been told he has many Borderline peronality disorder traits.
Doesn't seem to have any schizophrenic traits (I think I'd spot that easily since I know a few sufferers and have a psychology degree).
His mother suffered from psychosis at his age, don't think too badly but not sure. Both brothers autistic.
He does not suffer from delusions, even while tripping or in speed psychosis (although he stops when he get' psychosis.
Regular weed smoker. He gets wds such as crazy dreams, mood swings and insomnia if he stops suddenly (even i he jut switched to hash).
He has quit benzos but has twice taken 25mg quetiapine (once taken to help him out of speed pychosis). It is a strong sedativ for him I know he wouldn't be too keen on having it much but maybe taking one every few week so something when the hallucinations are worst.
Luckily he said he was gonna have way less speed this year (ironically it came up when I said I was cutting down myself earlier in the night). when I told him how worried I was later when he mentioned the "seeing things" HPPD he sounded like he was gonna think about cutting down further. How worrying are these symptoms, how likely are they to go away now he's more sensible (and how much would he have to stop). Also should I try hardest to warn him off daily weed, speed (even though he makes sure he doesnt miss a nights sleep now) or psychedelics. Luckily, despite him not sounding as concerned as he should have done IMO, he acknowledges I have reason to worry (mirror some mild schizophrenic symptoms) and he's one of the few people that would listen carefully to any advice given (and probably at least cut down whatever I said was worst, assuming my research (including this thread) suggests its a cause for concern.
So far advised (while stressing I was no expert and that I ould research it for him since he wouldn;t bother. Also he doesn't seem to think its much worse than standard acid like HPPD of sparkly patterns (can't claim to know it isn't an extention of those, but worried as fuck, espec since I know how two of my friends live's are ruined by schizophrenia).
Definately best to not have speed, espec if enough to not sleep.
Quitting weed would be best, switching to hash instead of miainly skunk would still likely help
bnificial and that getting some CBD oil may help (whether smoking or not). Lack of CBD would be an alternative hypothesis to withdrawal causing him to see thing.
Since I can't imagie him quitting anything 100%. If he asked whether occasional stims, psycedelics, mandy or speed would be worse is there any gd advise (know herd to day. Also would anything that brought it back give him a greater threat of it becoming more than just visuals? If so I'm guessing something preventative like CBD (surprisingly an antipsyhotic) might help it go faster and ,while probs a bit excessive for preventative use, possibly a very low dose quetiapine when its bad, for when instance quitting weed. (like half a 24mg tablet, might help
I will be so thankful for any answers (whether based on knowledge, experience or seeing it happen to other people), hope so much it isn't linked to the beginning of the road to psychosis, but if it is he needs to know asap. I can show him this thread and compile a list of articles for him 2 read, or just look at a few sentences I've highlighted. bit. We're extremely close and talk about personal stuff all the time so it won't seem like I'm overstepping any boundary, he helped me talk thro some problems of my own earlier
P.S. I said i think its best for him to go sober now he experiences that. I also (apart from maybe CBD oil) the most I will advise him to do i see a doc after informing him about the info I've found (currently seems to think it just regular HPPD, is benign and that nothing could help so I would probably need to show him evidence to convince him 2 go 2 the docs or cut anything down too much, again so glad he would listen to me).