Phenpsycho
Bluelighter
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2015
- Messages
- 122
Hello, Bluelight!
I'm quite curious about what you fellow members may have to say about the phenomenon whereby one partakes in a drug which causes outward intoxication while mentally the intoxication is less than apparent while under the influence of said drug. Benzodiazepines are the most common class of drug known to cause this effect but other substances can also cause this effect such as alcohol, arylcyclohexylamines and possibly even stimulants.
I would be interested to know whether any research has been conducted to determine if there's a specific mechanism that causes this psychological phenomenon to manifest.
It's a very bizarre experience to have taken a sizable enough quantity of a drug to ascertain a feeling of intoxication but then to seemingly respond to the chemical as if it has done nothing to tinkle with your mental faculties. Benzodiazepines have on more than one occasion made me feel after I had taken them that I was stone cold sober and only hours later was it apparent to me that I was extremely intoxicated while psychologically I was convinced nothing was amiss because during the intoxication everything seemed normal and humdrum.
Growing wise to this phenomenon I can now notice it when it occurs and rationalize to myself that i'm intoxicated by bringing to mind my tolerance at the time of ingestion of said substance, the amount consumed and how my motor functions might be effected, but it still doesn't propel me mentally into an intoxicated mind space even when physiologically all the requirements have been met.
You hear jokes about people smoking themselves straight or drinking themselves sober based on this common psychological occurrence that many people have experienced before but it's a mystery as to what brings it on, or is it? If anyone has any scientific studies detailing how our minds can trick us into thinking we are sober when in fact we are high as a kite, please post the studies here in this thread!
I don't see this topic discussed very often so it's my hope that this thread will breed some interesting conjecture and hopefully garner more of an interest in this area of study.
I'm quite curious about what you fellow members may have to say about the phenomenon whereby one partakes in a drug which causes outward intoxication while mentally the intoxication is less than apparent while under the influence of said drug. Benzodiazepines are the most common class of drug known to cause this effect but other substances can also cause this effect such as alcohol, arylcyclohexylamines and possibly even stimulants.
I would be interested to know whether any research has been conducted to determine if there's a specific mechanism that causes this psychological phenomenon to manifest.
It's a very bizarre experience to have taken a sizable enough quantity of a drug to ascertain a feeling of intoxication but then to seemingly respond to the chemical as if it has done nothing to tinkle with your mental faculties. Benzodiazepines have on more than one occasion made me feel after I had taken them that I was stone cold sober and only hours later was it apparent to me that I was extremely intoxicated while psychologically I was convinced nothing was amiss because during the intoxication everything seemed normal and humdrum.
Growing wise to this phenomenon I can now notice it when it occurs and rationalize to myself that i'm intoxicated by bringing to mind my tolerance at the time of ingestion of said substance, the amount consumed and how my motor functions might be effected, but it still doesn't propel me mentally into an intoxicated mind space even when physiologically all the requirements have been met.
You hear jokes about people smoking themselves straight or drinking themselves sober based on this common psychological occurrence that many people have experienced before but it's a mystery as to what brings it on, or is it? If anyone has any scientific studies detailing how our minds can trick us into thinking we are sober when in fact we are high as a kite, please post the studies here in this thread!
I don't see this topic discussed very often so it's my hope that this thread will breed some interesting conjecture and hopefully garner more of an interest in this area of study.