Can one get addicted to psychedelics

[toastmann]

I Psychedelics. Seriously, I love psychedelics. I can't stop thinking about them. I spend a good hour everyday, reading articles about all sorts of psychedelic. It's like a out-of-control hobby of me.
Sometime ago, I got to do LSD for the first time. It was better then I ever could have imagined. The problem is though. I like to trip, way to often.
I think if I had something you could use very often, I would use it very often.

Is this wrong ? Exploring my mind has to be to most fascinating thing I ever experienced.
Now I know most psychedelics aren't physically or mentally addictive, and sometimes won't even allow you to experience often due tolerance.
But something keeps me pushing to tripping, like two magnets.

I guess I am just in love, and can't control it.

 

[Splitz]

Hmm. It's an interesting question. Because can someone be passionate about drugs in a healthy way? I can't really answer that properly at the moment.

I've thought about this a lot too so I can empathise with you totally. The thing is I suspect that with psychedelics, you're probably more likely to have an experience that changes your perspective and decide to trip less frequently, than with other types of drug.

I've met a lot of people who used to trip too much by their own admission, who now don't because of a certain experience or set of them, or because they lost their profundity or whatever reason. You reckon there's a similar phenomenon to MDMA where there's a 'honeymoon' period?

 

[Busty St Clare]

You can become dependant on pretty much anything. Some people for instance can become addicted to pulling out their eye brows, so much so that they have a bald face. This isn't the same as being physically or psychologically addicted to a drug such as opiates or amphetamine but it can still have an equally negative affect on your life.

Reality is if you trip too often you will increase the risk of going mental, which in my opinion is far more difficult to over come than an addiction. Psycosis, depression, even schizophrenia can all take hold if your habit continues for too long. Fortunately most people simply grow out of psychedelics and get enough from them before moving on. Be thankful that you are at least still sane enough to recognise it is starting to become an unhealthy obsession. My advice would be to take stock of how often you are tripping and set a plan to limit to once a month or less then slowly spread them out. Find a completely new hobby that might stretch your mind or create an adrenaline rush and be strict with your new lifestyle.

I don't know about you but I always imagine being able to trip when I am 80 years old, with plenty of time on my hands and no fucker able to tell me what I should be doing. You won't be able to achieve this if you burn yourself out before you have the chance.

 

[RR16]

You can get addicted to pretty much everything but you'll most likely get bored of psychedelics pretty fast. If you are trying to reduce your use it's not a wise thing to fill that extra time with emptiness. You need to get something new and refreshing which gives you a kick. Hopefully not another drug.

 

[toastmann]

After I tripped really hard, I will not be in the mood for psychedelics a pretty log time (4 to 6 weeks or so)
But when the afterglow starts wearing off and I am picking up my old habits up again thats when my brain gets tingly and excited for another one.
For me, psychedelics isn't always about having a good time but it also helps me focus on life, stress less and actually enjoy it more. Whenever the influence of psychedelics was a long time ago, I start doing unhealthy things again, stress a lot more, stop being nice to people etcetera.

But I am afraid I will move to a period were it becomes abusing instead of enjoying, since most moderate to weaker psychedelics can be used every day or so. It's very tempting to buy alot of 2c-c and start the day with it. Perhaps I am a bit obsessed. It's becoming some sort if life goal to have tried every psychedelic in existence. Made a promise to myself some years ago to create some sort of path to DMT, which at the time, seemed like the ultimate psychedelic.

At the time, I meditated a lot and wanted to try psychedelics to enhance the spiritual. But now I am walking the path of drugs instead of the spiritual. Maybe after I try DMT I will be able to move on. See, at the time, my plan was to try just some psychedelics to get introduced to tripping then moving to DMT, because of the connection hyperspace and being such a natural drug. But then I fell in love with them and don't know what to do.

 

[J.Wallace]

You can become addicted to anything.

For a while, I went through a 2 or 3 month period of using Psychedelics once or twice a week, at high doses. Needless to say, it kind of ruined the magic for me. I got tired of it, and just stopped.

I don't think it's a bad thing to research, and read articles about drugs online. That's simply holding an interest, an can actually be viewed as a positive thing since you are learning new things.

If you are senselessly dosing though, that's a problem. It sounds like you have a handle on things, though. So, really you have nothing to worry about.

 

[blazR]

I wouldn't say you could get physically addicted to 5HT-2a psychedelics. Even if it were possible, it wouldn't be a classical kind of addiction i think. Psychologically maybe, but I would say that's possible with everything; tv, books, sports etc.

I am having the same "problem" - passion is maybe a more correct word.. It isn't just taking the drugs and having the experience. It's much more than that. It's a hobby, an interrest.
I am actually thinking about psychedelic drugs, hypothesies and theories about them all the time(or a lot). And generally just about drugs(primarly psy's). In this period of my life I take quite a lot of drugs, propably a bit to often.. Now is the time for me, soon that time will be gone and I will go get a reasonable break from them.

Problem is... Tolerance. And she's a bitch! Crosstolerance, loss of magic.. If you overdo it, it'll become regular. You get used to it or the effects are minimal..

//blazR

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

I had a period of my life when I was taking low/moderate doses of LSD daily, and also a period of time when I was smoking a pot daily many times a day. It was not a physical addiction though.

 

[mr.buffnstuff]

for me i love to trip, HARD but then as someone else said, i dont feel like tripping again for a while. i believe you can get addicted to anything, but trips just become normal and boring, same old visuals, same old thoughts etc
i dont think it will do you any harm tripping occasionally BUT dont end up like Peter Green!

 

[Roger&Me]

I guess I am just in love, and can't control it.

No, you're just in the "honeymoon phase" of your psychedelic drug use, and you've become infatuated/obsessed with your new discovery. You're literally a textbook example of this phenomenon. Sooner or later the novelty will wear off just like with anything else, though; and this is especially true if you make the drugs your main focus.

can someone be passionate about drugs in a healthy way?

It depends. I don't think being obsessed with "doing drugs" is ever healthy, regardless of the circumstances.

However, its perfectly healthy to be passionate about learning about drugs and how they work, or their effects on people and society, etc etc -- indeed, this is the basis of many legitimate fields of study. But there's a world of difference between necking a bunch of psychedelics all the time versus spending time reading about psychedelic pharmacology, or psychedelic cultural anthropology, or hell, even learning to play psychedelically-inspired music. These activities are productive, and develop useful skills and a deep understanding of reality through the power of gradual practice; simply taking drugs does not function as the same type of medium for personal development.

 

[2c-goinsane]

you can get addicted to things that arent even drugs. also its like a phase with psychedelics ime, at first i was just very fuckin enthused/excited about them and wanting to be on them. now im more into learning about them and hearing/reading others experiences, im still excited to take them but i dont take them as near as much. also imo the less you trip the more you get out of them, you have no tolerance your always almost going to get full effects everytime you trip.

after awhile you kinda start going loopy always in a haze have alot of delusional thoughts non stop, megalomania, deppression. this was after quite a few trips for me and alot of mdma thrown in the mix, everyones different so you have to be careful with what you do. also tolerance sucks ime, the experience becomes dull you notice more negative side effects etc, it sucks because you cant enjoy somthing you really liked at one point. the longer you go inbetween doses the longer youll get to enjoy that experience in the end.

try to keep it as limited as you can youll enjoy it overall alot more. its also totally fine just to save things for a while(if properly stored) youll have it for when you really want trip and when its a perfect time just about, you have to have will power not to eat up all your goodies though. i like just having them and knowing i have something for when i want it, a varieties nice to i just started having that problem lately idk what to trip on sometimes.

 

[slimvictor]

I Psychedelics. Seriously, I love psychedelics. I can't stop thinking about them. I spend a good hour everyday, reading articles about all sorts of psychedelic. It's like a out-of-control hobby of me.
Sometime ago, I got to do LSD for the first time. It was better then I ever could have imagined. The problem is though. I like to trip, way to often.
I think if I had something you could use very often, I would use it very often.

Is this wrong ? Exploring my mind has to be to most fascinating thing I ever experienced.
Now I know most psychedelics aren't physically or mentally addictive, and sometimes won't even allow you to experience often due tolerance.
But something keeps me pushing to tripping, like two magnets.

I guess I am just in love, and can't control it.

I think you answered your own question here.
If you can't control it, it is not good.

I have been addicted to LSD.
I took a quarter or a half of a tab every 2-3 days for many months while I was writing my dissertation.
It helped me be creative and gave me energy despite lack of sleep.
But I was also addicted to the stimulation.

 

[8hannah8]

No, you're just in the "honeymoon phase" of your psychedelic drug use, and you've become infatuated/obsessed with your new discovery. You're literally a textbook example of this phenomenon. Sooner or later the novelty will wear off just like with anything else, though; and this is especially true if you make the drugs your main focus.



It depends. I don't think being obsessed with "doing drugs" is ever healthy, regardless of the circumstances.

However, its perfectly healthy to be passionate about learning about drugs and how they work, or their effects on people and society, etc etc -- indeed, this is the basis of many legitimate fields of study. But there's a world of difference between necking a bunch of psychedelics all the time versus spending time reading about psychedelic pharmacology, or psychedelic cultural anthropology, or hell, even learning to play psychedelically-inspired music. These activities are productive, and develop useful skills and a deep understanding of reality through the power of gradual practice; simply taking drugs does not function as the same type of medium for personal development.

You're so pompous Roger.

 

[Black]

totally depends on the person. if i take acid, i don't want psychedelics (except maybe a little dmt) for at least a year. but i know a guy who takes low doses of shrooms/acid/mescaline daily and large doses of various combination at least weekly. he's not psychotic, but the only topics, where you can have conversation with him for more than a minute, are psychedelics and the ideas of terrance mckenna; other things apperantly aren't "psychedelic" or "spiritual" enough to get to his brain. overdoing it can make you a bit out of touch with the rest of the world, and some people are quite susceptible to taking psychs more often than is healty. still most people slow down considerably after the honeymoon phase (ime often ended by a bad trip). be observant and careful, and you'll be alright.

 

[drdoctor]

You're so pompous Roger.

Wow, seriously? I see the razzy tongue, but just in case, Roger has been around these (and other) forums for a long time (damn, I'm old!). I felt he was giving an informed and empathetic response to the op's question. Forgive me if you know him and are just busting his balls.

 

[8hannah8]

It was meant to be a joke, but it was not obvious! We go way back to another lifetime; but he can't remember! I agree with everything he said actually. Very sound advice. That's what it's all about really, sensible intelligent use of psychedelics for personal and group development. I do like his hat, too. Snazzy!

 

[toastmann]

Thanks all. I will try to practice these tips and make something positive out of this.

It's really bad I can't just enjoy it like you guys do, awesome but moderate. It's just to much fun to only do once a year. I have the same feeling with MDMA.
It's delusional to think I will never lose the magic, with both MDMA and psychedelics.

 

[Swimmingdancer]

Doing something frequently or enjoying it a lot does not make a person addicted. Addiction is defined as when the use/behaviour is not under your control, especially if it has an adverse impact on your life. The only things that the OP said that would make me think that there could be something addictive or unhealthy going on were the phrases "out of control" and "can't control it". Why do you feel it is "out of control"? Do you do it even when you don't actually want to? Do you crave them or obsess over them and feel like life is no fun whenever you aren't on them? Or do you just mean that you want to do it and it's not really causing problems but you feel some kind of guilt about it because it's not socially acceptable?

I think it also depends on your reasons for using psychedelics (to expand your consciousness, learn about life and yourself, personal growth, have a fascinating or "spiritual" experience, etc VS. to try to escape from life and problems) and whether it's harming your life in some way. Even if it is a bit of an addiction, almost everyone has addictions, whether it's spending too much time on the internet or watching TV, eating junk food, obsessing over the person you love, exercising compulsively, buying stuff you don't really need, etc, and I don't personally think that using and researching psychedelics are very high up on the list of harmful addictions to have, especially when it comes to drugs. You need to decide whether it is damaging your life in some way (like if you are spending all your money on psychs, you aren't doing other things you want to do, you feel it adversely affects your mental health, etc).

 

[toastmann]

No, but I am constantly finding spaces of time to trip. Life is fun without being on them. But life is no fun without them. I don't care what people think. I mainly use psychedelics, I am no crackhead or something. Whenever people call me junk or something rude, I just tell them my story and the almost zero negative health impact. After that most people accept it.

 

[artsncrafts]

You can become psychologically addicted to psychedelics. This happened to me with DXM (though not quite a psychedelic, still provided psychedelic experiences).

For me, it became more than a hobby, to the point of obsession.

There comes a point where you should definitely give your brain a rest. Even if you don't totally recognize the symptoms of psychological dependence, it can happen gradually, where you need to be on a hallucinagen in order to feel "normal". And I think that's a better definition of psychological addiction than saying, "Hey, this is totally awesome and I want to keep doing it."

It isn't "wrong", but do be cautious when becoming infatuated with drugs. That alone can mask your ability to recognize if and when they start to become detrimental to your well being. I think since you're posting this question, you could already see how it can become problematic. Better safe than sorry, and definitely echoing what someone else said about burn out and mental problems as a result.