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Grainy Vision and Psychedelics

S

Stanthecan

Greenlighter
Joined
Mar 18, 2011
Messages
7
Howdy there BL, I've been off Psychedelics since having a bad Mushroom trip 4 months ago but I've mostly worked through it and feel ready to dive in.. The problem is I have started developing strong visual snow! I didn't feel sure about tripping so I thought i would ask BL, so will doing serotogenic psychedelics increase visual snow or those "TV pixels"?
I see them with both open and closed eyes. With closed eyes it's mostly barren except white and blue dots, I can also get mild CEVs occasionally, which are mostly random shapes, even psychedelic style visuals can emerge if Im stressed enough. I recall having residual snow since trying pot but was easily ignorable and didnt bother me til I tried Psys. Help would be much appreciated :)

btw The VS very similar to this & intensity is similar to this http://visualsnow.com/examples/pictures/index_files/page1-1000-full.html
 
Well have you read this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hallucinogen_persisting_perception_disorder

Then check the thread that we have on it

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=235230

Let me put it this way: if it is a strong enough effect to bother you it might be called HPPD although laymen probably shouldn't throw too much with the term.
If it is not bothering you but you notice it nonetheless, a user here recently coined the phrase HPP without the D, anyway you'd be having symptoms but not a disorder. Since a disorder implies problems with functioning.
 
Most people who use psychedelics get more or less pronounced visual distortions. In rare cases this symptoms became quite severe, so this became a disorder, which is called HPPD.
Also, even people who never used psychedelics occasionally can get similar symptoms, and see geometric CEVs when they are tired.

I suggest you to check the links in Solipsis's post, there are useful info!

And I found that visual snow goes away when I abstine from psychedelic use for long enough time, so your changes are likely not permanent.
 
If you are sure it's not just snowing then it might be better to avoid or at least be very sparse with tripping. How many times have you tripped? Are you bothered a lot by the snow? Did the effects show very suddenly? If it appeared very sudden then tripping again could precipitate these effects again and exaggerate it.
I'd be careful and test the water with a low dose first, if you even decide to risk it. Then really try to pay attention to the symptoms and if they get worse. If you have not tripped that many times, well 4 months is not that short a time either so it might really be that you are sensitive. If you get any other indication/signal that it gets worse when you trip on a low/medium dose then definitely avoid. It's not worth being in a permanent snowstorm over.
 
If you look more attentively, you'll find that FAQ have only "Partial List of HPPD Symptoms".

the symptoms tho the occasional CEVs might be another
Click to expand...
I am not an expert, but I have intuitive feeling that CEVs are HPPD-related. Anyhow, they come from psychedelic use.

think I should I still avoid taking psychedelics
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We can't decide if you should stop taking psychedelics. You're the only one who decide.

Personally I don't bother about my symptoms much, and they include a shitload of static(visual snow), reduced color discrimination, halos around lights at night, lots of afterimages, slight objects morphing, synaesthesia, "gray" thick lines appearing for a few seconds, occasional OEVs as well as CEVs. I think I am fine.

But that's me, and you know your body and mind better than everything else. If you worry about your condition, definitely be very cautious.
 
So Psys will make the snowstorm stronger? anyhow I have tripped 5 times, highish dose DXM and the rest of them were of Mushrooms, mostly lowish doses so I could get used to the psychedelic terrain, tho my bad one was at 4g. None of the trips were but the last were bad, just the last one because I foolishly ingested them after a shitty week, convinced I could just face my ego! The of the symptom onset wasn't sudden and but it gradually escalated since my bad trip. The reason I'm bothered with it is that it interferes makes reading and concentrating more difficult, the problems are even more annoying with tinnitus thrown into the mix.
I've had coffee almost daily so maybe that is why it's not going away.
 
Stanthecan said:
btw The VS very similar to this & intensity is similar to this http://visualsnow.com/examples/pictures/index_files/page1-1000-full.html
Click to expand...

Oddly enough that's not far off how my vision has always been since childhood. Used to play games with the "Space Invaders" as a kiddy, in fact. Never saw it as a problem but - if anything - the "snow" has actually decreased with heavy psyche use. Unless such minor visual frippery is actually a problem in day-to-day life it wouldn't really bother me (rather it doesn't really bother me). Effects on cognitive ability and grip on reality would be more a concern but a few more floaters and haze than usual is neither here nor there to me, to be honest.

Incidentally, I still (apparently) have 20/20 vision now as I always have but the visual messiness has lessened in time. Maybe this has some connection to my seemingly extreme difficulty in ever experiencing much in terms of psychedelic visuals? I know not.
 
allium said:
We can't decide if you should stop taking psychedelics. You're the only one who decide.

But that's me, and you know your body and mind better than everything else. If you worry about your condition, definitely be very cautious.
Click to expand...

I'd probably take them if I knew it wouldn't make my static worse, hence the reason I came to the forum to ask.
 
So Psys will make the snowstorm stronger?
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Probably. They also may not change it at all.
Also, for me 1 threshold experience have almost the same effect as 1 full-on experience, though the effects may wear off more fast in the first case. Anyhow, if you decide to take psychedelics, it's wise to start low. It may be even wiser to completely abstain from psychedelics for 1-2 month and see if you get better.

The of the symptom onset wasn't sudden and but it gradually escalated since my bad trip.
Click to expand...
Have they been getting worse last few weeks, or did they stabilized at some point of time?
 
allium said:
Probably. They also may not change it at all.
Also, for me 1 threshold experience have almost the same effect as 1 full-on experience, though the effects may wear off more fast in the first case. Anyhow, if you decide to take psychedelics, it's wise to start low. It may be even wiser to completely abstain from psychedelics for 1-2 month and see if you get better.


Have they been getting worse last few weeks, or did they stabilized at some point of time?
Click to expand...

I'll wait for some more replies but I'll probs try abstaining from all substances and see if things change. Well, it's been getting worse the latest weeks, though that might have to do with stress I've had of symptoms lately, and stress I've had over potentially having this disorder for the rest of my life :( If my vision stays like this I doubt I'll be able to enjoy art nearly as much..
 
Or perhaps enjoy art in a slightly different way? I took up art in my 30s after being told my whole life I was incapable. Apparently I'm quite good now.

Are these purely visual symptoms or is there a mental element too? I don't mean to be a prick (really I genuinely don't) but this sounds like standard vision + paranoia to me. Many things can have temporary or long-term effects on vision. Psyches have never had any on me either way, to be honest. But the world always did look that way as mentioned earlier.

Is it actually causing you problems now or is it more a concern that it could possibly cause problems somewhere down the line?
 
I've had green static at night from cannabis for years. I would consider it HPPD because it's bad enough to obstruct my night vision, and can sometimes make star gazing impossible.

Tracers after illuminated objects (especially a cell phone in the dark) and halos around lights as well, which always get worse if I smoke, then gradually decline after I abstain.

The green static however has never gone away, or even tapered off.

Other much heavier psychedelics haven't seemed to produce these effects strangely enough. In fact I developed the static before I ever tripped.
 
Shambles said:
Or perhaps enjoy art in a slightly different way? I took up art in my 30s after being told my whole life I was incapable. Apparently I'm quite good now.

Are these purely visual symptoms or is there a mental element too? I don't mean to be a prick (really I genuinely don't) but this sounds like standard vision + paranoia to me. Many things can have temporary or long-term effects on vision. Psyches have never had any on me either way, to be honest. But the world always did look that way as mentioned earlier.

Is it actually causing you problems now or is it more a concern that it could possibly cause problems somewhere down the line?
Click to expand...

Definitely about the art, there are so many ways of expression, I was mainly thinking of painting, where one may miss many of the subtleties in colors.
They symptoms definitely visual and the static has been increasing in intensity, though different mental factors ofc affect intensity if that's what you meant. One of my parents also has visual static, never took drugs, I might be predisposed to it. It's not directly causing me problems, besides reading books and to a minor extent concentration. The problems down the line for me, if the snowstorm stays is that it is so chaotic which is distressing, unlike before when I could see the world clearly and the world was peaceful.
 
Interesting you mention having a parent who has experienced similar effects despite not using drugs. As mentioned, I have also always experienced these things and has never bothered me. Wonder if it is more a genetic thing? And if so, what effect - if any - does psyche use have? As also mentioned, a reduction in symptoms at most, in my case. Not suggesting that is a viable "treatment" option though.

On the art thing, I mostly use paint (in various forms) and pastels and my sense of subtle colour balance is actually the thing most often complimented. Unless it actually causes problems I wouldn't assume it will be a problem, personally :)

PS: The occasional difficulties in reading text (in books or on a screen) I can relate too. Seems to only happen when very tired and/or under certain lighting conditions though. But could happily live without it, to be honest.
 
I have a feeling this stuff is always there, just when you first notice it, you tend to notice it the more it happens... Psychedelics hype your senses including your visual field trememndously... (In my experiences)

I don't know if it was the psy's or MDMA but my peripheral vision had improved trememndously and leads to more trippy 'static' or visual movements in the brightest of days outside or the night at dark... but can come and go anytime.. (Nightime is weird, literally dark grains everywhere)

granted, I don't notice it so much whilst working, driving, talking with friends etc...

Usually when resting in my room alone/sleeping, having smokes, sitting down and relaxing... basically at very calm states of mind...
 
I agree Static (lol suiting name :) )

Most people I've talked too, who've never taken psychedelics or sometimes even toked, notice snow if I just tell them to look for it. They're like "oh shit! thats always been there?" haha. And after you experience visual distortion for the first time shit like that stands out a LOT.

I'm sick of visual snow and floaters being considered a disorder. God you trippin' people are hypochondriacs ;)
 
nearjat said:
Most people I've talked too, who've never taken psychedelics or sometimes even toked, notice snow if I just tell them to look for it. They're like "oh shit! thats always been there?" haha. And after you experience visual distortion for the first time shit like that stands out a LOT.

I'm sick of visual snow and floaters being considered a disorder. God you trippin' people are hypochondriacs ;)
Click to expand...

So do you think the coast is clear for trying Psychedelics? (I'm prepared mentally, just cautious because of the VS)
Persistent visual snow may be commonly reported nowadays, but I don't recall it being mentioned much at all in the early Psychedelic literature. I also have my doubts that VS follows Psychedelic use, as when a Scientist (Abraham Hoffer I think) interviewed around 1,000 Mescaline users Native American Church, none of them reported visual snow or HPPD.
 
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