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Sobriety with Psychedelics? (HUH?)

nearjat

Bluelighter
Joined
Dec 19, 2008
Messages
3,209
Location
where the trees are sappy
Ok so I've decided to admit my defeat. I'm a drug addict, I can't use drugs and be 'ok'. In recovery you're not supposed to hold reservations, like "I can use drugs once I'm out of the house" or "just booze will be ok". But I definitely have one big one, I have this idea that psychedelics (the way I've used them) are different, and I can continue using them. The whole concept seems ridiculous, attending NA/AA meetings and attending a sober high school but tripping every once in a while. It's an honesty based program, and I can't be taken seriously if I tell people that...

As of now I'm just going to not seek them out or make any decisions, one day at a time haha ;) But what are others views on this? Is my druggie brain pulling strings to justify more use? Or is it something people do? I'm looking for experiences with this, not an enabling or anything. Thanks ya'll.
 
The only sort of addiction I have struggled with is the kind of psychological addiction that forms towards drugs like psychedelics, marijuana, mdma, etc. So I have never struggled with that hard physical addiction that leads to withdrawals or the psychological addiction that leads to intense cravings and lack of interest in anything not related to that drug.

But what worked for me in getting passed that first mild form of addiction was finding people who simply didn't use drugs. I would never be offered any by them and thus never have that temptation and I wouldn't be able to talk about drugs/drug experiences with them because they would have no interest whatsoever in them. This worked great for me as I was able to enjoy my free time with other people without drugs in any way at all. I also did my best to find other things to occupy my free time that couldn't be spent around other people like learning musical instruments, reading books, putting puzzles together, even playing video games. Also finding someone very close to you that will keep you reliable and you would feel very bad about lying to might help. I kind of tried this but I guess I didn't pick someone who would actually ask about it or I wasn't completely clear with what I wanted them to do so it didn't work for me.

I guess I have kinda held a reservation though with drug use where I won't use any unless the substance finds me and all my stars align (even very small things like I didn't get enough sleep the night before, I have homework to do, or I have a bug bite on my hand would prevent me). So far this has never happened for me.

Again I have never struggled with real drug addiction but I do believe what I have struggled with could be considered a minor form of addiction but it was usually something I'd do out of boredom or because it was more fun than anything else I would've done however this did interfere with my life as very little actual work was ever done and I skipped class quite often as I rarely wanted to go to class high on anything.

I sincerely hope you find something that works for you and are able to overcome your addictions and wish you the best of luck. Don't forget, you have support here on BL. :)
 
i find that occasional psychedelic use is okay, as long as its just that.

most psyches arent addictive like alot of other classed drugs are. they get you high in a way that you can actually use for understanding and perception to life issues.

imo, if you quit doing opiates for example, but dropped acid once or twice a year i would say good job man, keep it that way :)
 
I would look carefully and honestly at your pattern of use.
Can you use psychedelics once in a while, without starting to binge or go overboard?
Do you crave them every day you don't use them?

I think that only you can give yourself the real answer.
Honestly assessing your situation is the only path to the real answer.
If you can't trust yourself to look at your psychedelic use honestly, I would say you should stop.
If you can look honestly, but use too often, or crave em too deeply, I would say you should stop.
If you look at yourself honestly, and decide that once every 6 weeks (for example) is not a problem, then it seems fine to me. (emphasis on the "to me" part)
 
With the typical psychedelics i don't see it as a problem if only once in a while.... Now lets say i give a meth addict psychonaught an assload of DOx.... that would probably not lead anywhere good.....

ketamine is addictive, i would stay away.

But psychedelics really hold a special place for me, my first acid trip changed my entire outlook on life from the years of depression to feeling like there were so many reasons to live, and that never really changed...

good luck nearjat, your really going to have to determine how your going to handle it... Moderation is a great rule to follow if you do decide to keep using psychs while quitting your other problems...
 
Exactly, DOx does have addictive properties as it hits the pleasure system in a forcerful way unlike traditional psychedelics. Not all DOx and dose is dependant, but if u dose right you won't feel like a zombie, rather if you hit the sweet spot wtih DOx it might even be more pleasurable than meth.

Not only that but u can take DOx days in a row and redose and it still works unlike LSD or mushrooms.
 
I think if you still want to use psychs as long as you only use psychs you could do it man..

I believe in you brother :) Great job on being clean now man, I'm happy your back and well. <3
 
I don't think psychedelics will harm your recovery in any way, or cause you to fall back into addictive tendencies.

However I still think you should just stay sober for the time being, finish treatment, and get settled back into a routine for a long stretch before you decide to take any drugs. Think about what a gift you've been given: a 100% clean and unpolluted mind. IMO you should spend some time exploring your interests/passions in that sober state-- expand your mind man, there's a million different ways to do that without drugs. <3

I think its healthiest to distract yourself from the subject of drugs at this point-- I'm not trying to be subversive to your healing in any way, but I always found "recovery" talk to do more harm than good. Sitting around talking about drugs/addiction isn't going to help you function without drugs-- living your life boldly, expanding your talents, enjoying the company of others without psychoactives in the picture, etc....that's the kind of stuff that will help you get better. Incessantly reminding yourself that you are a "drug addict" will only perpetuate that state of mind.

I want to preemptively apologize for voicing such a bold/controversial opinion at a time that is probably stressful and confusing for you, but I sincerely believe that the AA/NA people are bigger losers than even the most degenerate addicts. You shouldn't have to "admit defeat" to anyone man, make those people admit defeat to you by showing them that you can live productive, healthy, and sober life without resorting to such an extreme. You can only do that by projecting your energy outside of yourself towards the people and activities you cherish; the 12 steps are demeaning, and cause you to project your energy inwards towards yourself like a laser beam that cuts and burns you.

Sorry for rambling on, I guess my point is that sobriety is a GREAT thing that you should cultivate and CHERISH-- but acquiescing to the demands of a "recovery group" is demeaning, and will only result in you becoming dependent upon the group as a surrogate for the drug. If you learn to stand with your feet firmly planted on the ground, you aren't forced to lean on anyone or anything for support. Always remember that the essence of YOU, at your core, is unbreakable and immortal-- you are not powerless, you are immeasurably powerful.

Anyone who tells you that you are powerless, is only saying that because they themselves are scared and feel powerless and weak. If you lean on weak people, they will break and you will fall. Its best to not lean but instead stand firmly: this can be accomplished through consistent effort and gradual training.

Much love and blessings to you, brother. :) <3

I wish you PEACE, both internally and externally-- in all ways. Again, I'm sorry if what I've said is offensive/confusing-- but I felt I could not remain silent on the issue.

Namaste <3
 
Very nice post roger man :) I almost feel like I HAVE to participate in NA/AA because my parents are active in AA (30 years sober both) and to them not going to meetings is a "relapse mindset". I do like a lot of the stuff the twelve steps say though, basically the idea of admitting powerlessness means to me the same thing as general humility. I don't have ultimate control over everything, there is a higher order to things (as psychedelics have showed me in a way) and I've been fighting that and inflating my ego.

For the most part I'm just trying to surround myself with positive things, and stuff that doesn't relate to drugs. I'm at a fucked up point in my life I think... I'll probably not be on bluelight for a long time. If people want to hit me up, I've got AIM. I dunno man, it seems like AA/NA works for a lot of people and I really want something to work. I don't trust my own brain right now, not until I've got some clean time under my belt. My best attempts at success landed my where I am right now so that's why I don't trust my ideas so much anymore. I just want to find some peace in my head, which I think I can gain from just surrendering to the universe. Let things work out and accept circumstances. I feel institutionalized, I can't fucking think.
 
I've seen a psychedelic experience act as a wake-up call for friends & family who have been abusing their bodies/ignoring their problems. But in those cases, usually the wake-up trip encouraged them to give up all intoxicants for a while and get their lives in order.

I'd recommend staying clean until the time comes that you feel you have forgiven yourself enough and developed the coping skills you need to get through bad states of mind without resorting to other substances. This is a worst case scenario, but say you have an awful trip, are beating yourself up over past mistakes, resolve nothing and wake up the next day depressed and having lost faith with yourself. Do you have the strength to not turn to another substance to help you out of that spot? I saw my father go through that cycle many times -- celebrating a clean patch with a deep acid trip, which raised the demons he could only silence with alcohol, meth etc.

I think that if you are facing your dark corners soberly through therapy and feeling better, it's probably safest to stay clean until you really feel like your life is in order and you've accepted the parts of yourself that you were trying to escape. If you can find happiness in a sober world, then psychedelics stop being a refuge and can offer up so much more.
 
I used to be on a lot of tweek and dope and was sent to rehabs and SLEs and attended 100s of meetings and nothing ever helped.

Took LSD one time and never touched the shit again.
Amazing if you ask me. Now all I am ever interested in is smoking pot and planning for my next awesome trip with some friends at a festival or something. Last night me and 5 other friends (3 guys and 3 girls) and it turned out to be one of the more peaceful nights in a while.
 
I used to be a full on IV heroin user. I was a terrible person fucking over everyone, doing every drug to excess mostly heroin though. I really worked on myself, mostly I realized I became a compulsive liar so I really worked on that. Honestly marijuana really helped me stay clean and I still love to take hallucinogens. Be honest with yourself though if your taking them to get out of your head then your taking them incorrectly. Take them to further find out about yourself.
 
try using only super safe plant drugs with religious history behind them

and use them VERY infrequently!

its hard for somebody to tell you what your doing is wrong when things like peyote are so safe and entire religions and cultures are based around them
 
you may also find it interesting to note that peyote is actually used in alcoholism treatment, which much success.

So he can't use LSD?

Where is he going to get it without being part of the sketchy drug culture he is trying to distance himself from?

With plants he can grow them in his own home and have no interaction with sketchy drug dealers, plus he will know it's pure and using things like peyote and ayahuasca is legal for religious use and is seen as more respectable
 
More respectable eh? Interesting angle, I'll give you that much.

Stay clean until you can treat your own ability to reason stuff out again, then make a decision based on how you feel and what you think you are capable of. Risk/reward etc.

I don't think whether you're tripping on rare and endangered plants or otherwise is particularly relevant to the situation.
 
Depends on how determined you are to change your life. If your 100% determined to stay sober and to relapse would bring great shame and disappointment then I would stay away from them. It would be too tempting to smoke bowls, do whippets, or take other drugs to bring out the high during your trip when your not thinking strait. In my experience any drug leads to other drugs to other drugs in the long run. Not always but that's a good general rule.
 
Depends on how determined you are to change your life. If your 100% determined to stay sober and to relapse would bring great shame and disappointment then I would stay away from them. It would be too tempting to smoke bowls, do whippets, or take other drugs to bring out the high during your trip when your not thinking strait. In my experience any drug leads to other drugs to other drugs in the long run. Not always but that's a good general rule.


I agree, get some sober time! I figured that out the hard way, by doing 2c-e and weed when I was supposed to be getting sober, which just led me straight back to dope and other opiates. You do not know how a trip will affect you when you are most susceptible to relapsing, so try it without drugs.

If you do get some time and see a way out the cold dark tunnel, then go for it, but just be careful; addiction should be taking as seriously as cancer IMHO.
 
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