I totally don't believe in LSD directly physically harming the brain, permanently at the least.
To my mind, this is exactly the ares where LSD shines.
In big stark contrast to MDMA, LSD DOESN'T damage the brain physically.
I genuinely damaged/injured/assaulted my own brain with MDMA overboard, more times than I can recall.
I walked on with those scars. Over time they partly healed, partly became normal to me.
But I never rued in regret and overthinking about it.
My brain works very sharply in most ways. I would love to take MDMA again, not since 2005 now.
I have some, but fear a severe allergy to it.
But I would be dispirited if I took MDMA once and noticed a decline in my cognitive sharpness, which I appreciate and helps keep me sane and witful.
Like- would it really be worth it?
But I have been taking insane amounts of acid of late, my 25th year since LSD use began, fittingly.
I am still getting full effects. Visuals as much as I need. Deep, moving trips on all doses- 50 ug to 1800 odd.
My communication skills, short term memory, self confidence, ease of communication and ability to think and freely navigate my imagination, and general cognitive ability, really do not feel to be impacted at all.
I would suggest side effects from LSD are primarily immaterial and rooted in the consciousness.
I don't actually trip for visuals. I have on and off hppd since 1996, my visual field is a blaze when high on weed and kava, any dose of acid massively turns up the lights and colour.
I feel the acid physically in full always. Not bodyload, body sensation.
Everything always appears very different when and after I trip.
My inner reality is always changing as is my perception of the world around me.
But I genuinely don't feel at all that my brain has actually been physically harmed by possibly the heaviest acid use of any member here since latter 2019.
Especially recently.
@pupnik makes some interesting points about bodyload worth contemplating.
I think it makes perfect sense that Bodyload can come from a purely emotional origin, as can any physical bodily manifestation.
Emotional blockages and stuff. Actually just tripping more sometimes can help. It's like re-moulding essentially, tripping.
Like the sculptar. If he isn't happy with it at one point, he keeps working at it rather than leave it as an uncompleted work, failed in his mind.