Thread: Psychadelic Drugs, Lucidity & Psychosis

...what the hell is wrong with you ... just kidding i dont know how to answer a question like that but nice idea's. Never thought of them before.

I have a close friend who may have developed some sort of schitzophrenia or psychosis as a result of a time extended lucid dream that was perceived to last about a month. So they claim.

i would think there is a much greater chance of developing psychosis from psychadelics than lucid dreaming.

after all, if you're lucid, you by definition realize that you are dreaming...so no matter how f**ked up it is, you'd still know its not real.

although i could see false awakenings, and non-lucid dreams sending someone over the deep end (not knowing what reality is anymore)

Lucid dreams and psychosis are closely linked.

A deep psychosis is similar to a trance state and can be brought on by hallucinogenic drugs.

It is important to be careful when exploring alternative levels of consciousness. It is probably not a good idea to teach yourself how to lucid dream whilst awake!

I am a mental healthcare worker and work regularly with people suffering from schizophrenia. One person I work with in particular often falls into trance states and then claims that she has visited 'Babylon'. She often brings back messages from this place for other people - giving them advice on how to lead their lives. The main problem here is that she has conlcuded that her lucid/ trance state forms a part of her own 'spiritual' journey. She believes the world she visits is true and that the physical world we live in is 'base' and ugly.
She believes that everyone should undertake similar journeys in order for the world to evolve to the next plain of being.

It is interesting to note that she gained her first 'spiritual' experiences by using hallucinogenic drugs.

I do know that the drugs that are used to treat schizophrenia hamper the abilities to lucid dream.
They signal out the transmitters that cause halluciogenics states that would apply in dreams, but with this condition, it is often experienced at anytime. So it would go to show why the drug would hamper dreams.

I don't believe any drug in the long run will increase the ability to lucid dream.
When someone is first introduced to a hallucinogenic drug they can experience images that your brain could later on manifest in your dreams.
But with any drug, there is usually a price to pay. Hallucinogens specifically can have a transverse effect over time destroying the dendrites that at first were multiplying because of the drug.

I haven't studied psychology indepth, but as I enjoy my fair share of escapism (through movies and books), I have a brief glimpse into what can happen to a person. Now, I'm enough of a realist to know the books and movies that I read and see are fake (at least the fiction), but they can have a profound effect on a person emotionally and/or spiritually. I've found that if I stop reading a book at a point where it's invoking emotions of sadness or depression, I find myself still feeling that for a short time after.

When it comes to dreaming, we naturally separate what is fake from what is not when we wake. But just as with those books, I've woken up crying when I was dreaming of being rejected by others. Often the feelings go away after a short time, but in one instance I was feeling irrational suspicion of my brother for the rest of the day.

To make a long explination short, dreams easily affect our emotions which may cause us to act when we are awake as we did when we were sleeping. The conscious mind can counter that, though. It's only when one stops doing that that I would become worried. It could also be good to take a break from DCs if you think you're talking to them to much.

*still waiting for coffee to work so her words make sense(

-Amé

I would agree that I doubt lucid dreaming could cause a psychosis to occur. Although if any of us ever feel that we are getting to deep to keep a grip on reality then it would be a good idea to take a break from them for a while.

The world of dreams is fascinating and full of many wondrous ideas, from shamenism, to astral plains, learning how to fly and simpy to have fun. It is important to keep an open mind. And I suppose to remind ourselves that no matter how real a dream seems, the physical world is where we can be truly sure of reality as we know it.

I think psychadellic drugs on the whole have a damaging effect.
I have taken many and in general I regret it. I was imaginative and creative enough without them.

A type of lucidity brought on by drug psychosis would be a nightmare.

Tnx for all the reply`s as i got a little wiser and sorry for the late responce. Nothing more to add really so... tnx again .