[Technology Saw] In a recent study, scientists found that there’s more to psychedelic substances than most people think.
Highlights:
- Psychedelic users may experience visual distortions like seeing patterns or colors that aren’t real.
- Scientists are exploring psychedelics’ therapeutic potential for mental health but warn against unsupervised use.
- Despite therapeutic promise, the risks of persistent visual disturbances prompt further research.
- A study with over 9,700 participants reveals new psychedelic users face heightened visual issues.
- Research examines visual problems in psychedelic users, including light sensitivity and hallucinations.
- Clinical benefits of psychedelic substances.
People who use psychedelic substances like LSD and psilocybin may see things that aren’t really there, such as patterns or bright colors. This is according to a recent study.
It opens our eyes to the possible side effects of psychedelics when used outside of controlled medical settings.
Scientists are getting more interested in psychedelics again. They found evidence that they could help treat different mental health problems like depression and alcoholism.
But using these drugs outside of a doctor’s supervision raises concerns about safety. This is especially true when it comes to long-lasting visual problems called hallucinogen-persisted perception disorder.
Even though psychedelics show promise for therapy, we still don’t fully understand all the risks. That is, especially when it comes to weird visual experiences that might happen long after the drug’s effects wear off.
Researchers wanted to look deeper into how common and intense these visual experiences are among regular people using psychedelics outside of clinical trials.
Otto Simonsson, a researcher from the Karolinska Institute’s Department of Clinical Neuroscience, explains that while some studies suggest that using psychedelics in everyday life might lead to strange visual experiences even after the drug’s main effects are gone, we need more research to confirm this.
To get a clearer picture, the team gathered data from 9,732 people in the United States and the United Kingdom. They picked participants to match the population’s mix of genders, ages, and ethnicities, making sure to get a diverse group.
Over the course of two months, they asked the participants about their psychedelic use and any unusual visual experiences they had. Then, they checked back with them two months later to see if anything had changed.
People were asked if they used any psychedelic drugs during the study. Also, if they saw things like halos around objects or if colors seemed extra bright. They also asked if anyone saw unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
One big finding was that people trying psychedelics for the first time had more intense visual experiences compared to those who had used them before.
This suggests that new users might be more likely to have stronger visual problems. This is something to be careful about. The study also looked at different types of visual problems people had after using psychedelics.
For example, they found that colors seemed brighter to psychedelic users, and they were more likely to see patterns or objects that weren’t really there.
Also, they noticed that these users were more sensitive to flickering lights. What’s interesting is that there seemed to be a connection between unusual visual experiences and seeing UFOs.
This shows that the visual problems from psychedelics can be more than just simple hallucinations; they can be more complex.
A Closer Look at Psychedelic Substances
Psychedelic substances, like LSD and magic mushrooms, are drugs that mess with your senses, mood and thoughts. They make you see, hear and feel things that aren’t really there, which can be pretty intense.
People have been using these drugs for ages in different cultures and religions, mostly for spiritual or healing reasons.
LSD, for example, was invented in the 1930s and got super popular in the 1960s during the hippie movement. Other famous psychedelics include things like magic mushrooms and peyote cactus.
Recently, scientists have gotten interested again in using these drugs to help with mental health problems. Studies show they can help with things like depression, anxiety and addiction when used with therapy.
The idea is to take a small, controlled dose of the drug in a safe place with a therapist to guide you. It can lead to deep thinking and breakthroughs in therapy.
But using psychedelics can be risky, especially if you are not careful. You might have a bad trip where you feel really scared or paranoid.
This is more likely if you take a lot or if you already have mental health issues. Also, you might do something dumb because your judgment is off.
Even with these risks, scientists are studying psychedelics to figure out how they work and how to use them safely.
Clinical Benefits of Psychedelic Substances
Recent research suggests that psychedelic drugs like pilocybin could help lift the fog of depression.
These substances have been shown to make big and long-lasting changes in how people feel and see the world. It offers a new way to deal with feelings of sadness.
So, by acting on the brain’s serotonin system, psychedelics can help the brain adapt and process emotions better, providing relief for those who haven’t found help with regular antidepressants.
Also, there’s been a buzz about using psychedelic therapy to tackle anxiety issues like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Drugs like MDMA, when used with guidance from professionals, can help people dive deep into their emotions and feel safer and more connected.
This different way of therapy gives those with anxiety a chance to face their fears in a supportive setting.
Breaking free from addiction with psychedelics
Psychedelic therapy holds promise for those struggling with addiction, whether it’s alcohol or nicotine.
Studies show that drugs like LSD and ibogaine can shake up addictive behaviors by giving people intense spiritual experiences and making them think deeply about their lives.
So, by changing how they see things and becoming more self-aware, psychedelics could offer a path to kicking bad habits and staying clean for the long haul.
More so, psychedelic therapy is getting attention for possibly helping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Drugs like MDMA seem to dial down the fear response tied to painful memories, letting people process and accept what happened to them.
Also, this new approach brings hope to those living with PTSD, giving them a way to heal and become stronger emotionally.
Psychedelic therapy is becoming a valuable tool for people nearing the end of their lives. Substances like psilocybin can bring about deep spiritual experiences and ease existential worries, bringing peace to those facing the end.
By fostering a sense of connection and understanding, psychedelics can make the final days of life more peaceful and meaningful.
Boosting Creativity and Feeling Good
Psychedelics aren’t just for therapy; they can also spark creativity and lift spirits. Drugs like LSD and ayahuasca can put people in a different state of mind. It makes them more aware of their senses and thoughts.
These experiences have been linked to more creativity, better problem-solving skills and a deeper understanding of emotions. It gives people a chance to grow and discover new things about themselves.
All in all, the study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that using psychedelics can lead to all sorts of unusual visual experiences. But there are some limitations to this research.
Since it’s observational, we can’t say for sure that psychedelics cause these visual problems. Also, people might not always remember or report their experiences accurately.
The researchers suggest that people who plan on using psychedelics should be aware that they might have strange visual experiences.
And if they do, they should talk to a doctor about it. Also, doctors should be ready to help patients who report these problems after using psychedelics. More so, keep an eye on them over time to see if they need any help.
Future research should look more closely at when and why these visual problems happen and how they can be managed.