Recreational drug use/experimentation

[The Introvert]

The first and only time I tried ketamine I did it alone and floated through the Tenderloin while listening to Enya and Burial on headphones. Sounds goofy as fuck but it was surreal, amazing. With echo-y music like that your mind fills in the gaps, sound is enhanced so much and vibes like turning up the wetness on a synthesizer. Really fucking dangerous place to be alone without sound but I was oblivious and simultaneously gloomy but euphoric. Kind of obsessed with dissociatives but I won't let myself near them again because I am so infatuated with both the experience and the idea of them. The ketamine section on Erowid is a fun read.

Pardon my asking, but were there any psychological benefits (ie: any perceived increase in cognitive ability) after the K?

I could scour Erowid but it's easier and more efficient to specifically question the experienced.

 

[r4ch3l]

Pardon my asking, but were there any psychological benefits (ie: any perceived increase in cognitive ability) after the K?

I could scour Erowid but it's easier and more efficient to specifically question the experienced.

Depends on what you mean by cognitive ability. I personally equate that phrase with concentration (because I lack it). In the days after I definitely felt more happy, at one with everything, creative. I could synthesize information in a bigger-picture, holistic kind of way. The anxiety I usually feel by pressuring myself into concentrating was gone and I could free-associate and flow. Basically it amplified the way that I usually think (visually/in categories/conceptually/synesthesia) and lifted the veil of anxiety that clouds my brain.

Ketamine = accepting how my brain works, getting to enjoy it fully and amplify it. (lack of anxiety)
Amphetamines (adderall) = correcting how my brain works, getting shit done in a world that doesn't mesh so well with my brain. (anxiety overdrive pressures me into action)

This guy's account is one of my favorites: http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=2731

 

[Lane]

I tried oxy when I was 13. I found some in family medicine cabinet and googled it. That's about it though.

 

[The Introvert]

Depends on what you mean by cognitive ability. I personally equate that phrase with concentration (because I lack it). In the days after I definitely felt more happy, at one with everything, creative. I could synthesize information in a bigger-picture, holistic kind of way. The anxiety I usually feel by pressuring myself into concentrating was gone and I could free-associate and flow. Basically it amplified the way that I usually think (visually/in categories/conceptually/synesthesia) and lifted the veil of anxiety that clouds my brain.

Ketamine = accepting how my brain works, getting to enjoy it fully and amplify it. (lack of anxiety)
Amphetamines (adderall) = correcting how my brain works, getting shit done in a world that doesn't mesh so well with my brain. (anxiety overdrive pressures me into action)

This guy's account is one of my favorites: http://www.erowid.org/experiences/exp.php?ID=2731

Ah, much obliged.

 

[The Introvert]

In addition (if anyone cares):

Planning on another journey into the realms of psychedelics in the near future.

-1/8 ounce (~3.5 grams) of p. cubensis
- cabin in woods with close friends
- excited and healthy mind

Oh, the anticipation!

 

[Sinny91]

9/13. I'll do anything & everything cept opiates & depressants.
I'll avoid most legal highs, they're the most dangerous.

Followed Antimony over here, welcome.

 

[PaulMaster]

I've always scoffed at calling caffeine a drug. Its a mere technicality.

I smoke weed now and then, but these days I dont really use anything. Back in the day though...

I always preferred psychoactive stuff. Weed was definitely my drug of choice. There were times in my life it was a daily thing. I liked ecstasy quite a bit too, though I didnt partake nearly as much.

 

[rainman312]

I'll avoid most legal highs, they're the most dangerous.

Not necessarily. There are some relatively dangerous legal highs (huffing synthetic solvents, butane, DXM if used too frequently), but the majority of legal highs aren't any more dangerous than some of the more "mild" illegal highs. Things such as PCP, crack, and methamphetamine (although it's actually only schedule II in the US, if I recall correctly) are certainly more dangerous than the vast majority of legal highs. The ISCD did a study on this in the UK a few years back. Here's a .pdf of it, if you're interested:
http://www.sg.unimaas.nl/_old/oudelezingen/dddsd.pdf

I've always scoffed at calling caffeine a drug. Its a mere technicality.

It's still a fully-fledged CNS stimulant, though. If you wanted to get really technical, you could call pretty much anything you ingest a drug. The reason we don't is because the majority of things we ingest don't cause any noticeable change in mindset or physiology. Caffeine, however, causes definite noticeable changes in both of these, especially if you have no tolerance for it. That's presumably the reason for this classification.

 

[PaulMaster]

It's still a fully-fledged CNS stimulant, though. If you wanted to get really technical, you could call pretty much anything you ingest a drug. The reason we don't is because the majority of things we ingest don't cause any noticeable change in mindset or physiology. Caffeine, however, causes definite noticeable changes in both of these, especially if you have no tolerance for it. That's presumably the reason for this classification.

I (partially) retract my statement because I'm sitting here, typing this, drinking a cup of coffee (wishing it was stronger) to perk up a bit.

 

[Starfishtea]

Caffeiene, alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, speed, cocaine and oxysomething.
My favourites are by far speed and cocaine since I'm usually such a slow and sluggish person and those things help make me feel more normal and less dead all while having fun of course. They also help bring me out of my introverted shell in a much less idiotic way than alcohol does. Though It's more for rare occasions. The oxything was actaully just a two time thing where I got some pills from a friend. It was an itchy experience. I've smoked weed about 5 times or so but that shit doesen't agree with my brain and I am not very fond of it. Last time I smoked I got stuck in derealization mode for months afterwards. Alcohol and caffeine is more of a weekly to every day occasion. I usually drink until I'm about to fall asleep, then take some caffeine pills to keep awake so that I can drink more. I've been smoking on and off for a couple of years but I never quite get addicted to it. My smoking habits depend on who I'm with. Some friends I can smoke 20 cigs a day with while others are strictly no smoke which I am also perfectly okay with. I have plans of doing ketamine, MDMA and possibly more opiates. But the preparation time will be long since I will have to wean off my antidepressants first so it probably won't happen in a while. And I'm also actaully quite apprehensive about most drugs because I'm extremely prone to psychosis. And besides, when I'm psychotic it's like being on some kinda drug all the time.

 

[Rualani]

I, sadly, realized that I have a very stubborn mind when it comes to Hallucinogens. My friends witnessed me taking the largest dose of essence of machine elves they had ever seen. I fell back for a few seconds, than immediately sat back up and started trying to 'control' my environment and put it back together. IN a way... I conquered the drug completely and only experienced slightly crazy colors.

Still not sure if I should be proud of that, or sad that I missed an experience. My new age friends all think that I'm trapped by my ego now.

My ego is all devouring urahahaha.