Opinions - Mid life crisis and hallucinogens

[Diogenes1970]

Alright, swim is nearing 40, and swim is what most straight laced Americans would call a "middle-aged drug addict." Swim loves to drink and smoke weed. Swim certainly goes through any Vicodin with a vengeance whenever the doctor prescribes it. But swim wouldn't call himself a "drug addict" but swim knows that it's how society characterizes him.

Swim hasn't done any acid in about 10 years, and the last time swim did some acid, it had been about five years since the last time swim had done some acid.

Swim got kind of burned out on acid around 25 years old. Prior to that, swim had taken maybe, an estimated 300 hits, beginning about age 18. swim never did the megadose thing, but knew folks who did. Swim thought it was crazy.

Swim always liked acid more when at a concert or camping, and swim loved playing the Camper Van Beethoven song 'Camping on Acid' while camping on acid.

Swim got so accustomed to acid, that swim gave it up, or stopped seeking it out simply because it lasted too long, and because swim wasn't "learning" anything from it. Swim got to where he could control his trips very well, and let go when swim wanted to.

Now it's been years, and swim has fallen into a routine of work, bong hits and supper, sleep, work, bong hits and supper, sleep. Swim has been hankering or craving acid for a few months now, but swim doesn't know where to get any. Swim always hears that it's out of fashion now, and ecstacy and Special K are in.

Swim wanted to find some mushrooms and googled 'naturally occuring hallucinogens' recently and found out about Salvia Divinorum. It's perfect for an old fogey like swim, but swim still kind of misses the acid, because it lasts much longer and swim can work out some philosophical thought lines while on it. Swim also likes to write while tripping.

Anyway, anyone want to offer any theories on why swim all the sudden wants to do acid again after all these years? Back in the day, when swim was like 20 years old and tripping hard twice a week, it took a lot out of swim. I know it would take a lot out of swim now, but why is swim craving it? Is this what they call midlife crisis?

[rodent]

I can only guess that it's the routine of "work, bong hits and supper, sleep, work, bong hits and supper, sleep" that is causing one to crave/seek change.

My friend hasn't quite hit middle age but he has noticed that LSD and other fine chems don't produce the same effect that they once did, back in his younger years. He still finds certain ones very valuable but he no longer chases that feeling he would get as a kid.

Good luck to swim in his search

[Nature Boy]

Why is SWIY craving it? You probably know that answer yourself. People look back at their lives through rose-tinted glasses and want to bring back the magic. Regret dwells within us all no matter how much we deny it. Without a shadow of doubt, there is not one person out there who wishes they did something differently in the past. That being said, this doesn't really sound like regret as such, it seems more like a longing for the past, not an attempt to change it.

It's true that LSD is a lot harder to find these days. Ecstasy and ketamine are far more popular and way easier to track down. Ketamine in itself is a pretty mind-blowing experience worth examining. It opens up different "doors of perception", if you will, and a mild acid trip can seem quite linear in comparison. Salvia divinorum is not like LSD at all in SWIM's experience. It's something that can be done as long as one's comfortable with their ability to handle psychedelics although that first time is very much like entering some sort of new world and it can be something of a nervy experience.

[chemlove]

I think Nature Boy has a great point. Something along the same lines I'd like to add, is maybe instead of chasing an old burning flame of desire, maybe what you really crave is the experience of something new and exciting, much like acid and things were to you as a youth. SWIM has less and less desire for certain compounds every year too. (and by compounds it covers a full range from things you'd expect to hear about on here to just plain soda and others). Maybe what you body really craves, like my buddy SWIM, is that ability to be in a new place that you have never experienced something totally mind blowing and perceptual. SWIM recomended 2ci because of its intensity and hilarious vibes.

[Metomni]

SWIM would have to guess that SWIY is the personality type that loves LSD, but when younger used it too much, seeing as SWIY says it took so much out of him. It only makes sense that the desire would come back eventually.

SWIY might want to try some mescaline, that is what SWIM would advise. If SWIY is wary of LSD, then salvia is probably going to be overly intense to start with. A low dose of Mescaline would be very refreshing, introspective, and easy on the mind, SWIY might even figure out his thoughts on LSD during the experience.

Overall though, SWIM would advise to go with SWIY's instinct. Have the experience that SWIY believes they need.

Good luck mate.